Is vegetarianism really that healthy?

Question

because all in all it doesnt make much sense with me, a couple of my friends are vegans and all are skinny to the point of anorexia. one of my friends uys pizza everyday for lunch, unless there out of cheese and then she doesnt eat anything! one time it went on 3 days in a row and she was looking wasted so i bought her pizza and picked of the pepperonis and she didnt notice at all.

i just dont think being a vegetarian is all that healthy, you really cant compare a hunk of meat to a can of nuts.....

Answer 1

I am 4'11 and 123lbs. I am a good weight and have always been a vegetarian. I am not vegan however I do not eat fish or chicken. I feel people just don't know what to eat or want to be that skinny. My entire family is vegetarians since nov. 07 and haven't lost a pound!!

It is healthy and it is morally the right way to be.

Answer 2

my cholesterol dropped 10% when I gave up meat.  

not that I did it for health reasons.

but I have gone a week without food solely for this cause.

Answer 3

It really depends on how you eat. If you're not eating a balanced diet, you can become unhealthy.  But there are so many ways now to incorporate protein and other nutrients into your diet.  You can take supplements or buy mixes for protein shakes or drinks.  Soy and tofu are also great sources of protein and other nutrition that you otherwise could not get without meat in your diet.  There are so many products now contain the things you need in order to have a balanced diet even if you choose not to ingest meat products.  However, if you choose to only eat pizza or skip meals altogether, you can become unhealthy, just as a meat-eater would if he/she did the same thing.

Answer 4

Well you shouldn't judge it by your friend's actions. Sounds like she is too lazy to bring a packed lunch. Fast food unfortunately has no healthy vegetarians options, so the choice is usually to spend time cooking and bringing your own food, or ordering unhealthy vegetarian food like cheese pizza.

Answer 5

Well, first I think you might want to know why your friends became a vegetarian or vegan. That could help you a ton right there.

Well basically just because your friends are seemingly unhealthy, doesn't mean everyone on of us is, it's just that your friends don't know how to eat. Which a the point it seems like you might want to help them know what they can and can't eat, or help them figure that out.

Okay so I'm guessing when you said "One of my friends buys pizza everyday for lunch..." That this friend is indeed a vegan, in which case she shouldn't be eating cheese pizza. Cheese comes from a cow, which means it's a by product of that cow and vegans don't eat animals or their by-products. So she needs to be informed on that much right there.

Second, I think your friends should bring their own lunches, so they know that they can eat that day.

Third, have them look at a vegan food pyramid, sounds like they could use it, so they know how they can stay healthy. You can probably easily google image search one.

Fourth, a can of nuts can compare to a hunk of meat. Nuts don't come from a dead animal. Nuts have protein too. I'm not sure, but I wonder if nuts have less fat.

So basically if your friends want to be vegans, they need to know how to do it right other wise they won't be very healthy, and you know what happens to unhealthy people, they get sick, and well, stuff like that.

So help them out with some of it, even if you don't want to be vegan, you can cheer your friends on to do it while being healthy. There are alot of foods out there for them, I just don't think that they are aware of it. In fact, look this up for them. See if you want to show it to them.

http://www.peta.org/accidentallyVegan/

Edit: By the way, I'm a vegetarian and perrfectly healthy, other than regualy fluctuations in my weight (I drop or gain a few pounds, five at the most either way.) I've stayed around they same weight as when I ate meat.

Make sure they get their protein and vitamins...you too!

Answer 6

A well balanced vegetarian diet provides all of the nutrients your body needs. The key to a healthy vegetarian diet — or any diet for that matter — is to enjoy a wide variety of foods.

Since no single food provides all of the nutrients that your body needs, eating a wide variety helps ensure that you get the necessary nutrients and other substances that promote good health.

Answer 7

If you eat right its a lot healthier for you... You're friends don't sound like theyre eating anything that would have enough nutrients in them.

Answer 8

nope you can't compare a hunk of meat to nuts because meat barely has enough iron, protein and vit. b 12 to even measure up.

