Can A Vegetarian diet still be healthy?

I want to be come a Vegetarian because I hate the fact

of eating animals because of how cruel there treated ETC.

But is it really a healthy diet?I already can't eat/drink dairy products

would it be bad to also cut out meat.

Is it very expensive to eat vegetarian meals.

I really like spicy foods what is some ways to spice

vegetarian foods.

I do like fish If I were to eat fish would I not be considered a vegetarian.



Thanks in advancedCan A Vegetarian diet still be healthy?
I am a London Nutritionist I have to admit over 95% of the patients I see in my London Clinics are meat eaters and the few vegetarians I do see are usually “healthier than average.”

However The trouble is that you need to put better than average in perspective - the UK average diet is causing our nation a whole host of preventable diseases and problems such as infertility. I think vegetarians and vegans and the organisations and societies that represent them should set a much better example if they want to prove this is potentially the best diet on the planet.”



There needs to be more emphasis on the need for high quality mixed proteins and essential fatty acids in the diet. A lot of vegetarian literature leads you to believe you'll reach your daily quota of key nutrients almost by accident - it's simple but not quite that simple.



On a diet of coffee, toast, pizza, pasta and chips it just won't happen.



Sick Nation



currently statistics based on The Oxford Study show the average vegan has the same overall death rate as healthy meat eaters.



The UK Department of Health recommends we should aim to consume five portions fruit and vegetables a day, in many other countries it’s ten portions. Only in Wales do they even come close to achieving the modest UK targets with just over four portions a day.



A recent study by The Institute of Optimum Nutrition of 37,000 people in the UK suggested 80% of the UK population consider themselves to be ill with problems ranging from migraines and digestive problems to skin complaints, energy and mood issues - all of which can be helped by better nutrition.



Vegetarian Cynicism



UK chef Jamie Oliver, and London nutritionists Gillian McKieth, Patrick Holford and Ian Marber The Food Doctor have done a lot of work in the UK to highlight the benefits of better nutrition but often many vegetarians don’t listen.



Many believe that all they need to do is cut out the meat and they are often cynical of official healthy eating messages.



Vegetarians are frequently subjected to multi million pound propaganda such as the recent “Milk Makes You Beautiful” campaign, or told by their doctors they must eat meat which is simply not true.



Vegetarian option not healthy option.



The other problem is the availability of nutritious food from restaurants and caterers – yes you can get a vegan all day breakfast in a Little Chef Roadside Café but it’s usually swimming in saturated fat and worse still full of dangerous hydrogenated trans fats.



Yvonne used to be a director for Cranks the original vegetarian health and vitality health food company and restaurant chain that started in London’s trendy Carnaby Street in 1961. As well as Nutritional Therapy Yvonne also provides catering consultancy services for some of the companies in the FT top 100, Worldwide investment banks in the City of London. Even here, at some of the best companies to work for in the UK, the nutritional content of the vegetarian offer in the on-sight catering facilities is woeful.



“People are choosing the vegetarian option thinking it’s healthier when quite often the dish is full of white carbohydrate, sugar, salt, saturated fat, hydrogenated fat and seriously lacking in any worthwhile protein – from a health perspective they may as well not have bothered”



A combination of ill-informed caterers and complacent vegetarians may result in a recipe for vegetarian and vegan disaster.




You CAN be healthy without eating meat.

It is not very expensive. The most expensive part of a meal is often the meat.

Indian foods are almost all vegetarian and can be very spicy. Just be creative.

If you eat fish you are not a vegetarian. You would be a Pescetarianism



There are 7 essential amino acids for you to consume. Your body will make the rest. You can get all 7 from a peanut butter sandwich (if you use wheat bread), or from beans and rice, or other non flesh sources.



I am not a vegetarian because I think meat is yummy but you defiantly do not need meat to be healthy.



EDIT: I've heard many vegetarians develop an iron deficiency. Make sure you are getting all your vitamins and minerals as well as proteins.Can A Vegetarian diet still be healthy?
"But is it really a healthy diet?"

Yes. Your healthy diet is based on the nutrients that you take in. You need protein, carbs, fats, vitamins, and minerals. You can get all these from vegetarian sources. You do not NEED meat to be healthy...in fact, most people with heart diesease, high cholesterol, and diabetes are omnivores, which should tell you that just eating meat won't make you healthy.





"Is it very expensive to eat vegetarian meals."

At a restaurant, a salad is cheaper than a steak. That should tell you something. If you buy all the fake cheese and fake meat, then yes, it'll be expensive. Eating grains, nuts, legumes (beans, peanuts), vegetables, and fruits isn't expensive, especially when you buy them frozen or on sale.





"I really like spicy foods what is some ways to spice

vegetarian foods."

Uh...are you suggesting that hot sauce, pepper, and chile powders are only for meat? As long as there's no animal product used in the seasoning (like, say, chicken boullion), you can use ANY spice.



"I do like fish If I were to eat fish would I not be considered a vegetarian."

