Vegetarian diets are best for weight loss/ healthy hearts
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1Luv0110
Posts: 6 Member
Or are they??
I am a die hard meat eater, but since having high cholesterol and other health issues I have been instructed to go on a no meat diet for 3 months to help my body get on track. Are vegetarians more healthy?
my doctor feels that instead of putting me on cholesterol medication I can stop eating meat and high fatty foods for a while.
Instead of me taking a bunch of other pills to help w/ nutrition I can see a dietician for healthy vegetarian and full of veggie recipes.
Anyone change their lifestyle and become a vegetarian for weight loss or heart health reasons?
Will I be healthier by changing what I eat?
I am a die hard meat eater, but since having high cholesterol and other health issues I have been instructed to go on a no meat diet for 3 months to help my body get on track. Are vegetarians more healthy?
my doctor feels that instead of putting me on cholesterol medication I can stop eating meat and high fatty foods for a while.
Instead of me taking a bunch of other pills to help w/ nutrition I can see a dietician for healthy vegetarian and full of veggie recipes.
Anyone change their lifestyle and become a vegetarian for weight loss or heart health reasons?
Will I be healthier by changing what I eat?
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Replies
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No. What is the likelihood you can do this sustainability? What happens after 3 months? Do you go back to a poor diet? Also, foods high in cholesterol do not lead to high blood levels of cholesterol. Eat in deficit, exercise, and avoid foods high in saturated fat.
My total cholesterol dropped 80 points in 2 months after basically doing this, although I have not avoided foods high in saturated fat.0 -
You dont have to go full vegetarian for health unless you want to. I know many fat & unhealthy vegetarians. Adding more vegetarian dishes into your diet can help over all along with exercise. I eat them because I like them and I can stretch out my grocery budget better with a bag of dry beans and a bag of veggie further than I can a piece of meat.0
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As long as you don't replace the meat with junk food or pills then I do believe it will make you a healthier person. I feel and look better as a vegetarian than I ever did as a meat eater. Good luck to you in whatever you end up choosing. I hope you get good results when you go back to your doctor. I think it is always a good idea to try and make lifestyle changes and see if that works for you before taking medication.0
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No. What is the likelihood you can do this sustainability? What happens after 3 months? Do you go back to a poor diet? Also, foods high in cholesterol do not lead to high blood levels of cholesterol. Eat in deficit, exercise, and avoid foods high in saturated fat.
My total cholesterol dropped 80 points in 2 months after basically doing this, although I have not avoided foods high in saturated fat.
Really? That's a lot, and you did not change your diet?0 -
id ask him for the current evidence based studies that supports a vegetarian diet over medicinal management in lowering cholesterol and improving health.0
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You dont have to go full vegetarian for health unless you want to. I know many fat & unhealthy vegetarians. Adding more vegetarian dishes into your diet can help over all along with exercise. I eat them because I like them and I can stretch out my grocery budget better with a bag of dry beans and a bag of veggie further than I can a piece of meat.
So a few meals per week instead of full blown vegetarian.....that could work so I don't feel deprived0 -
No. What is the likelihood you can do this sustainability? What happens after 3 months? Do you go back to a poor diet? Also, foods high in cholesterol do not lead to high blood levels of cholesterol. Eat in deficit, exercise, and avoid foods high in saturated fat.
My total cholesterol dropped 80 points in 2 months after basically doing this, although I have not avoided foods high in saturated fat.
Really? That's a lot, and you did not change your diet?
I ate in deficit so I was eating less and better stuff, leading to 25lb weight loss as well (over 3 months, close to 35 now), but I did not deny myself pizza or steak. Just tracked it.
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Total b.s. re the weight loss.
And I say this as someone who mostly eats lentils, beans, some eggs.
What "track" are you supposed to be on?
Ask the doc to send you to a dietician if he/she wants you to lose weight.0 -
Or are they??
I am a die hard meat eater, but since having high cholesterol and other health issues I have been instructed to go on a no meat diet for 3 months to help my body get on track. Are vegetarians more healthy?
my doctor feels that instead of putting me on cholesterol medication I can stop eating meat and high fatty foods for a while.
Instead of me taking a bunch of other pills to help w/ nutrition I can see a dietician for healthy vegetarian and full of veggie recipes.
Anyone change their lifestyle and become a vegetarian for weight loss or heart health reasons?
Will I be healthier by changing what I eat?
Since your doctor said for only 3 months...that might work, but you will need to have a plan for what you will eat on your vegetarian diet (there are so many delicious options) and a plan for when you switch back from a vegetarian diet (you can't just go back to the same ole way of eating, if that is what your doctor thinks is the cause of your numbers). Did the doctor address those issues? Like, do you normally eat a high sodium, low nutrient diet?
When I was a vegetarian both my blood pressure and my cholesterol were normal. I ate that way for 20-ish years.
Then I stopped really paying attention to what I was eating, and I started drinking more alcohol (beer and cheap wine) and eventually got to a point where the doctor told me to get a grip on my diet and exercise or else I would need medication for both.
