Why do so many people think meat is essential? (NOT DEBATE)

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Replies

  • mandster
    mandster Posts: 95 Member
    Hi all

    I've been a very healthy vegetarian for 23 years. I don't think you need meat but you do need to become knowledgable about nutrition and make sure that you eat a healthy diet. Of course everyone should do this but if you are going to remove any group of foods from your diet it's even more important.

    I used to get a lock of flack about it years ago but not so bad now. There is someone in my family (not my side!) who is quite astonishly rude about it and in that case I bite my tongue for the sake of a peaceful family. My own family found it hard when I was young (I didnt want to eat meat from a fairly early age) and I was force fed every now and then up to the age of 15! Now they understand and have saw over the years that I've always been healthy.
  • Bronx_Montgomery
    Bronx_Montgomery Posts: 2,284 Member
    It depends on the person. I believe meat is an essential part of a good diet but thats for me. It differs from person to person. I require a lot of protein and I could not see myself getting the amount of protein I need from just being a vegetarian. Everyone's views are different. There are pros and cons to both sides of Meat eaters and Vegetarians. So don't sweat it. Eat healthy and work out hard.

    I leave you with one thing:
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  • SwimFan1981
    SwimFan1981 Posts: 1,430 Member
    Never understood vegetarianism. I don't care if someone else decides to only eat leaves and berries, but as long as you aren't trying to get me to do it, and you're staying healthy, go for it. Had a girlfriend that tried to get me to change the way i live my life. She didn't last long... it wasn't a dietary thing, but along the same lines.

    and, an astigmatism is an ocular condition. were you going for 'stigma'?

    *sigh* vegetarians do not only eat leaves and berries.

    You are wasting your time and energy on them...:flowerforyou:
  • Because its our nature!
  • SwimFan1981
    SwimFan1981 Posts: 1,430 Member
    Animal products provide vitamin B12 which plant foods don't have unless they are fortify. Vitamin B12 helps to keep the blood cells healthy and it's needed to make DNA. And it also helps prevent anemia. if you a woman and are not eating meat and not taking the vitamin, then it's bad when you are to become pregnant. However, if you are taking vitamins, meat is not essential.

    Bread contains B12


    You must have missed the part where he said 'unless they are fortified', which most bread is.

    Algae isn't. Yeast isn't.

    Can you link me a reliable source saying those come naturally with vitamin B12?


    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16267554

    An excerpt which is leaning towards the suggestion that algae does.
  • RhonndaJ
    RhonndaJ Posts: 1,615 Member
    I'm as concerned about the people who say you HAVE to eat meat to be healthy as I am the people who say any form of diet is the ONLY way.

    I believe that a vegetarian or vegan diet an be perfectly healthy but it takes effort to make certain you're getting the right balance. Mind you, once you figure it out, it seems as simple as any diet using all foods.

    I think that when it comes down to it, to each their own and we should spend more time supporting one another's choices than we do criticising them.

    Personally, I like meat. There are times I crave red meat and the longer I put off eating it the more I crave it, preferably rare. It makes me wonder if some of us are more predisposed to needing meat in our diets than others. Really, no clue.

    It would never occur to me to tell a vegetarian or vegan they needed to eat meat, though if there seemed in ill health to me I might express concern about the cause.
  • Capt_Apollo
    Capt_Apollo Posts: 9,026 Member

    Why is this such a common astigmatism? What are your thoughts (WITHOUT BEING RUDE OR DEBATING) on a no-meat lifestyle?

    so how am i going to express my point without debating?
  • Fozzi43
    Fozzi43 Posts: 2,984 Member

    Why is this such a common astigmatism? What are your thoughts (WITHOUT BEING RUDE OR DEBATING) on a no-meat lifestyle?

    so how am i going to express my point without debating?

    With much difficultly :huh:
  • SwimFan1981
    SwimFan1981 Posts: 1,430 Member

    Why is this such a common astigmatism? What are your thoughts (WITHOUT BEING RUDE OR DEBATING) on a no-meat lifestyle?

    so how am i going to express my point without debating?

