MyriiStorm wrote: »

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/vegetarians-are-less-healthy-and-have-a-lower-quality-of-life-than-meat-eaters-scientists-say-9236340.html

It concluded: “Our study has shown that Austrian adults who consume a vegetarian diet are less healthy (in terms of cancer, allergies, and mental health disorders), have a lower quality of life, and also require more medical treatment.”

Does it seem like more of the scientific community is coming around to this way of thinking? Or is it just that I'm noticing it more?

As a consummate carnivore, I have to at least be fair. There is a strong reason to suspect that people turn to vegetarianism because they are sick and are trying to get healthy. We can't be sure that the higher numbers are caused by vegetarianism or that vegetarianism appeals more to people who are already suffering. We've all be told that fruits and vegetables are healthy, so clearly eating only those would be healthiest. Right?

I know my turn to vegetarianism, when I was younger, was at least partially motivated by my health (overweight and out of shape). It didn't help, except for short-term weight loss. It actually made things worse over the long term.

Now, my personal belief is that vegetarians are doomed to be less healthy because they are eating suboptimal foods and depriving themselves of the nutrients in the correct balance for health. That's my personal belief, and I think long term results show that it might not be unfounded. I just don't know that this study proves it. What we need is a collection of studies that follows the health of people and tracks how their health changes over time. I'm not sure what a good study would look like.

I still enjoy studies like this. But, I've long since abandoned hope that they offer any strong evidence for the healthiness of eating meat.

or

I’m primarily vegetarian and for what it’s worth here’s my opinion:

It is very easy to eat poorly as a vegetarian. I was horrible when I first stopped eating meat. I substituted carbs like pasta, rice and potato based dishes for the meat. My fat intake became a lot lower and big surprise, I gained weight. I was definitely not eating healthier as a vegetarian. All of those extra carbs caused more carb cravings and looking back, that’s about when I really developed a sweet tooth; after all, cookies, ice cream, etc. are vegetarian friendly. I few years into it I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and a severe Vitamin D deficiency, I was definitely not as healthy on that kind of diet.

Now after 10 years, I’ve researched, worked with a nutritionist, and studied everything I can get my hands on and am now doing it the right way. I do believe that you can be a very healthy vegetarian, BUT it is not the easiest way to good health and I don’t think it's right for everyone. (My husband and kids do great eating meat, sadly I get horrible stomach aches when I eat it.) You really do have to understand nutrition and make sure to get your macros right in order to make vegetarianism work or you will easily end up worse off for it.