Going Veggie?
So, you are considering or curious about going vegetarian? . Well lets take a step back, and look at all the facts with an unbaised opinion.
MYTH BUSTERS
The Myth: There are vitamins in meat that we need that we can't get from anywhere else, such as vitamin B12.
The Truth: Vegetarian and Vegan food producers specialise in using supplements and healthy alternatives to these vitamins. Even B12!
The Myth: If everyone decided to go Vegetarian then we would be over run with animals!
The Truth: Have you ever seen inside a factory farm? The animals are hardly swinging from the rooftops, having a great time, and breeding are they? Farmers control the amount of breeding that goes on, the more people that eat meat, the more animals they breed, if you don't eat meat, then they will stop breeding them.
The Myth: Okay, so if everybody went Vegetarian then all the animals would die out!
The Truth: What was here first, animals or humans? Animals, and they survived fine without us being there to eat them.
The Myth: We were meant to eat meat, we have the teeth of a Carnivore/Omnivore!
The Truth: A lion is a carnivore, A shark is a carnivore, even cats and dogs are carnivore but there is no likeness in the teeth at all. And if we had the teeth and even the stomach of an Omnivore then we would be able to break down and digest anything including bone and hair. In fact, our teeth are more similar to Apes, who use them to grind vegetation. Human teeth could not bite through the hide of cattle, if we had carnivore's teeth, then we could.
The Myth: Vegetables feel pain and plantation screams when it's cut!
The Truth: It is impossible for vegetation to feel pain because they do not have a central nervous system. As for the screaming plants, when a plant is cut it releases a build up in pressure which forces it to rush towards the opening making a whoosing sound as it goes which has been picked up by electronic equipment and interrpeted as a scream. We can assure you, it's not!
The Myth: Meat is full of protein that we need to build muscle!
The Truth: Yes, that's why a gorilla is so skinny and weak!
The Myth: The animals must be happy because they put on weight!
The Truth: The animals are locked inside a cell where they cannot even turn around, they are constantly being feed all sorts of chemicals to force them to grow at an alarming rate, they have no choice but to sit there and put on weight.
The Myth: If we all went Vegetarian, we would run out of land to grow food!
The Truth: How? If we all went Vegetarian, we would use half the land that we use today. If we all went Vegan then we would use a quarter. And all the grain and water that feeds the animals, would all feed the people in the third world countries.
What is a vegetarian?
A vegetarian does not eat any meat, including red meats (like beef or lamb), white meats (like chicken or turkey), Fish (like tuna or cod) or anything else that once had a life, including shellfish, oysters and prawns. The also do not eat any substance derived from meat, such as animal lard, animal rennet and gelatin. Most vegetarians do eat dairy produce such as milk and eggs, if they are vegetarian for moral reasons, their eggs are generally free range. These people are known as Lacto - Ovo - Vegetarians.
It is also common to find Lacto - Vegetarians, these are people who eat dairy products but avoid eggs, and Ovo - Vegetarian, which is viceversa, a vegetrian that eats eggs, but avoids all other dairy. After that comes Vegan, which is covered in the Going Vegan? section.
Many people claim that they are vegetarian but they eat fish, or they eat chicken, if this is the case then they are not vegetarian, a vegetarian will not eat anything that had a face, anything that moved or anything that once had a life of it's own.
Vegetarian - The healthy Option!
Many people are under the impression that meat is essential in our day to day diet. But the truth is, it's not, and it never was. In fact it has quite the opposite effect. It has been scientifically proven that meat has a link to all the following illnesses;
Cancer and CHD
This includes Colon, Breast, Ovarian and Prostate cancers. Vegetarians generally eat a lot of fruit and vegetables which contain essential vitamins such as E, C and A. These are antioxidant vitamins which destroy free radicals that damage cells, and cause cancer. Milk, and saturated fat contains a substance that encourgae the growth of calves into large cattle. It is an insulin growth factor known as IGF - 1, this is thought to be the link between dairy and breast cancer. Cows milk also contains sugars which cause Ovarian cancer. Fruit and vegetables contain no IGF - 1.
