Is it really bad to be a vegetarian???

Question

I don't eat meat because of how people wrongly hurt animals. Animals are abused and its disgusting.

I still eat fish and eggs and stuff for the protien, but lately LOTS of people have been coming up to me (most of which I don't even know) and telling me that God put the animals on the Earth so we could show that we are the higher species and what not. And that if I don't eat meat, that I will get really sick and not be as active as I am.

I think that being a vegetarian helps the animals and the environment and your body. Why is everybody elses opinion so negative??? Does it really hurt me???

Answer 1

No, sweetie being a vegetarian will not hurt you, if you do it the right way, you have to educate yourself on how to supplement your diet with the right foods, because you won't be eating meat. I started off as a vegan when I was very young and I converted to a vegan (just recently 5 months ago) I am healthy. Healthier than I have ever been. My toddler is a vegetarian too.

The government USDA places deception upon people so they think that something that is unnatural is supposed to be natural to them. All those people that tell you that being a veggie will hurt you have been decieved.

I am so proud that you are becomming a vegetarian or at least deciding to. Being a veggie you have many options, many options for food.  

Answer 2

It's not bad to be a vegetarian, you should try it sometime. They don't eat fish.

Answer 3

My sister is a veggie and my cousins said she looked ill. My sister was totally offended! I didn't think she looked ill at all .. she doesn't eat any protein supplements or fish though so we are getting her Quorn and protein supplements soon. Keep strong and follow your heart. All I can say is you seem very healthy and are obviously worried about your health but don't worry about anything, you're fine. If you are still concerned about anything go to your GP or look on websites such as these:

http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/lf_hl_ve...

http://www.newtreatments.org/vegetarian

http://www.quickeasyvegetariancooking.co...

Good luck! Everythings fine so long as you stick to your beliefs and are happy! :)

Best wishes,

Me :) x x x x x x x

Answer 4

Well... Here's how I see it... We were obviously meant to eat meats or we wouldn't crave meat.  And there are vitamins and minerals from meat, esp. beef that cannot be replaced by a pill... But! I do know that meat does make some people feel sick... why I don't know... I'm guessing their bodies are just not cut out to process meats.  

And even if everyone stopped eating meat, animals would still be hurt and abused... it's just the way life is :(.

It's just like people who hurt and abuse other people... there is really nothing we can do to really stop it, and that does make me sad.  

I grew up on a cattle ranch and still live there... we raise beef cattle. We make sure that when the cattle are shipped off to the meat plants they are humane and quick about the process.  And we personally tour the packing house ourselves and over see everything, even the cattle being trucked to the plants.  

Yes slaughter isn't the nicest thing to hear about, but neither is a murder on the evening news.

I think we need to put more action into over seeing the packing houses and making sure the animals are not abused and neglected during the packing process.

The beef industry suffers severely from people who want to stop animal abuse, for some reason it all comes back on us... when it really isn't our faults.  We have no more control over the slaughter houses then everyone else.  And believe me ranchers only want what’s best for the cattle.

I'm always up to see someone elses point of view though... And I really don't think being a vegetarian hurts you, I'm pretty sure your body won't ever be as healthy as when it had meat; but again.... I haven't ever tried it LoL.

Answer 5

I used to be a vegetarian for the same reasons, and I want to become more disciplined so that I am one again. People were also rude to me about it. It takes discipline and values and morals and compassion to be a vegetarian for the reasons you are. Some people are weak and small and insecure, so the mere presence of you makes them feel intimidated and bad about themselves, even if you are just living your life and not trying to tell any of them what to do. It's too bad they are like that, but just shrug it off and keep doing your own thing. You can be totally healthy as a vegetarian, in fact, healthier than most of the rest of us!  

Answer 6

NO, it is not bad to be a vegetarian. In fact vegetarians are usually more healthy than meat eaters. We are less likely to die from many different diseases.

But remember there are also unhealthy vegetarians. The key is eating a variety of different things. If you eat different fruits and vegetables and beans etc, you will be perfectly healthy.

Also, please don't call yourself a vegetarian if you still eat animals. Fish and seafood are animals. That makes you a pescetarian not a vegetarian. When you call yourself a vegetarian and still eat fish then you are giving the world a wrong impression of vegetarians.

Also, how can you say sticking fish with hooks, ripping them back out of their mouths and throwing them into buckets where they get to die slowly because they cannot breathe isn't torture. Some are still alive when they are filleted for food. How can you not call that torture. Imagine someone stabbing you, shoving your head in water until you're almost dead and then cutting pieces of your body away while you're still alive.

I call that torture.

Answer 7

God has nothing to do with it.  What kind of God would want his creatures tortured and slaughtered?  Think about it.  

