Eat Healthy Without Meat
Alex Fir

As concerns about healthy eating have grown, so has the interest
in vegetarianism. Numerous nutrition experts recommend eating
low on the food chain. In plain language this means eating more
grains, vegetables and fruits, and fewer meats, cheeses and
other animal based products.

There are various levels of vegetarianism, and each type has its
own unique health benefits and some health challenges as well.
Of course vegetarians, like meat eaters, must still make healthy
food choices. Simply pigging out on French fries while avoiding
the burger will not make you a healthy vegetarian.

Some people who consider themselves vegetarians still eat
poultry and seafood, while others avoid all animal flesh, even
fish and chicken. Most vegetarians still eat milk, dairy
products and eggs. In nutritional circles these people are
referred to as lacto-ovo vegetarians.

Vegans, on the other hand, avoid all animal products, including
eggs, milk and dairy products, and even fabrics like silk,
leather and wool. It is vegans who face the largest challenges
and risks when trying to follow a healthy diet. Most vegetarian
diets provide more than enough nutrition, as long as smart
dietary choices are made.

The key to eating a healthy vegetarian diet is much the same as
eating a healthy diet that includes meat. It all boils down to
making smart food choices, understanding nutritional labels, and
cooking your vegetables to maximize their nutritional value.

Choosing the foods that make up the bulk of a vegetarian diet is
very important. For most vegetarians, vegetables, grains,
lentils and soy products will make up the bulk of their diet,
and these staples are included in many vegetarian recipes.

When cooking with soy, however, it is important to remember that
tofu is relatively high in fat. The fat content of tofu dishes
is often comparable to that of dishes that are made with lean
cuts of meat. Those vegetarians following a low fat diet may
want to limit the amount of tofu based products they eat.

The same caution applies to the nuts and seeds that can make up
a large part of a vegetarian diet. Nuts and seeds are excellent
sources of dietary protein, but they can be high in fat as well.

Many newly minted vegetarians worry that they will not be able
to get enough protein and iron without eating meat, but for most
vegetarians this is not a problem. Most diets today actually
contain too much protein, and there are many non animal derived
sources of protein for vegetarians to enjoy.

Proper cooking techniques are of course very important to any
healthy diet. Avoiding high fat cooking methods is important, as
is avoiding the use of high fat creams, butters and sauces. A
vegetable stir fry cooked in healthy olive oil can be a great
addition to any vegetarian menu. And a great fruit salad is both
easy to make and delicious as a snack or a meal.

The only real area of concern when it comes to vegetarianism and
health is the B-complex vitamins, particularly vitamin B12.
Vitamin B12 is almost exclusively derived from animal based
sources, so vegans, who avoid all animal products, should take a
high quality vitamin B12 or B-complex vitamin supplement. It is
also important for vegans to discuss their diet and lifestyle
with their family physicians. As vegetarianism becomes more
widespread, the amount of information on the nutritional needs
of these two groups continues to grow.

The bottom line is that vegetarians can enjoy a very healthy
lifestyle. Making vegetables, fruits, whole grains and beans the
centerpiece of the diet is a smart move for many people, and a
good low fat vegetarian diet can be a great way to enjoy a
healthy lifestyle. As with a meat based diet, however, it is
important for vegetarians to follow common sense eating
guidelines and make smart choices when creating meat free meals.

About the author:

A lot of people eat foods that are generally deficient in the
vitamins and minerals. Visit Nutri
tional Supplements Center to learn why it is vital that you
take nutri
tional health supplements.

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No matter what your reasons for eating a more vegetarian diet, there’s no denying the obvious health benefits that are derived from the elimination of red meat from your diet. On average, vegetarians have lower levels of the blood fats, cholesterol and triglycerides than meat eaters of similar age and social status have. High levels of blood fats are associated with an increased risk of heart disease.

Lacto-ovo vegetarians, those who eat eggs and dairy products, which contain cholesterol-raising saturated fats and cholesterol, have higher cholesterol levels than do vegans, as those who abstain from all animal foods are called. But even among lacto-ovo vegetarians, cholesterol levels are generally lower than they are among meat eaters.

Researchers have found that older men who eat meat six or more times a week are twice as likely to die of heart disease as those who abstain from meat. Among middle-aged men, meat eaters were four times more likely to suffer a fatal heart attack, according to the study. As for women, who are partly protected by their hormones and generally develop heart disease later in life than men do, the risk of fatal heart disease has been found to be lower only among the older vegetarians.

