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Probably depends on what kind of vegetarian food you're eating. A meal of, say, macaroni and cheese and a side of fries washed down with a coke is vegetarian, but probably not what they had in mind when suggesting that a vegetarian diet is healthy! Now a vegan day is probably tougher to get too wrong -- less easy to just replace meat with high-fat dairy -- but even then vegan in itself does not guarantee healthy.
I saw this too. Many people are having a "meatless Monday" which I support as a first step towards a more compassionate and healthful life style.
It is interesting to see vegetarianism become increasingly mainstream.
I would say vegetarianism is still quite rare since less than 2% of the nation are vegetarian BUT you have as many as 10% who limit meat to the point where they are semi vegetarian or mostly vegetarian!
You also have most all restaurants with vegetarian items on the menu while 20 or 30 years ago it was not the case!
Probably depends on what kind of vegetarian food you're eating. A meal of, say, macaroni and cheese and a side of fries washed down with a coke is vegetarian, but probably not what they had in mind when suggesting that a vegetarian diet is healthy! Now a vegan day is probably tougher to get too wrong -- less easy to just replace meat with high-fat dairy -- but even then vegan in itself does not guarantee healthy.
This is so true - a vegan or vegetarian can eat very unhealhily. My youngest son has a friend who went vegan about a year ago and he is the fattest he has ever been. I am a vegan and am constantly amazed at the unhealthiness and big-calorie dishes that I see in vegan cookbooks and blogs - too much oil, too much pasta, sweetners (honey and maple syrup), vegan cheese (horrible tasting and full of oil and fat), too much fruit. Soy or rice based ice cream and yogurt are pretty caloric and full of sugar....many of the smoothie recipes I see have 2 or 3 cups of fruit per serving. Yep being vegan or vegetarian does not guarantee health.
I also watched a presentation by a vegan nutritionist who cited (name, dates, visable statistics) studies that show that vegans are subject to more bone breakage and certain kinds of cancer because they are often lacking in things like iron, calcium, iodine, vitamin D and B vitamins - especially B-12. He cited studies (and I have read this over and over) that plant based B-12 (as opposed to animal based B-12) does not convert well in the body - often taking many months to convert into usable B-12. He, even though he is vegan, suggested that vegans should take animal based B-12. I'm very concerned that I am getting all the micro-nutrients and vitamins that my body needs and do believe that those on a vegan diet need to take supplements....there are vitamins that are formulated for vegans.
I also watched a presentation by a vegan nutritionist who cited (name, dates, visable statistics) studies that show that vegans are subject to more bone breakage and certain kinds of cancer because they are often lacking in things like iron, calcium, iodine, vitamin D and B vitamins - especially B-12. He cited studies (and I have read this over and over) that plant based B-12 (as opposed to animal based B-12) does not convert well in the body - often taking many months to convert into usable B-12. He, even though he is vegan, suggested that vegans should take animal based B-12. I'm very concerned that I am getting all the micro-nutrients and vitamins that my body needs and do believe that those on a vegan diet need to take supplements....there are vitamins that are formulated for vegans.
This is the main reason I have still been trying to get some fish or chicken here and there because it seems like alot of vegans and vegetarians do get breast and especially colon cancers. I know cancer can affect anyone and diet isn't full protection, but I heard of alot of vegans/vegetarians winding up with colon cancer. I'm trying to figure out why this is, but the only thing I can think of is they are lacking in either protein, Vitamin D or B-12. I take a B-vitamin complex some days and some days drink a protein drink with spirulina bound b-vitamins. I also take about 1500 Vitamin D (1000 regular and 500 plant based). I am still wondering if I am getting the right protein and nutrition. I don't want to do future harm to myself. My husband thinks I'm being paranoid and to just go completely vegan. I'm not sure what to do anymore.
This is the main reason I have still been trying to get some fish or chicken here and there because it seems like alot of vegans and vegetarians do get breast and especially colon cancers. I know cancer can affect anyone and diet isn't full protection, but I heard of alot of vegans/vegetarians winding up with colon cancer. I'm trying to figure out why this is, but the only thing I can think of is they are lacking in either protein, Vitamin D or B-12. I take a B-vitamin complex some days and some days drink a protein drink with spirulina bound b-vitamins. I also take about 1500 Vitamin D (1000 regular and 500 plant based). I am still wondering if I am getting the right protein and nutrition. I don't want to do future harm to myself. My husband thinks I'm being paranoid and to just go completely vegan. I'm not sure what to do anymore.
Actually a low-fiber, high-fat diet is one of the greatest risk factors for colon cancer. Obesity, diabetes, smoking, and a sedentary lifestyle are also risk factors.
Vegan diets are higher in fiber and lower in fat than the average diet of non-vegans.
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