    With much difficultly :huh:

    This is what I thought :laugh:
  • hendinerik
    hendinerik Posts: 287 Member
    Years ago I was vegetarian for 2 and a half years and I never quite felt right on it, but perhaps I wasn't educated enough about the best way to get all the nutrients I needed. When I went back to eating meat I felt much better, and I find that I thrive on it. I certainly have had delicious vegetarian meals and see how people do it, it just never seemed to work for me and I probably would have needed more interest in cooking to really make it work for myself.

    I am a big supporter of high protein, I just get mine mostly from meat and greek yogurt.
  • amysteri
    amysteri Posts: 197 Member
    In my personal opinion as an omnivore I think it's just that some people are used to eating what they're eating :smile:

    eating certain foods becomes a habit that people get used to, that their bodies get used to, and our taste buds get used to

    I tried skipping the meat for a day just to test out if I could go vegetarian but the next day my system craved meat, and I like meat

    And there's nothing wrong with eating what you prefer to eat. It's just a personal taste and a personal choice

    Ironically, my favorite's fish, lol :tongue:
  • Fozzi43
    Fozzi43 Posts: 2,984 Member
    I love meat :wink:
  • Chadomaniac
    Chadomaniac Posts: 1,785 Member
    I love meat :wink:
    lmao
  • When you mention you're a vegetarian people think you just sit eating lettuce or carrots all day, they don't realise that there are so many things you can do, it is just lack of knowledge! People at my last job were feeding ham to the vegetarian lady and then said to me "as long as she doesn't have pork she is ok" (WHAT??) and also I have been asked if vegetarians can eat corned beef... some people are just dumb..
  • Ryanmariem
    Ryanmariem Posts: 46 Member
    Hiya,

    I get a lot from friends, and no so close friends, that I should eat meat and a strict vegetarian diet is unhealthy, and meat is essential in a healthy diet blah blah.

    Why is this such a common astigmatism? What are your thoughts (WITHOUT BEING RUDE OR DEBATING) on a no-meat lifestyle? If you are vegetarian/vegan, do you find yourself to be healthy?

    I was a vegetarian from the age of 17 to 20. Although I was not a true veggitarian as I still ate fish and eggs and dairy. But no other meat or meat products. It took research to find out how to subsitute for the protein, but it did not take much, I loved the lentils and beans, all the different legumes I had no idea about. My Dr suggested the diet as I had Chronic Fatigue and just could not get out of the constant fatigue at the time... well taking out the big meats I felt so much better, even now I am not a big red meat eater and I do like my chicken but don't eat meat daily.

    I think the problem is that they have not done their research, protein is easy to replace, now the essential fatty acids and amino acids found in fish and eggs can easily be replaced by a good whole food supplements. Just as w/diets that do eat meat when you are defecient in a vitamin, mineral, amino acids you find a good supplement to fill that defecit.

    I have no problems w/those who choose not to eat meat, just as long as they do their research and still have a well balance diet... I knew someone who use to eat only diary and no meat and her favorite every day meal was mac&cheese and nacho's.... yuck! Where are the veggies in that veggietarian diet?
  • Bronx_Montgomery
    Bronx_Montgomery Posts: 2,284 Member
    Animal products provide vitamin B12 which plant foods don't have unless they are fortify. Vitamin B12 helps to keep the blood cells healthy and it's needed to make DNA. And it also helps prevent anemia. if you a woman and are not eating meat and not taking the vitamin, then it's bad when you are to become pregnant. However, if you are taking vitamins, meat is not essential.

    Bread contains B12


    You must have missed the part where he said 'unless they are fortified', which most bread is.

    Algae isn't. Yeast isn't.

    Can you link me a reliable source saying those come naturally with vitamin B12?


    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16267554

    An excerpt which is leaning towards the suggestion that algae does.


