Vegetarianism

James -

"I was hoping I could get some insightful perspectives on vegetarianism, or more specifically a diet without red meat, pork, poultry or fish.  I have come across literature that indicates vegetarianism is not for everyone and that it really depends on one's body make up and how food is processed by each one of us.  It is my understanding from this point of view that it may be beneficial for certain people while not for others.  I realize vegetarianism is pretty broad in scope and there can be certain food inclusions or exclusions depending on who you talk to so what I would be primarily interested in is the exclusion of meat in one's diet.  There are also cross issues here such as chemical toxicity in meat vs. less toxic organic meats."
 

EL -

I know exactly where you are coming from James.  I have contemplated becoming one (vegetarian and not a complete vegan) for a very long time due to the chemicals and antibiotics and also the fact that our intestinal tract is designed to be vegetarian and not carnivore. The carnivorous animals have a straight and short digestive tract not to allow meat to stay and rut.  They also have a different teeth formation.  I have achieved having mostly fruits and vegetables with very little meat so far and I am heading there all the way.

There are many positive and some negative aspects about becoming a vegetarian. As you have mentioned there are various types of vegetarians.  Nature offers a vast variety of fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds. Plant foods are abundant in nutrients in that they have some or all of the following: vitamins, minerals, protein, carbohydrate, fat, and water. They also contain phytochemicals - plant chemicals that are not essential to life, but help protect against disease - such as beta-carotene. Since so many, possibly thousands, of these compounds exist, this is just the tip of the iceberg (lettuce) :):):). Others include lutein, lycopene, isothiocyanates, and zeoxanthin; quite a mouthful! Most of these compounds aren't available in a pill, so eating fruits and veggies is the only way to get them. 

A well-planned vegetarian diet can provide all of the nutrients needed. Particular attention has to be paid to protein, especially if you have decided to consume no animal products. Everyone requires protein, to maintain and repair muscle tissue, and manufacture blood cells, antibodies, hormones, enzymes, and all types of body structures. All plant foods are incomplete proteins, except for soy. The good news is that some foods are missing the amino acids found in others. We call these complementary proteins. An example is rice and beans. Each food's assortment of amino acids complements the other. In other words, essential amino acids missing in one food are provided by another. As long as they are eaten in the same day, our bodies can form proteins from them. 

The negative aspect of vegetarianism is the possible deficiencies that may develop if a balanced eating plan is not consumed. If dairy, meat, fish, and poultry are excluded, one may become deficient in vitamin B12 (important for nerve transmission and necessary for life), calcium (for strong bones, among other functions), iron (for blood), and zinc (for immunity and healing), just to name a few. As a result, it is what is included, rather than excluded, in our diet that counts.

I would suggest an in-depth understanding of the food groups and what they have to offer before becoming one and also making sure that your food is supplemented with proper vitamins in pill or liquid forms if necessary. The latter mind you is required today anyhow even if one is not a vegetarian.  It is not so much that vegetarianism is for some and not others.  What goes wrong for most people is what I have mentioned above.  They do not know how to mix their food for maximum potential and they end up sick and then they blame their body or blood type for it.  Do let me know if you have any questions on what I have said.

James -

"Thank you sooo much for this.  It was very insightful and helpful.  I haven't eaten red meat, pork or poultry for 20 years but have kept fish in my diet (2-3 times a week) so I don't really consider myself a vegetarian.  There is so much in the media now about our lakes and oceans being polluted with mercury and the like that I've been considering giving up fish too.  I think I eat a fairly balanced diet but there is always room for improvement.  I eat a lot of vegetables and fruits and  go the organic route whenever there is the option.  It's amazing, even No Frills has organic options in their produce department now which says something cool about out general consciousness regarding healthy eating choices.  I've been exploring raw eating a little bit as well.  I understand that cooking food destroys the natural enzymes which help us digest and this could be one of the reasons so many people experience digestive problems.  It's all really exciting discovering new recipes and new options for eating but right now I am in research mode to make sure I am not overlooking anything.  If I go veg completely, food combining for my protein and making sure I get B12 will be key things for me to consider if I am to ensure it will be a healthy switch. 

Thanks for your kind advice El!"

Live in Light!

EL