Vegetarian diet?

what do you think? is it healthy? what are the MOST important foods to eat as a vegetarian? are there very important ingredients which i would be missing? any other info would be great. thanksVegetarian diet?
The vegetarian diet is healthy, especially if you combine it with the organic diet. However this only applies for individuals who do proper research on the diet requirements.



Calcium can be obtained from soy or dairy, while protein can be obtained from legumes and soy. Most people believe that you have to take several diet pills to stay healthy, but this is not true. There are persons who need addition suplements because of health reasons, but the average person can live off of fruits and vegetables.



"MOST important foods" ? There aren't any ! You have to stick with the foods that work for you and follow the diet pyramid. Because you are increasing your carb intake ie sugar, you must exercise on a regular basis if your metabolism is slow. However you can avoid having to take strenious exercise by using whole grain carbs/brown carbs. These carbs are not refined and are therefore healthier than the alternative white sugar carbs.





There are several types of vegetarians:



Pescatarian (also spelled pescetarian)



The word “pescatarian” is occasionally used to describe those who abstain from eating all meat and animal flesh with the exception of fish. Although the word is not commonly used, more and more people are adopting this kind of diet, usually for health reasons or as a stepping stone to a fully vegetarian diet.





Lacto-ovo- vegetarian



When most people think of vegetarians, they think of lacto-ovo-vegetarians. People who do not eat beef, pork, poultry, fish, shellfish or animal flesh of any kind, but do eat eggs and dairy products are lacto-ovo vegetarians (“lacto” comes from the Latin for milk, and “ovo” for egg).

Lacto-vegetarian is used to describe a vegetarian who does not eat eggs, but does eat dairy products.



Ovo-vegetarian refers to people who do not eat meat or dairy products but do eat eggs.





Vegan



Vegans do not eat meat of any kind and also do not eat eggs, dairy products, or processed foods containing these or other animal-derived ingredients such as gelatin. Many vegans also refrain from eating foods that are made using animal products that may not contain animal products in the finished process, such as sugar and some wines. There is some debate as to whether certain foods, such as honey, fit into a vegan diet.



Other diets closely linked to the veggie diet include:





Raw vegan/Raw food diet



A raw vegan diet consists of unprocessed vegan foods that have not been heated above 115 degrees Fahrenheit (46 degrees Celsius). “Raw foodists” believe that foods cooked above this temperature have lost a significant amount of their nutritional value and are harmful to the body.





Macrobiotic



The macrobiotic diet, revered by some for its healthy and healing qualities, includes unprocessed vegan foods, such as whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and allows the occasional consumption of fish. Sugar and refined oils are avoided. Perhaps the most unique qualifier of the macrobiotic diet is its emphasis on the consumption of Asian vegetables, such as daikon, and sea vegetables, such as seaweed
It is healthy as long as you eat protein. You can get protein from beans, chick peas, eggs, cheese, peanut butter.

You should still eat a variety of foods - different coloured vegetables, grains, dairy products, protein, and a small amount of fat (avoid hydrogenated or trans fat).

I'm not vegetarian but don't eat a lot of red meat.

ppVegetarian diet?
I can't say off the top of my head, just eat a variety of foods to stop yourself becoming deficient. :)
It's very healthy - when handled properly.



There is no list of most important foods. The key is variety. This really is the same for both meat eaters and veg heads. The more variety in your diet the more certain you are of proper nutrition.



Buy organic when you can. Buy whole grains when you can. Buy a big glass container to keep oodles of Nutritional Yeast in - and put it on everything. It's loaded in B vitamins so you'll find yourself constantly in a good mood. Make sure you don't mistakely buy Brewer's Yeast or Bakers Yeast. Never eat active yeast (bakers). Brewer's yeast is bitter and can give you gas.



UGH! and don't buy into the big Protein lie. Our bodies do not store protein. The average person only needs 4 ounces a day. We American's consume an average of 10 times our daily requirement of protein. It comes out in your skin. Dry, itchy skin, hair loss, ashiness.Vegetarian diet?
The products produce in agriculture farms i.e. Potatoes, Tomatoes, Beans, Spine ch, Cabbage, Carrot, Re dish, Cali flower, Cap scum and so on. Even wheat and rice are vegetarian items. Any human can not live without vegetarian food a long time but with only flesh he will have lesser time span. ELEPHANT is vegetarian and normally lives for eighty years while TIGER is flesh eater and lives for fifteen to sixteen years.
I would be careful. Most of the answerers are women. I am growing Man breasts at the moment.
i know vegetarian guys- they quite manly actually. thanks for the snide comment though.



anyway there is no one most imporatn food. get a VARIETY of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and proteins.... you dont' need as much protein as you think. use products like tofu, beans, lentils, peanut butter, hummus, soy, etc. there's all sorts of recipes out there adn it's a lot of fun to start thinking up new meals and cooking for yourself. being veg is very healthy as long as it's done right (ie no pizza and fries everyday just cuz they're meatless!)