Thinking of becoming vegetarian ....

[SteveSRT8]

vegetarians as a population have some poor statistical evidence to support their diet.

But I fully support their right to eat whatever they want. We're all different. For example, my wife has virtually no stomach acid, so she simply cannot digest meat well at all without a supplement.

Then there's all the scary things that Big Food does to our meat!

 

[andyd]

My work day rations are 3 PBJs . I make a whole wheat blend bread, 3 1/2 cups of unbleached flour, 1 cup of whole wheat flour, dried milk , olive oil , and molasses, Store brand super chunk p'nut butter and what ever jelly catches my eye at the discount stoe , lately that has been marmalade. I have a Zojirushi bread machine and it takes me about 5 minutes to mix up a loaf. Cheap quick and delicious. I have an apple and a banana. Black coffee. I come home and eat whatever is set before me. mostly with meat. Been experimenting with grits and a hash consisting of Potato, sweet potato, cabbage and onions on the weekends. I mostly ignore chloresterol warnings, My BP is good. and my blood is cancer free.

 

[Cutehumor]

I just got a grill yesterday for the first time in my life. vegetarian lifestyle isn't in my picture for along time

 

[JHZR2]

While I dont live by it, I think there is wisdom in the concept that meat should be taken like a condiment to your vegetables. I think that was Thomas Jefferson's approach.

Too much meat, too many times makes me feel sluggish, fat and acidic. Not enough meat-type protein and Im hungry all the time and tend to have wider swings in blood sugar.

In my opinion, there is benefit to low-meat. We just dont need that much protein as adults, and many of the weightlifter types who think they do likely don't either. The key is moderation in everything.

The biggest mistake that it seems to me that vegitarian types make is that they eat a lot of high-glycemic carby stuff. Rice, potatoes, wheat, etc., which play havoc with blood sugar, impede absorption of nutrients, etc.

So that brings us back to healthy vegetables, protein-rich vegetables, very few simple carbs and some meat being optimal for balance and health...

 

[Loobed]

Originally Posted By: 97tbird
I still need to learn a lot about it ..how to get protein etc etc...
I just don't feel like eating meat somehow...I think at 40, I should change my dieting habits and have been thinking of SLOWLY converting to vegetarian...

ate a veggie pizza last night...

Any help/thoughts/feedback/experiences are appreciated....



Do you still eat fish, eggs, and cheese?

The biggest problem with meat today is all the genetic engineering and growth hormones. Unfortunately vegetables are also genetically engineered.

 

[Loobed]

Originally Posted By: Cutehumor
I just got a grill yesterday for the first time in my life. vegetarian lifestyle isn't in my picture for along time

The first thing you should BBQ is a big slab of tri-tip steak, some white corn, and yellow potatoes. You could also throw on a few large prawns.

 

[Al]

Originally Posted By: Loobed

The biggest problem with meat today is all the genetic engineering and growth hormones. Unfortunately vegetables are also genetically engineered.

I don't think there is any problem with genetic engineering. Hormones are (to me) a problem.


A fear (not saying this is you) of genetic engineering is like worrying about irradiated food for preservation = a bunch of hooey (IMHO)

 

[rjundi]

I think I could become a vegetarian with one exception, Seafood.

Seafood seems more natural than plant foods as its caught typically.

My wife and I usually eat seafood (Salmon, Swordfish, Scallops, Squid, Lobster, caught haddock and tuna) at least two times/week.

 

[Lurch]

Yay!! Glad to hear it! I'm 100% vegan since 1/1/11. I also quit ALL supplements, and I no longer sea salt every thing either, and I'm MUCH better off without all that ____. When I need a nutrient, I go for organic foods or herbs that contain that nutrient, and am a lot better balanced doing it this way. Your body will thank you for it.
Suggestions :

Take Superfoods for proteins and nutrients. It will fill in any gaps that you may need, including B-12. Please google it.

Do not eat soy foods

Don't take supplements. Trust me, you're better off without them.

Do not eat protein powders.

As your digestion and GI health improve, you'll do fine on plant proteins.

What I take a lot of every day

3-6 cloves raw garlic
Raw honey 1 to 2 TBS
Black strap molasses
Raw ACV [apple cider vinegar]
Cayenne pepper [2 tsp daily]

All very healing to the GI tract, more so on a vegan diet.