RE:

http://www.healthalternatives2000.com/ve...

you'll find most fruits and veggies are protein giants, iron giants and have lesser calories.

sorry,  ignorance sure has ripped many folks in the behind now hasn't it?    i see the government has really did a good job  on selling out their meat and dairy industry.

and your friend isn't a vegetarian... sorry, been one for 30 years i'd  notice if you were pulling on a stunt on me before you would walk  into the same room where i'm at.

vegetarian diets are the healthiest... moreso than vegan.

nuts compared to meat...  lesser calories.. more iron,  more  protein and lesser fats.

just look at the sites statistics on all fruits, nuts, grains, veggies and other in comparitive information.

Answer 9

Funny, I know of vegetarians that are fat as cows (too much dairy). I also know of meat eaters who are thin as rails. So, in essence your statement has no value.

Cheers

Answer 10

yes it is healthy some people don't like meat for what ever reason and can live a good life they can even be overweight. as for your your vegan friends maybe they not vegan for the right reasons. Abusing food by not eating or eating too much is unhealthy.  

Answer 11

unfortunately your friends don't have a healthy, balanced diet that the majority of vegetarians have.

When done properly, vegetarianism can be very healthy, but when you eat nothing or just pizza, then you can except to look anorexic and be unhealthy.

I suggest that your friend sees a dietitian immediately.

Answer 12

In young people, veganism can be kinda trendy, this is unfortunate because it's a serious lifestyle choice with major consequences and I don't think the majority of young vegans understand what they're getting into. Veganism requires a lot of discipline and forethought, and a ton of planning to be successful and healthy. Personally I don't think it's a healthy choice for a lot of people, especially young people who are still developing and need a lot of nutrients that are hard to get in a vegan diet (protein, calcium, iron). Also, if your friend is serious about being vegan, she shouldn't be eating pizza! Vegan = no animal products or byproducts (no meat, dairy, eggs, fish, honey, leather, fur, jello, marshmallows, etc.)

Vegetarianism on the other hand, can be healthy or unhealthy depending on how it is practiced. It's just as easy to be a bad vegetarian as it is to be a bad omnivore. Bad vegetarians don't eat balanced meals and often don't get enough lean protein or vitamins and minerals. A lot of vegetarians don't get enough iron and need to be eating more iron-rich vegetables and fortified cereals to make up for the deficit. Not having enough iron in your diet, especially as a woman, can really s***w you over.

Maybe a good gift for your friends would be a beginner's vegetarian cookbook that would help them prepare things at home to bring for lunch that taste great and are great for them. Best of luck! ^_^

Answer 13

Actually, a vegetarian diet is extremely healthy, if done properly. Sounds like you happen to be friends with some folks who don't know how to eat a balanced diet and take care of themselves.

You're right - you cannot compare a hunk of meat to nuts as nuts are a great source of protein, iron and fibre (something that you cannot get from *any* dead animals)  where meat is a great source of fat and cholesterol. lol.

And by the way - REAL vegans don't eat cheese.

Answer 14

It depends.  Just as there is junk food for those that eat meat products - there are less than healthy - junk food - that vegetarians and vegans can eat as well.

It all comes down to personal choice.  A person that wants to kick back and eat nothing but processed foods each and every day - or like your example of pizza or worse someone that plain doesn't eat and suggests such is supported by being a vegetarian - - all unwise choices.

A person has to have a balance in their diet of fruits, vegetables, grains - a broad spectrum to make sure that all the needed vitamins and proper fats are within your diet to be healthy.

My suggestion would be to do study on what a good vegetarian diet actually is before making a judgment that it isn't healthy.

Answer 15

well that doesn't mean all vegans are unhealthy.Yes there are some people who are vegan who are unhealthy- but there are also plently of omnivores who are unhealthy too. Its really just the person's choices.

I'm a vegan and I feel very healthy

Plus there's no nutrient in meat that you can't obtain eating vegan.

Sometimes it takes extra planning or time but if take care with your diet you easily be a healthy veg.