Answer 8

Being vegetarian is good for you. Anyone qualified to give legitimate health advice will be able to tell you that. According to the Bible, God gave humans stewardship over animals, meaning we're supposed to take care of them, not torture them in factory farms. I'd like to see anyone claiming that we're the "higher species" try to fight a tiger or a lion. Even if God said it's acceptable to eat meat, he wouldn't have a problem with somebody not eating meat, especially today when the meat industry is so cruel. God would like to see people be compassionate, if he exists.

Answer 9

I think you are to be commended for having the courage to confront such a challenging issue. Let me start by saying that I don't believe that there is an easy, one-size-fits-all answer to this question. It is a very individual and private thing. So each to his own.

Rather than submit you all to a long, ranting thesis on this matter I think it better to just list a few key points for consideration.

So here goes:

* We must consume life to live. Like it or not everything we consume was either once alive, designed to nourish a new life or begin a new life. That includes animals, plants, milk and fruit/seeds.

* Nutrition. Meats are a very efficient source of protein, iron and B12. You can get good protein and iron from plants but you need to be very careful to eat the right foods in the right combination. Not too hard if you do your research. B12, however is a little more difficult. You can't get it from plant sources and your body really needs it. This is not a problem unless you are an uber-strict vegan because you can get it from milk or yeast so you don't really need to eat meat to get it. Just be aware that an unbalanced vegetarian diet can lead to health problems such as anemia (iron deficiency or worse still the pernicious variety), calcium or protein deficiency... blah, blah, blah. Also, some bodies cope better with vegetarianism than others.

* Animal welfare. This is a tough one. Most animals consumed for meat/milk/fibre/skin are raised specifically for that purpose. Even a lot of fish these days. Most, but definitely not all, are raised and slaughtered in humane conditions. Again, it pays to do your research. I, for example, will not eat veal, feed-lot beef, eggs from battery or even barn raised hens and certain brands of milk are off the menu.

* Environmental impact. On the one hand it is more efficient to

consume plant foods than meat. It takes more water and whole lot more biomatter to produce one kilo of meat than it does to produce one kilo of, say, lettuce. On the other hand I've recently heard it argued that meat is a more efficient source of nutrients (i.e. one kilo of lettuce won't feed you as well as one kilo of meat). There is also organic vs non-organic and intensive vs non-intensive agriculture to consider.

* Intent and awareness. For me this is the most important. Gratitude and respect for the lives we consume (animal and plant) is paramount regardless of our chosen diet. Awareness and understanding that, like so many other things, not everyone is in a position to think so deeply about these matters and that each person must draw their own conclusions.

Hope that helps.

Answer 10

Well I get the same c**p from tons of people since I am an ovo-vegetarian. everyone is like "god put animals on earth to kill" then whats the difference between cats and even humans. they don't kill them do they?

And the sick part is fake. People think that meat is the only source of protein. I eat plenty of beans and nuts and I have been less sick than I was when I was eating meat. If you are concerned about your protein go here: http://www.femalemuscle.com/nutrition/pr...

Its just that most people are stupid and don't know the truth, and like eating meat too much.

I sort of agree with you on the fish part, I used to eat fish but then i chose not to. then I worked into not eating eggs either. But you can still eat fish and eggs if you want to. Congrats on going veg, I have turned 2 people veg already and hoping to convince many more. Keep hanging in there and again thanks!

            

Answer 11

I'm vegetairian too

and everybody say stuff like that to me

and it's really upsetting isnt it!

Like even my best mate used to

even teachers its like AAaaaaa

but no your fine

if you want anymore questions about being vegetairian just email me!

Answer 12

Don't worry about what other people think. As long as you are  happy and not trying to push your beliefs on them why should they care. Just take care of yourself and stick with your beliefs. Kindly ask others to respect those beliefs or to simply mind their own business. I also want to become a vegetarian and now that I am settled into my own place it should be easier. Good luck and don't worry about others!

Answer 13

Actually, being a vegetarian/vegan is healthy for your lifestyle. You can eat vegetables and fruits to survive a long and healthy lifestyle if you wish to do it that way. I have been a vegetarian for 4 months myself and I wanted to be one longer, but I started the day after Easter and one of my contacts here made me one and I am one for health reasons.

Answer 14

Vegetarians don't eat any animal flesh so I don't know where you ever got the idea you were a vegetarian.

Being a vegetarian CAN be a good thing but the health of any diet still revolves around the exact foods consumed.

Answer 15

It is absolutely not bad for you. No worries about undercooking, mad cow disease, bird flu, etc. You are healthier, and you consume less saturated fats.

Answer 16

Im Not Saying Anything Bad About Being A Vegitarian But For As Long As Humans Have Lived On This Earth They Have Ate Meat Its Not Bad Not To Eat Meat But Theirs No Diffrents Besides YOure Missing Out On the Best Food In The World Like Bacon,FIlet Mingoung,New York Strip.

Answer 17

If your eating eggs fish veggies and fruit ,that's healthy .Don't listen to everyone .Follow your heart.