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

I was a vegetarian for 13 years and then pescetarian for a further 10 years. I recently reintroduced some meat, in the form of free range chicken, organic if possible, and occasional turkey, i try and limit it to twice a week, and otherwise still have fish, beans and eggs as diet mainstays. I just started craving meat again, my mother and brother both used to be vegetarian too, but their health suffered for it as they got older so both went back to meat. I don't have an interest in red meat, or lamb, just chicken and turkey and maybe some liver occasionally if I feel low on iron. I also have days I eat vegan and days I eat vegetarian. I like to mix things up and some days I have no wish to have fish or meat. But I am pretty dependent on dairy to keep me full. If I did not have dairy, I would be resorting to soya yoghurt and a lot of nuts to replace it, which would take my calories way up and not be as filling. I try to get organic dairy where I can, and have goats milk products also. Variety is key for me now, and trying to eat as natural as possible. I relied too much on soya and quorn as a veggie, and microwave meals.

Very true, but most of these things come with all kinds of 'extra' macros that some people might want to avoid. For example, even the best beans are a nightmare in their carb to protein ratios. Many meats (especially beef) have this problem as well, but with fat to carb. However, most poultry can be obtained in ways that render it much better in that area.

I think if someone is really committed to staying vegan and watching macros closely, they'd likely be willing to rely on protein powders. I do, because with my food intolerances, I'd never be able to get enough protein while keeping everything else in balance. It doesn't bother me to take advantage of modern conveniences any more than it bothers me to be using this laptop. It's not "natural" but most food we eat is not in its natural state and many are even engineered/bred, so the vegetarian vs meat eating debate about what we are designed to do to me seems moot. (Last bit not directed at quoted poster, just a preemptive to someone saying, "But protein powder isn't natural!" Neither is a pacemaker.)

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

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

That's really interesting. I recently was told by my doctor that my B-12 is too high and I take supplements that source Omega 3 from algae. (For the record on the B-12 debate, animals aren't the true source of this, they don't make it either, but it's because of bacteria they eat that their tissues supply it.)

Everyone has their own opinion when it comes to eating meat or not. I personally am a vegan.
The key is education. You can still get all basic vitamins and minerals and nutrients you need
through being a vegan or vegetarian and to be honest we probably are a little ahead
We eat fruits and vegetables and nuts and the common meat eater neglects these types of foods.

Ok, I could go on a lot longer. I would suggest to anyone curious about vegans or vegetarians to
check out a book called "eating animals" or go to your netflix and watch "forks over knives."
See how you feel after. Make the choice for yourself.

I am vegetarian, and I feel healthy about it. The only down fall is not getting enough protein unless I try to. I have been drinking Herbalife shakes lately though, and with those I get enough protein so all is good!

.

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 predicament? 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?

To look after me, I need red meat or regular B12 shots, and I'm not vegetarian. And as for your "friends", meh whatever, if you feel ok, you're at the right level for what your body needs.

My idea of heaven is a big plate of meat, lamb chops , pork chops Steak etc. I am a full on carnivore at heart . but I like my eveg nearly or raw tastes nicer ?? to each their own.

If we weren't made to eat meat, God wouldn't have made animals.....

I was the sickest I had ever been when eating vegetarian. I was only doing it short time to figure out some allergies I was having. I eat meat now and I know it is the healthiest for me since my allergies turned out to be more veg. And fruit based. My doctor was convinced it was animal products causing me problems (she is no longer my doc because she wouldn't listen to me). By the time I listed out what I was having a reaction to I wouldn't have had much to choose from being vegetatian and it would have been hard to get the vitamins and nutrients I need. I will never give up meat again but I don't think it is essential for everyone to eat meat.

I am trying to eat plant based as an experiement (essentially vegan) but I won't call myself one since I can't guarantee I won't let animal products slip in, but I am 99% plant based at the moment.

I did this because I was experiencing some wierd skin stuff (I'll spare you the details) felt tired, etc.
Within 3 days, my hands stopped breaking out and my wierd skin stuff is almost 98% resolved.
I feel great. I have lost weight in a way that I was not doing on an omni diet.
I do not look unhealthy, I am not a bag of bones, I lift weights.
I DO NOT eat anything processed. No pasta, no bread. I avoid gluten but not crazy about it. I also don't stuff myself on grains. I eat lots of beans, lentils, greens, fruits, nuts and seeds. Its easy and tasty.

A veggie diet can be as healthy or unhealthy as a omnivores diet. 99% of the meat eaters I know also look like crap and eat like crap.

that said, I will probably eat meat in the future. I do have a huge problem with factory farms from an ethical and health perspective. Luckily my mom and dad raise grass fed beef and have free range chickens so I can get good eggs. Also deer meat from what they hunt. I have no ethical issue with that.

In my experiment, it takes no more planning to eat a healthy veg diet than it does to eat a healthy omni diet. If you want to eat healthy, you are going to have to do some planning either way. But its not rocket science.
And I'm eating WAY more fresh fruit and vegs than I ever have. Major win for me in my book.

haha.

likewise, if god didn't want us to eat our babies, why did He make them out of meat??? (and fun to shoot at, apparently)

ETA:I just like to turn this kinda tongue in cheek banter around. My favorite bumper sticker is the one that says "Vegans Taste Better" because it can be anti vegan or pro vegan, depending on what you mean by "eating" them

Ummm.... wha...? Thats not even the same kind of comparison... Having a preference for meat (carnivorous) is nothing even remotely close to being cannibalistic. This isn't "tongue-in-cheek" banter, you are just sick!

My post of this picture was meant to be funny and not derrogatory, I didnt think it was necessary to post that it was meant to be funny. I saw people getting a bit hot under the collar in discussion and it was my attempt to lift some of that into a more conversational tone.

Wow.....

haha.

my comment about the babies was *also* meant to be funny and not derogatory. Take a chill pill!

Sorry, I tend to value human life far above that of animals. I hate to think of the hypocrisy of people who value animals far above that of humans. Not saying that applies to you, just that I've met enough that do.

I don't eat cows.... I don't kill babies.

Anyone who values animal life over human life is missing the point that humans ARE animals.

i was a vegetarian all my life, it led me to being overweight. veggies and fruits alone are not filling enough, so i'd eat bread, potatoes, junk...
i became meat eater when i was 20. the best thing ever.
but i only eat fish, chicken and turkey breast. i want to try steak!
i'll never eat pork or lamb though.

Why not pork or lamb? Are they too cute as stuffed toys or something?

Seriously, a dead fish is no less dead than a sheep. And a chicken is as alive as a pig.

!

I can't believe I didn't think of the obvious. I prefer extra-virgin cold pressed baby oil, not that stuff they get after the third or fourth pressing of the baby.

In perfect world, people like you should be locked in a large room with a pride of starved lions and let nature take it's toll...of course, i am joking LOL!