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Family Medicine (Expert Forum)
Does anyone really need meat or dairy ?
Answered by
Kevin Pho, MD - Internal Medicine
KevinMD.com
Questions in the Family Medicine forum are answered by Dr. J.M. Keyes. Topics covered include general health issues, adolescence, babies, child health, eating disorders, fitness, immunizations and vaccines, infectious diseases, medical tests and procedures, and senior health.
Does anyone really need meat or dairy ?
by gnosis, Mar 02, 2003 12:00AM
Hi I am just curious as to whether anyone actually needs to eat meat, fish or dairy. I know that there are plenty of other sources of proteins around like eggs nuts seed legumes etc, but if some one was lectin intollerant to the beans and legumes families of lectins and allergic to nuts would they, in your opinion, be able to thrive on a diet free from meat fish and dairy (assuming they did not have any problems with EPA and DHA eg. desaturase enzyme deficieny etc.) Be very interested to know your medical opinion.
Thanks.
Thanks.
Doctor's Answer
by Kevin Pho, MD, Mar 02, 2003 12:00AM
, Mar 02, 2003 12:00AM
Hello - thanks for asking your question.
As you know, there are different types of vegetarians:
Lacto-ovo vegetarians eat milk, cheese, yogurt, and eggs.
Lacto-vegetarians eat milk, cheese, and yogurt, but avoid eggs and foods containing eggs.
Vegans, or strict vegetarians, avoid eating all animal products.
Thus to answer your question, it is possible to avoid all meat, fish or dairy in a strict vegan diet. If one were allergic to legumes, it would make it more difficult to obtain the necessary nutrition. Without foods like grains, nuts, and legumes, it can be hard to meet needs for some other minerals like zinc and iron.
A common myth about vegetarian eating is that the diet makes it hard to get certain nutrients, such as protein. Soy products can provide the high quality protein needed for growth and tissue maintenance. Although other bean- or grain-based products are sources of protein, they don't contain the high quality protein found in soy products.
Other options for protein if you are allergic to legumes or nuts include foods made from gluten which are a great protein source and are nice replacements for meat in the diet. Look for them in natural foods stores.
I would strongly suggest discussing your concerns with a registered dietician.
I stress that this answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.
Thanks,
Kevin, M.D.
As you know, there are different types of vegetarians:
Lacto-ovo vegetarians eat milk, cheese, yogurt, and eggs.
Lacto-vegetarians eat milk, cheese, and yogurt, but avoid eggs and foods containing eggs.
Vegans, or strict vegetarians, avoid eating all animal products.
Thus to answer your question, it is possible to avoid all meat, fish or dairy in a strict vegan diet. If one were allergic to legumes, it would make it more difficult to obtain the necessary nutrition. Without foods like grains, nuts, and legumes, it can be hard to meet needs for some other minerals like zinc and iron.
A common myth about vegetarian eating is that the diet makes it hard to get certain nutrients, such as protein. Soy products can provide the high quality protein needed for growth and tissue maintenance. Although other bean- or grain-based products are sources of protein, they don't contain the high quality protein found in soy products.
Other options for protein if you are allergic to legumes or nuts include foods made from gluten which are a great protein source and are nice replacements for meat in the diet. Look for them in natural foods stores.
I would strongly suggest discussing your concerns with a registered dietician.
I stress that this answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.
Thanks,
Kevin, M.D.