    Are we really debating on Eating Algae?

    wtf_gif_urkel.gif



    NO THANKS ILL STICK TO BEING A MEAT EATER.
  • Bronx_Montgomery
    Bronx_Montgomery Posts: 2,284 Member
    I love meat :wink:

    5b.gif
  • SwimFan1981
    SwimFan1981 Posts: 1,430 Member
    Animal products provide vitamin B12 which plant foods don't have unless they are fortify. Vitamin B12 helps to keep the blood cells healthy and it's needed to make DNA. And it also helps prevent anemia. if you a woman and are not eating meat and not taking the vitamin, then it's bad when you are to become pregnant. However, if you are taking vitamins, meat is not essential.

    Bread contains B12


    You must have missed the part where he said 'unless they are fortified', which most bread is.

    Algae isn't. Yeast isn't.

    Can you link me a reliable source saying those come naturally with vitamin B12?


    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16267554

    An excerpt which is leaning towards the suggestion that algae does.


    Are we really debating on Eating Algae?

    wtf_gif_urkel.gif



    NO THANKS ILL STICK TO BEING A MEAT EATER.

    GOOD FOR YOU
  • TheVimFuego
    TheVimFuego Posts: 2,412 Member
    so how am i going to express my point without debating?

    Interpretive dance?

    I thought the 'net was an ideal place for a mass debate myself.
  • Bronx_Montgomery
    Bronx_Montgomery Posts: 2,284 Member
    Animal products provide vitamin B12 which plant foods don't have unless they are fortify. Vitamin B12 helps to keep the blood cells healthy and it's needed to make DNA. And it also helps prevent anemia. if you a woman and are not eating meat and not taking the vitamin, then it's bad when you are to become pregnant. However, if you are taking vitamins, meat is not essential.

    Bread contains B12


    You must have missed the part where he said 'unless they are fortified', which most bread is.

    Algae isn't. Yeast isn't.

    Can you link me a reliable source saying those come naturally with vitamin B12?


    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16267554

    An excerpt which is leaning towards the suggestion that algae does.


    Are we really debating on Eating Algae?

    wtf_gif_urkel.gif



    NO THANKS ILL STICK TO BEING A MEAT EATER.

    GOOD FOR YOU


    82608372.gif
  • NeverGivesUp
    NeverGivesUp Posts: 960 Member
    I get a B12 shot in my butt every 3 months. I eat fish and eggs, no other meat (I am a pescetarian). I made this choice when I was 10 years old so there is no going back for me. Fruits and veggies are the bulk of my diet and I love the way I feel when I eat them. I do not feel great when I eat processed food and load up on protein. Everyone is so individual but I do believe the protein pushers have it wrong. Some protein is necessary but not much, and getting blood work will reveal what you need. I believe you can get most everything from your food if you choose to eat the right things. Vitamin B12 and iron have been issues for me. I do not absorb iron through my food unfortunately so once or twice a year I have to get an infusion. But I would rather get an infusion once a year and a B12 shot once every 3 months than remembering to take a vitamin pill every day. So it works fine for me and I am being monitored. Believe it or not, if you eat the wrong kinds of protein, you still can be defficient in protein. My blood revealed that my protein levels are perfect. It is all our jobs to be proactive about our health and to eat the foods that give us the proper nutrition. If you really want to know you are healthy, get your blood tested, it can tell you a lot.
  • SwimFan1981
    SwimFan1981 Posts: 1,430 Member
    Animal products provide vitamin B12 which plant foods don't have unless they are fortify. Vitamin B12 helps to keep the blood cells healthy and it's needed to make DNA. And it also helps prevent anemia. if you a woman and are not eating meat and not taking the vitamin, then it's bad when you are to become pregnant. However, if you are taking vitamins, meat is not essential.

    Bread contains B12


    You must have missed the part where he said 'unless they are fortified', which most bread is.

    Algae isn't. Yeast isn't.

    Can you link me a reliable source saying those come naturally with vitamin B12?


    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16267554

    An excerpt which is leaning towards the suggestion that algae does.


    Are we really debating on Eating Algae?

    wtf_gif_urkel.gif



    NO THANKS ILL STICK TO BEING A MEAT EATER.