 

[JHZR2]

Those are some good things to take daily. How do you introduce them to your diet, or do you just take them by spoon?

What brand raw ACV do you use?

 

[Lurch]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Those are some good things to take daily. How do you introduce them to your diet, or do you just take them by spoon?

What brand raw ACV do you use?


Hi,

I usually get Bragg's ACV. I'm almost into my 2nd quart of it this year.

I had to start with 1/4th tsp of 35,000 HU cayenne and work up. Later I went to 90,000 HU, and I now use 160,000 HU "Birdseye" cayenne. You have to respect cayenne or it can give you a terrible stomach ache. I can take 1/4 tsp on arising with raw honey and lemon juice in a pint of water. I also take 1/2 a tsp in water an hour or two after a meal with no problem. I just drink it down and try to ignore the burning. It'll sting ya some but doesn't last more than a half minute or so. We've gotten quite used to it.

I usually take ACV with a salad.

Some people take the "ACV Bomb" Which I think is cayenne, ACV, raw honey or BSM, and possibly more than that.

 

[addyguy]

Humans were designed to eat meat - we are supposed to. Our teeth, our digestive track, our intelligence to hunt means meat is an healthy part of our diet.

Being a vegetatarian is NOT a natural state. Vegetarians go on about it being a more 'natural' and 'haelthy' way to live, but it's just a PC crock.

Eat balanced amounts of lean protein and you'll be fine.

 

[Spazdog]

Originally Posted By: addyguy
Humans were designed to eat meat - we are supposed to. Our teeth, our digestive tract, our intelligence to hunt means meat is an healthy part of our diet.

Being a vegetatarian is NOT a natural state. Vegetarians go on about it being a more 'natural' and 'healthy' way to live, but it's just a PC crock.

Eat balanced amounts of lean protein and you'll be fine.


Ooohhh, careful with that "designed" word...

No matter what you subscribe to, as a species we have been eating meat as long as we have been writing our history down or longer.

And vegans do often become hyper-sensitive to certain foods. You seldom hear of that in a person that eats a well balanced diet.

 

[Lurch]

Meat eaters can have food allergies and MUCH more health problems. The colon and liver are where most disease originates, so it's wise to pay attn to these things, and meat is hard to digest.

I ate organic grass fed beef for 10 years, with organic poultry, free range eggs, organic veggies and fruit, and my health slowly got worse.

The vegan way of eating I do is fail proof, so it can't compare to any vegans you may have known that failed. I've heard of many people with life threatening diseases told to become a vegan, and if they did, they got well, if they didn't, they grew their old diseases back again in a few years. I'd rather be on a way of eating that I feel prevents disease, not grows it.

Many people eat meat because they are conditioned to from the TV. The stores are full of meat so they feel obligated to buy meat. Not me. Never again.

 

[SteveSRT8]

Guys, do whatever you feel is right for you.

The only mistake is to presume it is good for EVERYONE.

We're all different.

 

[Lurch]

Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
Guys, do whatever you feel is right for you.

The only mistake is to presume it is good for EVERYONE.

We're all different.


For years that was the way I felt, but not anymore. If a blood type O+ [the "protein type"] like me can successfully become a vegan, ANYBODY can become a vegan, BUT, it has to be done right.

OK, off my soap box. I've pushed my agenda as far as I want to. Over and out. Be well.

 

[Lurch]

I mean, yes, we're all different in many ways, but to think we need animal proteins to survive or be healthy is, IMO, a myth. I'm finding out that it CAN be done, but do your homework before getting into it.

 

[Lurch]

I only know that right now, vegan seems to be doing me good. Many people may function a lot better than I did eating animal proteins.

I'm not here to recruit new vegans, but, if anyone wants more info on this they can feel free to PM me.

I want to get past the stage of arguing with people over things like this, which I think is really a waste of time and energy.

 

[crinkles]

my poop went to near odourless when i went lacto ovo vegetarian a few weeks ago (only made one week).

 

[Volvo_ST1]

Originally Posted By: Lurch
I mean, yes, we're all different in many ways, but to think we need animal proteins to survive or be healthy is, IMO, a myth. I'm finding out that it CAN be done, but do your homework before getting into it.


What the human body needs are the nine essential amino acids found in protein: histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, and valine. Getting all those amino acids from non-animal protein may be difficult.