So, I lowered my Cholesterol and my Triglycerides by exercising more, drinking enough water, cutting back on the large amount of alcohol I was drinking, and making more nutritious health choices more often. I don't think that meat is necessarily the problem, but a vegetarian diet would help if that meant you were getting more fiber and nutrients in your food. Even vegetarians can make poor food choices, which is why you need a plan.
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I've been a vegetarian for thirteen years, and my blood pressure is always low, and I've got no problem whatsoever building muscle. 1Luv, cutting out dietary cholesterol and fried, fatty foods *will* lower your cholesterol levels and give you a healthier heart. Them's the facts. Good luck!0
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Total b.s. re the weight loss.
And I say this as someone who mostly eats lentils, beans, some eggs.
What "track" are you supposed to be on?
Ask the doc to send you to a dietician if he/she wants you to lose weight.
They referred me to a dietician to help me get the hang of the no meat thing. This is going to be hard0 -
cutting out dietary cholesterol ... *will* lower your cholesterol levels and give you a healthier heart. Them's the facts. Good luck!
Nope
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2015/02/10/feds-poised-to-withdraw-longstanding-warnings-about-dietary-cholesterol/
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Kimberly_Harper wrote: »Or are they??
I am a die hard meat eater, but since having high cholesterol and other health issues I have been instructed to go on a no meat diet for 3 months to help my body get on track. Are vegetarians more healthy?
my doctor feels that instead of putting me on cholesterol medication I can stop eating meat and high fatty foods for a while.
Instead of me taking a bunch of other pills to help w/ nutrition I can see a dietician for healthy vegetarian and full of veggie recipes.
Anyone change their lifestyle and become a vegetarian for weight loss or heart health reasons?
Will I be healthier by changing what I eat?
Since your doctor said for only 3 months...that might work, but you will need to have a plan for what you will eat on your vegetarian diet (there are so many delicious options) and a plan for when you switch back from a vegetarian diet (you can't just go back to the same ole way of eating, if that is what your doctor thinks is the cause of your numbers). Did the doctor address those issues? Like, do you normally eat a high sodium, low nutrient diet?
When I was a vegetarian both my blood pressure and my cholesterol were normal. I ate that way for 20-ish years.
Then I stopped really paying attention to what I was eating, and I started drinking more alcohol (beer and cheap wine) and eventually got to a point where the doctor told me to get a grip on my diet and exercise or else I would need medication for both.
So, I lowered my Cholesterol and my Triglycerides by exercising more, drinking enough water, cutting back on the large amount of alcohol I was drinking, and making more nutritious health choices more often. I don't think that meat is necessarily the problem, but a vegetarian diet would help if that meant you were getting more fiber and nutrients in your food. Even vegetarians can make poor food choices, which is why you need a plan.
Yes you are right. I think that's what the dietician is for. I'm supposed to move at least 30 minutes per day and macros will be set for me next week. Thanks for the reply.
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You dont have to go full vegetarian for health unless you want to. I know many fat & unhealthy vegetarians. Adding more vegetarian dishes into your diet can help over all along with exercise. I eat them because I like them and I can stretch out my grocery budget better with a bag of dry beans and a bag of veggie further than I can a piece of meat.
So a few meals per week instead of full blown vegetarian.....that could work so I don't feel deprived
I had extremely high cholesterol, high blood pressure and a heart attack to top it off. They limited my dietary cholesterol to 200mg vs the 300 MFP defaults to, lowered my sodium intake and started exercising and now my numbers are back in the normal to low ranges. I started off adding in more veggie dishes and now do a lot of vegetarian meals , but I still eat meat just smaller portions .
I would not do anything drastic at first as you are setting yourself up to fail imho. Talk to a dietician for guidance and track with MFP and you will be fine0 -
Getting rid of cholesterol in your diet will not necessarily change your body's cholesterol levels.
I apologize but I hate doctors who do this. My father has to deal with stupid doctors and was on a statin for years that gave him permanent nerve damage.0 -
I've been told that some people's bodies just naturally create excessive cholesterol regardless of what they eat (or don't eat).0
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Getting rid of cholesterol in your diet will not necessarily change your body's cholesterol levels.
I apologize but I hate doctors who do this. My father has to deal with stupid doctors and was on a satin for years that gave him permanent nerve damage.
Science changes almost daily anymore , very few people are actually affected by dietary cholesterol, I am one of them not significantly but it does change my overall numbers if I go overboard with it. Statins are not my drug of choice but when nothing else works you do what you have to do0 -
I have been a vegetarian for thirty plus years. It can be a very healthy lifestyle...and sometimes it isn't.
I am an ethical vegetarian so I think everyone should be vegetarian/vegan lol.
In my journey towards eating better, I am focusing on adding more protein and vegetables. I think that it is better on focusing on what you are adding rather than what you are cutting. Start looking into vegetable dishes/ meatless main meals and see how that works for you. One of my favorite sites is Skinnytaste. Check it out. Make a goal for youself...such as two out of my three meals will be meatless (or whatever you are comfortable with) and take it from there.
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I was told to eat lean meats, stay away from fried foods and get as much fiber as possible. I started buying Fiber Gourmet pastas. I'm getting around 40 grams a day now.0
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