Is vegetarianism as good as it claims to be?
824944
I'd say veggie; what could be wrong with eating vegetables and I'm sure that there are other ways to obtain protein\n   - I think meat has been linked to heart disease; matter of fact there was an article about the consumption of red meat on the front page of the Washington Post and the affects it has and how it makes women more prone to a certain kind of cancer but of course they will continue to sell it the same way they still sell milk
884846
I. INTRODUCTION \n\nVegetarianism, practice of eating foods from the plant kingdom. There are several types of vegetarians. While all vegetarians avoid some or all animal foods—that is, meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and milk—semi-vegetarians avoid meat but eat poultry and other animal foods. Lacto-ovo-vegetarians avoid poultry and fish as well as meat, but do include milk and eggs in their diets. The only animal foods consumed by lacto-vegetarians are milk products. Some vegetarians practice veganism, eating no animal foods at all. Many vegans avoid wearing animal products, such as leather and wool, and are also more likely than other vegetarians to shun alcoholic beverages, processed foods, and foods grown with chemical fertilizers or pesticides.\n\n  II. THE EVOLUTION OF VEGETARIANISM \n\nHistorically, vegetarianism was often based on philosophical beliefs. Followers of certain sects of Hinduism and Buddhism have a centuries-old tradition of not eating animal flesh because of beliefs in the sacredness of all life and the reincarnation of souls into the bodies of other living things. Roman Catholic Trappist monks still practice vegetarianism to fulfill their vows of austerity and self-sacrifice.\n\nModern vegetarianism entered public consciousness during the 19th century. Beginning in 1847, the Vegetarian Society, a British nonreligious organization, popularized the term vegetarian. The promotion of vegetarianism gained strength worldwide in 1908 when the International Vegetarian Union was founded; the Union, which brings together vegetarian societies from all over the world in a series of congresses, is still operating as a nonprofit organization. Some 20th-century vegetarians tend to reject eating meat because they believe that the killing of animals is both unnecessary and cruel. Other vegetarians also believe that using available land to raise vegetables and grain instead of cattle and other animals makes good economic and ecological sense.\n\n  III. VEGETARIANISM AND HEALTH \n\nMore recently, people have adopted vegetarian diets based on scientific studies showing that diets high in fatty animal foods may contribute to the early development of disease, including obesity, coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, and colorectal cancer. The United States Surgeon General’s 1988 report on nutrition and health urged Americans to reduce their intakes of animal fats, such as those found in meat and dairy products, and to increase consumption of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.\n\nThe vegetarian plant-based diet typically has the advantage of being low in saturated fat, cholesterol, and salt, but it can be lacking in other ways. Vegetarians need to plan their diets with special care in order to obtain the essential nutrients received from diets that include meat, fish, and poultry. Following the Pyramid Food Guide published by the Department of Agriculture can help vegetarians meet all their nutritional requirements. At the bottom of the pyramid are the grains, vegetables, and fruits that are recommended to form the foundation of a healthful diet. In the middle of the pyramid are foods from the milk group and the meat and beans group, which are prescribed in moderate amounts. At the top of the pyramid are high-fat and sugary foods, indicating that they should be eaten in small amounts or avoided altogether.\n\nIn adapting the pyramid food guide, vegetarians need to eat other foods, such as fortified grains and cereals, that provide necessary nutrients like iron, zinc, vitamin D, and some B vitamins like B12 and B6. Vegetarians who avoid milk products must find alternatives that are high in calcium and vitamin D, such as fortified soy milk. Lacto-ovo-vegetarians can use eggs, nuts, peanut butter, dry beans, peas, and lentils in place of choices from the meat group.\n\nWith carefully planned diets and a wide variety of foods, it is possible for some lacto-ovo-vegetarian adults to get all essential nu
196692
I believe good. Depends on your views and plans.