    GOOD FOR YOU


    82608372.gif

    Hardly a hater...
  • Bronx_Montgomery
    Bronx_Montgomery Posts: 2,284 Member
    Animal products provide vitamin B12 which plant foods don't have unless they are fortify. Vitamin B12 helps to keep the blood cells healthy and it's needed to make DNA. And it also helps prevent anemia. if you a woman and are not eating meat and not taking the vitamin, then it's bad when you are to become pregnant. However, if you are taking vitamins, meat is not essential.

    Bread contains B12


    You must have missed the part where he said 'unless they are fortified', which most bread is.

    Algae isn't. Yeast isn't.

    Can you link me a reliable source saying those come naturally with vitamin B12?


    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16267554

    An excerpt which is leaning towards the suggestion that algae does.


    Are we really debating on Eating Algae?

    wtf_gif_urkel.gif



    NO THANKS ILL STICK TO BEING A MEAT EATER.

    GOOD FOR YOU


    82608372.gif

    Hardly a hater...

    82620761.gif
  • SwimFan1981
    SwimFan1981 Posts: 1,430 Member
    [/quote]

    82620761.gif
    [/quote]

    Dafuq is that?? :laugh:
  • Bronx_Montgomery
    Bronx_Montgomery Posts: 2,284 Member

    82620761.gif
    [/quote]

    Dafuq is that?? :laugh:
    [/quote]

    I HAVE NO CLUE BUT I COULDN'T STOP LAUGHING AND HAD TO SHARE
  • robbieheslop
    robbieheslop Posts: 23 Member
    I was vegetarian and suffered epilepsy from 17 (still have it now at 21). My neurologist told me to start eating meat again so that I was getting nutrients without supplementary medication and also that she promised 1 year from the date we set, I would be shocked why she really requested it… and I was - one year after the date we set, my seizures had dropped dramatically by a huge 98% and now I have only 1 seizure every 2 months, I used to have at some points 10 seizures a day
  • dbkrantz
    dbkrantz Posts: 138
    In my opinion, you need to separate the idea of ethics and nutrition here. I completely understand and appreciate the ethics of becoming vegetarian or vegan.

    Now, in terms of nutrition, I think the healthiest way is about balance. If you don't want to eat meat, you can get amazing sources of proteins in beans and lentils and tones of good stuff. As long as you have a balanced diet being vegetarian or vegan, that's perfect!

    What I don't love is the fact that meat-eaters and vegans/vegetarian criticising each other on matters of health, protein, diet and so on. At the end of the day, of meat-eaters or vegans/vegs found their balance, it's great - whatever works for you.

    But please stop fighting about which one has better nutrition or better health benefits. :)
  • panicintheattic
    panicintheattic Posts: 102 Member
    Like people have said, that are a few nutrients that are hard to find in non-meat sources unless they're fortified, but honestly if you're smart enough and willing to do some research on what you're eating, most people don't have a problem getting the right stuff on a vegetarian diet. I've been a vegetarian for about 7 years, so at this point the thought of eating meat just grosses me out, but I don't have a problem with people that do. I think when you get into vegan diets is where things get a little trickier, especially because so many vegan dairy alternatives are based so heavily in oil. Just because you eliminate meat and dairy doesn't mean you can be eating right- I spent about a year as a vegan and my diet was mainly vegan ice cream XD But, people also definitely can do it right. They just need to take time to monitor what they're eating and how it's affecting their bodies.
  • sunsnstatheart
    sunsnstatheart Posts: 2,544 Member

    Why is this such a common astigmatism? What are your thoughts (WITHOUT BEING RUDE OR DEBATING) on a no-meat lifestyle?

    so how am i going to express my point without debating?

    ^^ This. So the OP starts a thread with an insult and then says don't be rude. Thanks for making it easy to completely discount your opinions.
  • Because a lot of people associate vegetarianism/veganism with those crazy "lol chickens are cute so I won't eat them!" teenage vegetarians who are uneducated and don't know how to properly take care of their bodies. Read: think eating french fries or chips for every meal is acceptable because they're a vegetarian.

    It took me a while to realise not every vegetarian is like that. Once I did, I stopped pushing "eat meat, it's healthier" because I found that an educated vegetarian will still be healthy without meat.