What about a hunk of meat compared to a hunk of tofu?

they both have protein and iron...and tofu is lower in calories and fat :)

Answer 16

being a vegetarian is really healthy... if you do it right.

your friends aren't eating bad because they're vegetarians... they're just silly.  they'd probably eat just as badly if they ate meat.  a lot of vegetarians who do it for animal cruelty reasons-- those i've met anyway-- don't really care about being healthy and didn't really care before they quit eating meat.

i've been a vegetarian for 3 yrs-- no beef, no chicken, no fish-- and it was the best choice i've ever made.   vegetarians have a lower risk of high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart disease, some cancers, diabetes and obesity.  you can be healthy eating meat, but it takes too long to digest... it just sits in your colon.  gross.  they put pesticides on the feed they give to the animals humans eat (unless local) which goes straight to their fat... then we eat their fat... and all those chemicals go straight to our fat and are stored there... that doesn't sound healthy to me.  not to mention, it's horrible for the environment.  all the fuel used to transport the animals, then to transport the meat to our stores, not to mention all the methane all those animals put into the air... not good.

your friends' best bets (and what my doctor told me to do, but i haven't heeded yet):  make their only meat fish.  well-prepared fish... not long john silver's fried messes, however scrumptious they may be.  those who live longest to those who live the shortest lives on average?  fish eaters, vegetarians, meat eaters, then vegans.

you can be a healthy meat eater and you can be a healthy vegetarian or vegan.  problem is... your friends are not.

that's really mean though, to just pick the pepperoni off and give it to your friend.  i would feel so disrespected if one of my friends did that to me.  you should respect their decisions, whatever their reasons may be for laying off animal products and give them a little talk if you're worried.  it's ultimately their choice to eat whatever they want, but they should be healthy whatever their choice and you should respect that.  some people will always eat meat, but you can be a healthy meat eater or an unhealthy vegetarian.  when you put a healthy meat eater next to a healthy vegetarian, though, the vegetarian wins on several points.  since i've become a vegetarian my family eats so much more health conscious-- one with diabetes and one with a stint in his heart from all the unhealthy eating.  being vegetarian is a good choice... if you make good choices.  your friends do not.  you should tell them the better ways of being a vegetarian and encourage them to do that instead of forcing a t-bone down their throats.

hope your friends straighten up and that i shed a little light on what it's like to be a good vegetarian.  keep an open mind and don't judge their choices so roughly.  they have their reasons, just like you do, and you should respect each other.

now go fix 'em a big hunkin' salad and have a little chat about it!

hope i could help! :)

Answer 17

Well, just because veganism or vegetarianism is often used as a front for anorexics to hide their disorders says nothing about the health of ACTUAL vegetarians.

Your implication that "a hunk of meat" and "a can of nuts" are somehow comparable is ludicrous. If you'll do some research rather than relying on misconceptions, you'll find that vegetarians and vegans usually outlive omnivores by up to a decade, which makes sense: they're eating a natural diet our bodies were designed to digest.

If vegetarianism wasn't healthy, wouldn't we be dying before omnivores, rather than outliving them?  

Answer 18

It is healthy if you eat a healthy diet, if you just eat pizza it is not healthy if you don't get the proper nutrients it is not healthy that is way your friends aren't healthy. I am a vegetarian and when I started I lost some weight (which was good for me) and I got a lot more energy. Though I try and eat a good diet, but of course I am only human and sometimes I do enjoy junk food but the point is too get the proper nutrients. That is important with any diets, if you eat lots of meat and junky food and you are unhealthy and fat it is not a healthy diet but if you get all the nutrients you need it can be healthy but you will be eating a lot less meat and you might as well just give it up.

Most of my vegan friends are quite healthy and you couldn't tell they were vegans unless they were wearing something that proclaimed it. They are quite healthy and active, why? Because they get the proper nutrients. Go to a good nutritionist and find out what you need to be healthy and make sure you get that in your diet and you will be fine!