Vegetarianism

[ChristinaMi]

I am really considering to make an effort on being a milk-vegetarian. I read many articles and I know that there are many kinds of vegetarians. But I love milk and cheese so I will try first without cutting them. I will stop eating meat (which honestly I dont like so much) and eggs. I read many things about vegans too and the vegetarians that eat only raw products of nature. They are really admirable and strong if you ask me.
I exercise already to improve my body health and depression symptoms. I dont have a weight problem I just want to fight over my own self and become more self confident and strong willed.
I would love some extra advices if it is possible.

[Paxiled]

Thanks for the references, but I could cite you many more in contradiction.  In case you don't know this, much of the case against soy was concocted and paid for by the meat industry because soy was really catching on.  I managed health food stores for 18 years, and saw way more than my share of contradictory theories of eating, which is why I find it impossible to know how best to eat in general but tend to the specific -- how does it affect the individual.  And you mention ciliac disease, but many in the alternative medicine world don't believe this exists as described -- it's not a gluten intolerance as much as it is a wheat overdose.  Wheat, like beef, is human invented, not natural, and many so-called ciliac sufferers do fine on spelt or rye, which also contain gluten (and yes, many don't do well on them).  Ciliac is more complicated that a simple gluten intolerance.  Culture is very important to eating -- the Plains Indians, for example, lived largely on animal, as there wasn't much else to eat, and when they fed them grains (meaning at the time corn and wheat) they developed diabetes like crazy, whereas most would say a diet should be mostly grain and vegetables and beans -- that's how the Japanese eat, and they live the longest of everyone on Earth.  What we eat best is what we digest best, and that seems to differ for different people and cultures.  Peace.

[ChristinaMi]

I try to do the best I can^^
It is kinda going one day fine and one day hungry.
There are many things I must get used to and adjust to...

[Jwconforti]

Christina,

Oh, please do not avoid dietary fat!  That is one of the worst things you can do to your body.  The body NEEDS fat to survive.  Fat helps the neuro-pathways function properly, fat helps "lube" the system, joints, skin, and in terms of a diet it will help you feel full on fewer unnecessary calories.  Studies are proving again and again that children born to women who were on low-fat diets during their pregnancy and nursing have a much higher percentage of ADD, ADHD, and other neurological and developmental issues and it's all due to not having enough saturated fats in their system while developing.  This just proves over and over again that fats are important, vital.

While I'm not an advocate in any way of a vegetarian lifestyle I would beg you to try to keep really good fats in your diet if nothing else.  Olive oil, avocados, nuts, you can still keep it natural and non-animal based (though a little butter won't kill you).  Just keep an eye out for transfats.  

[ChristinaMi]

I actually avoid wheat and white flour, anything with fat and meat. I eat chickpeas, oat, fruits, beans, vegetables and many other things. Greece is blessed with many good products.
Thank you for the books too!!!

[Jwconforti]

*  Liener IE (1994) "Implications of antinutritional components in soybean foods." Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr., vol. 34, pp. 31-67.
*  Gupta YP (1987) "Antinutritional and toxic factors in food legumes: a review." Plant Foods for Human Nutrition, vol. 37, pp. 201-228.
*  Noah ND et al. (1980) "Food poisoning from raw red kidney beans." Brit Med J, vol. 2, pp. 236-237. and
*  Pusztai A et al. (1981) "The toxicity of Phaseolus vulgaris lectins: Nitrogen balance and immunochemical studies." J Sci Food Agric, vol. 32, pp. 1037-1046.

Go ahead and read these studies for a start. Don't take my word for it, but don't make assumptions that everything you've ever heard is correct as well.  Just because many cultures eat beans does not mean that it's the best food for you.  Just because you don't know about gut issues in a culture doesn't mean it does not exist.  Americans eat wheat by the ton-load, doesn't mean it's good for yus.  Why is it we are only now learning about gluten-intolerances and celiac disease? Because our medicine and knowledge is only now catching up.  

[ChristinaMi]

Thank you^^ I will find the book and read it as soon as possible!!

[ChristinaMi]

Thank you so so so much for your advices. I started already and I think I am doing pretty good. I dont miss meat at all :)

[Paxiled]

No, I'm not a vegetarian.  I don't personally eat by ideology.  But I have no problem with someone being vegetarian as long as it suits them -- we're all different in how we digest food -- and I certainly eat vegetarian meals more often than not, but it's hard because my wife doesn't do well on beans.  But even when I eat animal, most of the meal is whole grain and vegetables.  But that's me, and you must decide for you.  I do try to avoid dairy and wheat, not altogether but only limited amounts, not because of how they treat animals -- we don't treat plants any better, and I don't differentiate life forms -- but because adult mammals just don't do milk.  Just the way it is.

[Paxiled]

Wonder why you say beans are bad for the gut -- yes, they can be hard for some to digest and they might give you gas, but they are very high in fiber (fiber also gives you gas) and with all I know very good for most people.  Yes, some can't handle beans, and many don't know how to properly prepare them, but you certainly don't need to ferment them to eat them (though that's a good way to eat soy, certainly).  Just wondering where you get that from considering most of the world gets most of their protein from beans and don't seem to have much gut problems from them.

[Jwconforti]

If you are insistent on going vegetarian PLEASE make sure you are getting your nutrients from the healthiest of places.  Your carbs should NOT be coming from processed products like breads, pastas, etc.  Beans are a question because unless they are properly fermented they are actually bad for the gut.  I would really do your research first and figure out where you plan to get your protein from.  If you exercise and are a vegetarian you will want to get plenty of protein from a good, natural source, in order to prevent your body from burning lean muscle mass for fuel.  

I would recommend this book before you start anything like this:  Perfect Health Diet.  By Paul and Shou-Ching (sp?) Jaminet.  It talks a lot about what the body needs to survive, what types of foods are toxic to the body, what foods are best for the body, and why.  Very science heavy but an excellent read, especially fabulous section on vitamins and nutrients via supplementation.

[ChristinaMi]

I live in a country that being the only vegetarian in the family can be really impossible. That is why I take one step at a time. I wish I could cut diary products too. What humans do to animals is really cruel :(
Are you vegetarian?

[Paxiled]

Sure, don't sweat the vegetarianism, but avoid the dairy -- while I have no problem with you eating any way you like, dairy is far more difficult on most people than many animals we consume.  As I say, everyone gets to eat the way they want, but for health's sake, research dairy, but if this is just for ideology, go for it any way you believe in.