Fibre is a vital source to avoiding bowel cancer, it sweeps through the bowel taking with it harmful toxins and reducing the level of destructive bile acids. Vegetarians lower their levels of saturated fat and have a higer intake of fibre provided protection, this also helps to prevent them against Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) and Diverticular Disease. Prostate cancer however, is the highest risk. 16 men die everyday in Britain alone from prostate cancer as it will go unnoticed until it is too late. Once again this cancer comes from IGF - 1.
Vegetarians lower their chances of getting cancer by 40% and reduce the risk of a heart attack by 25%
Infertility
Lactose in milk has been known to damage the ovaries and lead to infertility. Obesity also has the same effect, both can be avoided with a healthy vegetarian diet.
Diabetes
Vegetarians are generally slimmer than meat eaters as their diet is usually balanced and consits of plenty of fruit and vegetables, pasta, rice and cereals. These foods help control blood sugar levels and reduces the risk of diabetes by 45% and also reduces the risk of Hypertension.
Oesteoporosis
Vegetarians face a lower risk of developing this as plants carry Phytoestrogens which stimulate bone building cells. With higer levels of potassium and magnesium, vegetarians successfully store calcium better than meat eaters, in doing so, reduce the risk of bone problems.
Strokes
Vegetarians have lower salt, cholesterol and saturated fat levels, thus reducting the chances of a stroke.
LETS GO VEGGIE!
Did you know that in one person turning vegetarian, they will save around 3000 animals in their lifetime.
Ok, so you want to go Vegetarian? You want to be healthy? And you want to save the lives of thousands of animals?
So lets do it! Lets go veggie!
Where do you start?
Start now! Just do it, it's not hard. Millions of people worldwide have already done it, and you can too. You will be healthier and happier with a clear conscience. Say to yourself, 'as of now, I am a vegetarian, I will not eat meat', as long as you mean it, it's done.
What do you eat?
Well what did you eat? Pies? Burgers? Sausages? Bacon sandwiches? Chicken? Even corned beef sandwiches? Well you can still eat all of that, it tastes just as good, only no animals were involved in the process and as an added bonus, most of the alternative products have hardly any fat! and are high in supplements and nutritious benefits.
Cauldron and Quorn do a varied range of alternative foods, you will also find that supermarkets do their own slightly cheaper but just as good alternatives. Shop around and find out what you enjoy. Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables, beans/pulses, pasta and rices. You can get a high source of calcium from broccoli and a good source of iron and folic acid from steamed spinach. If you plan to still have dairy, try to stick to free range eggs, and any other foods you buy, check for these logos, or something similar (including cheese, some companies still use animal rennet);
Also try to avoid by-products of animals such as Leather, Pearls and Ivory. For more see the Loathing Leather section.
What do you tell people?
Tell them you're a vegetarian and proud of it... or even better, tell them you're a lifesaver, and a healthy one at that!
What about eating out?
Almost every eatery in the world now caters for Vegetarians, and most menus will have information about contents or the green V alongside it. But if you're not sure, just ask. You'll find that they will quite happily help you find something suitable for your dietary requirements. If not, would you want to eat in a place like that?
What about Sunday dinner?
What about it? It won't change much. In most good supermarkets you can now pick up a chicken style roasting joint, or even alternative lamb and beef cutlets, or you can opt for a delicious nut roast. Vegetarian and Vegan gravy can be picked up in any good store and simply cook your roast potatoes and Yorkshire puddings in olive oil, you won't taste the difference, but you'll feel it!
What about my children?
Despite myth it is perfectly healthy for you to switch children over to a vegetarian or even a vegan diet, providing they are getting their supplements from elsewhere like calcium from broccoli, iron from spinach and protein from tofu.
Have I missed anything you would like to know? Contact me on helpsavelives@tiscali.co.uk with your question and I will do all in my power to answer it for you.