In a 1982 study of more than 10,000 vegetarians and meat eaters, British researchers found that the more meat consumed, the greater the risk of suffering a heart attack. Though eliminating meat from the diet is likely to reduce your consumption of heart-damaging fats and cholesterol, substituting large amounts of high-fat dairy products and cholesterol-rich eggs can negate the benefit.

To glean the heart-saving benefits of vegetarianism, consumption of such foods as hard cheese, cream cheese, ice cream and eggs should be moderate. And the introduction of more vegetables, fruits and raw foods will definitely enhance the benefits of abstaining from eating meat.

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You might have a general idea that eating a vegetarian diet is more healthy for you. But do you really know how much less the incidence is of certain types of cancers among vegetarians?

Vegetarian diets-naturally low in saturated fat, high in fiber, and replete with cancer-protective phytochemicals-help to prevent cancer. Large studies in England and Germany have shown that vegetarians are about 40 percent less likely to develop cancer compared to meat-eaters. In the U.S., studies of Seventh-Day Adventists, who are largely lacto-ovo vegetarians, have shown significant reductions in cancer risk among those who avoided meat. Similarly, breast cancer rates are dramatically lower in nations, such as China, that follow plant-based diets. Interestingly, Japanese women who follow Western-style, meat-based diets are eight times more likely to develop breast cancer than women who follow a more traditional plant-based diet. Meat and dairy products contribute to many forms of cancer, including cancer of the colon, breast, ovaries, and prostate.

Harvard studies that included tens of thousands of women and men have shown that regular meat consumption increases colon cancer risk by roughly 300 percent. High-fat diets also encourage the body’s production of estrogens. Increased levels of this sex hormone have been linked to breast cancer. A recent report noted that the rate of breast cancer among premenopausal women who ate the most animal (but not vegetable) fat was one-third higher than that of women who ate the least animal fat. A separate study from Cambridge University also linked diets high in saturated fat to breast cancer. One study linked dairy products to an increased risk of ovarian cancer.

The process of breaking down the lactose (milk sugar) evidently damages the ovaries. Daily meat consumption triples the risk of prostate enlargement. Regular milk consumption doubles the risk and failure to consume vegetables regularly nearly quadruples the risk.

Vegetarians avoid the animal fat linked to cancer and get abundant fiber, vitamins, and phytochemicals that help to prevent cancer. In addition, blood analysis of vegetarians reveals a higher level of “natural killer cells,” specialized white blood cells that attack cancer cells.

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The vegetarian way of eating can be a very healthy style of eating. The rules still apply with healthy eating, although you should add variety, balance, and moderation.

A vegetarian is someone who avoids all types of meat, whether it be hamburgers, hotdogs, chicken, or even fish. Vegetarians are also sometimes classified by the type of food they are or aren’t willing to eat. For example, Lacto-ovo vegetarians will avoid animal flesh yet they will eat eggs and most dairy products. A Vegan on the
other hand, will avoid all food that has any trace of animal origin.

Because they don’t eat meet, vegetarians will often wonder how they’ll get enough protein. Although you may not realize it, the average American actually consumes more protein than he actually needs. For the lacto-ovo vegetarian, dairy products are an excellent source of protein. Vegans on the other hand, get their protein from nuts, seeds, and soy products.

Along the lines of beans, there are several to choose from, including green or red lentils, peanuts, split peas, pinto, soy, kidney, and many more. Some of them you are already familiar, such as kidney beans in chili, refried beans in Mexican dishes, red beans and rice, and pinto beans. Although some beans taste good as they are, others are available with different flavors to help enhance their taste. Nuts are hihg in protein, although they deliver a lot more fat than beans, which means you should enjoy them in moderation. By having one cup of cooked beans, you’ll get the same amount of
protein as eating two ounces of meat!

The nutrients of concern for vegans, who avoid all types of animal food, are vitamin B12, calcium, and vitamin D. In the average North American diet, the primary source for B12 is animals. To have an adequate intake of B12, vegans should reguarly consume vitamin B12 supplements or foods, which contain vitamin B12, such as soy products or milk.

For calcium, vegans can rely on orange juice or soy milk, as they are fortified with calcium. Beans and leafy green vegetables will also contain some calcium as well.

Although all types of vegetarians rely on simple food groups, controlling your vitamins and calcium intake is something you should always do. This is very important for eating healthy, as well as staying healthy. If you control what you eat, you’ll have many years of healthy eating ahead of you.

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