618539
I'm not too sure if you're looking for a specific kind of answer or just whatever comes out of the "question grinder" but I'll answer in 5ive parts:\n\n1. Diet. Most experts seem to agree that if you ate only meat (not the whole animal, just the muscle meat) or only vegetation (including beans), you'd be much, much better off eating the veggies. \n\n2. The environment. It's better for the environment to eat veggies. It's just a much more productive use of land and it allows animals to roam free for their lifetime until they die through disease, hunting, or predators.\n\n3. Air quality: If you have a lot of plants, they should increase the amount of oxygen you take in, and clean up the air a bit in some ways.\n\n4. Peace of Mind. I don't know about anyone else, but just being around trees gives me a sense of calm. I don't know why but I guess I don't have to.\n\n5. Easy "pets". If you want a pet but can't have one for any of various reasons, a plant is a nice alternative.
545389
In moderation no. It is like everything else, in moderation. Lots of things are bad for us in excess, even water. A little of a wide variety of foods everyday is fine.\nIt is only when people eat lots of a certain type of food that they strike trouble. A well balanced vegetarian diet is the answer to obesity, it is not brain surgery, just plain common sense. \nMeat eaters are the greatest at risk because meat is full of saturated fat, and they eat it every day. Hope that helps.
540537
Yes, it is an excellent source of nutrition. It is called a "complete food." There is nothing lacking here, and its shelf life is incredible.
382302
I think you're confusing vegans and vegetarians. There are plenty of vegetarians who I agree are being a bit hypocritical...they wont eat meat because of animal treatment yet they wear leather, etc.\nThe definition of a vegan is a person who abstains from using any and all products that involved animals to be produced---They dont eat meat, dairy, eggs, honey or ANYTHING with animal-derived ingredients (ie-gelatin, casein, etc.). They do not wear leather, wool, fur or silk. They do not use any cosmetics or cleaning products that were  tested on animals. Any person who claims to be vegan and does not do all of these things is, by definition, not a vegan.\nAs for "excuses" for being vegan...it's good for everyone! It's good for the animals for obvious reasons, it's good for the environment (factoy farms create all kinds of waste), non-animal products require less energy to be made, those who follow a vegan diet DECREASE (not eliminate) their risk of developing many kinds of cancer, as well as diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and Alzheimer's. \nAs for plants screaming when cut, that's the most absurd thing I've ever heard. I've taken classes on plants and I can assure you that they lack the physical features to allow them to scream....As well, plants don't have a brain or a central nervous system, so they are, as far as we know, incapable of feeling pain, at least in the same way we are.
606711
veggies are way good...but healthy...=)
661806
Im a vegetarian and a chemist, and your absolutely right you are killing in both cases. Its not that I am entirely against eating animals, its that I am against our farming system. Its a really deep issue, if you want more information message me but for now I think this cartoon (link below) will give you the basics into understanding the lies behind how we get our meat. There are many angles to this issue. As far as health goes it has been shown that 90% of heart problems are related to over meat consumption. Its been my conclusions that meat eating can be done right by ethical private farming but this is not the case. Animals are tortured, and worse for you... they are injected with not so good things and grown in their own feces - increasing chances of illness for you. Ever since I became vegetarian I have felt energetic, and I have never been sick! \n\nIts also been hypothosized by some vegetarians that meat eating is destroying the world and actually contributing to food shortages. Its a complex issue, but suffice it to say that raising a cow takes much more energy, money, land, and other resources than growing equal levels of nutrition in plant life. The waste generated by animals is large.\n\n    So to summarize,\n \n     - some feel that it is unethical to eat animals, granted. \n\n     - But just because you dont agree with that doesnt mean that there is not good reason to be vegetarian for the sake of the enviornment, economy, your health, the torture of animals, .... I can go on forever.\n\nI hope this helps, and I only wrote this to educate you. My father almost died from his over meat consumption. And its an atrocity what this is doing to the world. You should check out the PETA website - very educational and reason based nowadays.\n\nhttp://www.themeatrix.com/
202611
I don't know.. "Good, we're vegetarians anyway"\n\nWhat did the Panda & Bull say ???\n;)
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There would be no world hunger if we were all vegetarians.  It takes 8 pounds of protein from wheat to make one pound of protein from meat.  With the food we spend to feed cattle, we can use it to feed the hungry.\n\n\nAlas, I am a hypocrit...I'm not a vegetarian.
