Is vegetarianism is best for our health ?

[Louise]

Is vegetarianism is best for our health ?
Many people eat vegetable and did not other things. Is this habit is best for health.
I collect information on this topic share information on this topic with brief facts.

[givepeasachance]

Hi Louise
I think it is healthiest not to eat meat. Vegetables are living foods in their fresh and natural state (especially homegrown and organic), and eating them is better for the planet as well as for our bodies. Even non-veggies should probably eat more veg!
Peace and Peas x

[Kitty15]

have to be a healthy veggie tho for it to be good - lol - my friend eats nothing but chips, literally!!! lots of fresh veggies and not crisps etc... my downfall is usually cheese... mmmm... cheese...

[juker]

Providing your diet is varied it can be healthy, but it is possible to be very unhealthy as a vegetarian as Kitty15 said, depends what you eat

I use a lot of fruit, vegetables, beans, pulses <-should include dairy and eggs but have to limit due to allergy

[HerbyCarny]

I don't necessarily think that vegetarianism is healthy. I think the issue is that people eat too much meat and that meat is usually of poor quality and high in saturated fat.

I think it is easier to be healthier on a vegetarian diet, but I know vegetarians that have diets that are not considered healthy.

I think it's more important if people take and interest in their own health and have a balanced diet.

I have found that since cutting down on meat I have had a healthier diet, but I wouldn't put that down to not eating meat. Its more because I have thought more about the food I eat in terms of nutritional content.

[Pipsqueak]

As I also mentioned in another thread, anyone interested in current research concerning the relationship between diet and illness and indeed health - specifically the role of a typical Western meat based diet versus a whole-food plant-based diet more common to poorer traditional rural societies - may be interested in the work of a number of medical Doctors currently spearheading the popular increase in vegetarianism and veganism, particularly in the US.

Names to look out for include Drs. Ornish, Campbell, Esselstyn and McDougal.

Findings from The China Study, the most major study of human nutrition to date, appear to strongly indicate a correlation between many serious illnesses and a typical meat heavy Western diet, with the inverse of better health being associated to a whole-food plant-based diet, also being true. See here for further information:

The China Study (book) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

China Study, The: The Most Comprehensive Study of Nutrition Ever Conducted and the Startling Implications for Diet, Weight Loss and Long-term Health: Amazon.co.uk: Colin Campbell: Books

An excellent summary of current pro-plant foods thinking can be found in the documentary film Forks Over Knives which I'd recommend to anyone either with an interest in health, nutrition and vegetarianism or veganism or indeed to anyone who wants to put armchair veggie-skeptics (haven't we all got some around?) right about common misconceptions pertaining to the importance of meat in the diet.

Unfortunately it's not available to buy the DVD the UK until January of next year (see here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Forks-Over-K...2741339&sr=1-2 ), but if you search around a bit online it's possible to find this documentary to watch for free on some video hosting websites..

As others have said, and indeed as the sources above indicate, the key to a truly healthy vegetarian diet, lies in the quality of foods eaten. Fat laden, highly processed foods should ideally only be eaten in moderation, with the majority of meals being based on vegetables, whole grains, fruits, seeds and pulses.

[Randarjon]

Hi,
Eating fruits and vegetables are known to make your skin clear up as well. When you eat a lot of meat you bring in a lot of the oils from the animals and it eventually makes your skin feel greasy. By changing your diet around you are going to not only change how you look, but also change the occurrence of acne and other facial skin conditions. So i think its good for health .