Unhealthy vegetarian lifestyle

[Deleted]

I was surprised over the weekend to discover that a friend who has been a vegetarian as long as I have known him (about ten years) has abandoned vegetarianism and now eats all kinds of meat indiscriminately.

Apparently his doctor told him that being a vegetarian was bad, because no matter how hard you try, the body just does not get sufficient protein. This causes the cells of one's body to age faster because they are running on bad fuel.

While I have heard of protein deficiencies among vegetarians before, I had never heard of the cells aging faster. Perhaps there is a withered vegetarian out there who can enlighten us?

[happytraveller]

I have a friend who's doc suggested him to eat at least a little bit of red meat every so often. He had some health problems, I don't know what it was exactly but since he eats a little bit of dried red meat in the morning he feels a lot better.

[Jazz]

Well, I'm not a 'withered vegetarian', but I eat very little meat. I eat meat about once a month or every six weeks. This is not a grand moral stance. When I was an impoverished student at university, I simply couldn't afford meat. I also came from a rather poor background with little meat. As time went on, I had little craving for it. Habit? Thus, I became a non meat eater on the whole. But, I always pay attention to the dictates of my body...sometimes I suddenly crave veal, or a steak, or some meat...and I have to have it! I think our bodies know what we need and I listen, and have meat...and, thoroughly enjoy it. I read somewhere that there are certain proteins and amino acids that can only be found in meat, not beans, not soy products.(which I love). So, when I feel like eating a steak, lamb, rabbit etc....I enjoy it thoroughly!

I wouldn't say that the vegetarian lifestyle is unhealthy. This is a personal choice. But, I would never be a vegetarian. This is personal...I believe that our physical bodies are perhaps the most intelligent systems that we have, surpassing the emotional realm and the intellectual realm. Just think of the beauty of what goes into play when you cut yourself...and how your body heals itself. Our bodies know how to care for us, they have known for milleniums.

[bazfaz]

Blood tests show that my body is low in iron but - strangely - that I am not anaemic. This puzzles the doctors here. Sometimes they prescribe iron tablets but they have no long term effect. In the end they say to eat more red meat - oh, and lentils, as an afterthought.

[gringalais]

I was a vegetarian for about 5 years. I was having some health issues and was seeing both an MD who incorporated natural/holistic remedies into his practice. They both strongly suggested adding animal protein to my diet. I think for me it made a difference and my body probably does better with it. Others' bodies may be different, however.

[Deleted]

Baz: low iron is sometimes indicative of thyroid malfunction,although minor can reek havoc in a myriad of manifestations.