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I grew up in the West but since have embraced an eastern religion.  I am now a vegetarian, but it was not easy to make that change because meat-eating is such a given in my culture.  I think the main reason that modern Westerners tolerate meat-eating is that they take it for granted and do not think about it.  They grew up with it, so they just never think to question it.\n\nOriginally, meat-eating may have been necessary for people in cold climates in Europe or something.  Perhaps that is all they could find to eat to keep themselves alive in winter.  I know that even my own mother had to eat groundhog when she was a kid because that is literally all they could find to eat.\n\nBut once this becomes a part of the culture, people forget about the fact that what was once only done out of necessity is now done for pleasure.  People in my culture just love meat.  They don't like vegetables!  Eastern cuisines just know better what to do with vegetables!  They use spices and good sauces, whereas here, we basically just put butter, salt, and pepper on everything (usually out of a can at that).  So we think veggies taste bad!  \n\nAnother issue is the fact that some people purposely refuse to be vegetarians because they fear the stereotypical image that some vegetarians have.  They do not want to be seen as a "New Age liberal freak."  That's really how a lot of people see vegetarianism where I am.  \n\nThe Bible says that God put man over the animals and nature to "have dominion."  But instead of seeing this as a responsibility to care for the animals and plants, too many people see in this a justification to USE animals and plants to whatever benefit we can derive from them.  Most Christians I have talked to about this say that animals do not have souls, and that they were put here strictly for OUR purposes.  I believe that this is merely an attempt to justify their actions.  I do not think that is what the Bible originally intended.  In fact, the Bible depicts 2 times in history that are vegetarian:  the Garden of Eden, and the Messianic Era - the times where things are right and done in the proper way.
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Buddhists have been enjoying vegetarian dishes for centuries\n\n \n More of this Feature\n• Vegetarian FAQs\n \n From Other Guides\n• 5 Reasons for Being Vegetarian\n• Low Fat Vegetable/Vegetarian Recipes\n \nMention vegetarian cuisine and many people picture a group of aging hippies kneeling cross-legged around a communal dining table, helping themselves to carrot sticks dipped in yogurt or another plate of chickpea salad. While it's true that vegetarianism became trendy in the "psychedelic sixties," its origins date back much farther.  Pythagoras was a vegetarian (vegetarians were called Pythagoreans up until the 1800's) as was the poet Percy Shelley.  George Bernard Shaw, never one to shy from the spotlight, was a vocal proponent of a meat-free diet: \n\n"It is nearly fifty years since I was assured by a conclave of doctors that if I did not eat meat I should die of starvation." (Vegetariana: A Rich Harvest of Wit, Lore, and Recipes, by Nava Atlas)
1053354
well basically what you eat does have alot of affect on your habits. forexample carnivores who eat meat are stronger and vicious than other herbivores. so i think that explains their victory and defeat
1065049
it's not called as vegetarian, but some vegetarians, do eat eggs, because they take this eating animals thing a bit less seriously. (some even eat fish, so this thing is really confusing to me anywayz)
504942
There are plenty  of other things to eat, at the beginning of my vegetarian path I missed McDonalds burgers, but not anymore. There are veggie burgers anyway.. they may not taste the same but better than nothing..\nBesides my cholesterol levels have dropped, and quite a lot of extra weight dropped off without exercising. Of course it is easy to eat just bread and pasta, but there are great veggie recipes too.
275579
Can I ask how exactly being a vegetarian has ANYTHING to do with sexual orientation?\n\nAlso, to the 14 year old, do you really think you're mature enough to be having sex?