You would be considered a "pescatarian."
It's not a question of whether you eat meat or not as to whether your diet is healthy. I think people lose the focus on the fact that they have to eat nutritious food. You can call yourself a vegetarian and eat cookies all day. But you'll destroy your health. The same goes if you eat cookies and meat all day. On the other hand, if you plan a healthful vegetarian menu that focuses on meeting all your nutritional needs, it can be the healthiest diet there is.



Food has protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and water. You can get it all in a vegetarian diet. I've been a vegetarian or vegan for most of my life, and I"m in excellent health. The man who invented the word vegan was for most of his life and lived to age 95.



It is improved even more if you get off your rear end and exercise. Can A Vegetarian diet still be healthy?
If you're going to eat fish and eggs, the only health issue you'd have is if you seriously increased your intake of dairy and eggs.



Eating vegetarian is really cheap, actually. There are tons of spicy vegetarian foods. Chili, spicy stir fry, and curries can all be made vegetarian very easily.



Be sure you're eating a wide variety of foods and include beans and seeds (be careful, seeds and some legumes can be very high in fat) as well as whole grains, you've nothing to worry about.
You're not vegetarian if you eat fish, you are a pescactarian. It's up to you which one you chose, I am vegetarian because I feel that fish have rights too and over fishing is awful!

It is a vegetarianism is a healthy diet, but only if you replace all your needed protein and iron...

A few pistachio nuts, dates (fruit) and pumpkin seeds everyday should replace everything you need.

It is not expensive in fact I'd say it could be cheaper then eating meat.
You'd be called a pescatarian if you want to eat fish.

Vegetarian diets are the healthiest of all!

As long as you get all your protein,

(beans, nuts, soy... etc.) you'll be fine.

And plus some other vitamins and minerals that you might lack.

You should research alternative foods

and carefully plan out your diet so you get all the nutrition you need.

And not all vegetarian foods are expensive.

You just have to find the right places to shop.

And even if they are a bit expensive,

it's not a high price to pay.

You're changing for a better lifestyle, eating healthy,

plus, doing your part to save all those poorly treated animals.
I am the same at you. I have been vegatarian for one year because of the horribleness that we inflict on animals. Good for you for considering it. The vegatarian diet is MORE healthy than a meat eating diet as long as you eat the right things. Vegetables, grains, rice, lentils. When you get sick (eg. cancer) red meat is the first thing you are told to cut from your diet. Fish is healthy. Red meat is BAD. i eat fish but no red meat or chicken. That means i'm not really a vegatarian but a pescatarian (i think that's how you spell it). I feel so good for not eating farm animals. Who are WE to eat them?! If you just eat your usual food minus the red meat and chicken (chickens are the most abused animals of them all) and add fish to your diet twice a week you will be healthier than before. Good luck. You will sleep better for it.


you need to be creative with your menu, and also plan your menu for the week and shop accordingly in the weekend.



it is so untrue that it is expensive to eat vegetarian meals - refuse to believe that for a seoond. a bag of lentils that is so rich in protein is probably a 10th of the price of a chicken... and the bag will last you for ages as you try different recipes with it. also go to any restaurant and the veg option is ALWAYS cheaper than the meat option.



here are some useful websites



http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/vegetarian_and…



http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/vegetarian_and…



http://www.natco-online.com/acatalog/Rec…

(your spicy vegetarian recipes are right here!)





http://www.tarladalal.com/ComplimentaryR…



http://www.tarladalal.com

(visit this site regularly as every week the front page recipes are updated, you can view them for a limited time then they become for 'members only' so collect recipes as you go along ! they are excellent on this site

by the way if you eat fish you are not vegetarian
No you're not vegetarian if you eat fish.

Yes its a very healthy diet. Albert Einstein was vegetarian and he said its the best thing you can do to help your health.

There are plenty of things you can spice. Meat isn't spicy is it?

Its the chillis that make it spicy.

http://www.goveg.com/
No, you are not a vegetarian if you eat fish. I don't see why you'd want to- fish are treated just as cruelly as cows or chickens.



A balanced vegetarian is every bit as healthy as an omnivorous one. :)
It's good to eat lots of veges, but i think you should eat some meats as you need energy to work everyday. You also can try those vegetarian meats cause they're tasty too! =P
not really
That's an excellent question. I'm a chef and my current girlfriend is a vegetarian and I know all too well what can happen if you are not careful about your diet. You must talk to your doctor or a nutritionist if available. But to get you started, I know lots of vegetarians who eat fish, and anyway it's your decision, if you don't feel guilty about it what does it matter. There is no set "guidelines" for being a vegetarian eat what you want as far as fish goes as long as you are comfortable with it. Also if you're dropping meat from your diet you must must must find a way to get protein in your diet. Good sources: Tofu, edamame(soy beans), Peanut butter, protein powders you can get from GNC. Also since you can't have dairy make sure to get supplements from GNC such as vitamins, minerals, those sorts of things. And make sure when you go in there that you tell them you are a vegitarian because some supplements are made from animal materials. Also, a lot of people don't realize when you drop meat you lose about 85% of your iron intake and in a lot of cases if you don't make up for that you can become anemic so make sure to stay on top of that. Biggest help to you would be books that have recipes and information on a healthy vegetarian diet. Hope that helped! Good luck and stay healthy!