Lex Talionis

My wife tried going vegetarian two years ago. She gave up after about eight months -- without eating meat, she was tired most of the time, would get colds for two weeks at the time and was generally depressed.

Any argument that humans aren't intended to eat meat is horseshit -- we have a stomach that digests meat quite well and pointy teeth to tear it quite well.

It's my observation that in the USA, at least, it requires considerably more effort to achieve "health" on a vegetarian diet. I assume in areas with more traditional vegetarian diets, it would be easier to maintain a proper diet.

Here's a web site with info on vegetarianism (from the anti-vegetarian advocacy side):

<a href="http://www.beyondveg.com" target="_blank">Beyond Vegetarianism</a>

LianaLi

The problem with vegitarianism is that one may not get enough of certain vitamins, unless you know which ones to look for. A google search provided this excellent <a href="http://www.penpages.psu.edu/penpages_reference/12101/121012505.html" target="_blank">article</a> listing special nutritional needs if you are vegetarian. At a glance, the things a vegetarian needs to make sure they get enough of are protiens, iron, B-12, calcium, vitamin D, and zinc. I've left out DHA because its needs and benefits are debated. From what I understand, the main thing "problem" with vegetarianism is that people often develope deficiencies in the above listed nutrients, if they aren't aware that they need to monitor and/or up their intake of these nutriets because they aren't easily found in common veggies.


-Liana

Edited for spelling

[ October 22, 2002: Message edited by: LianaLi ]</p>

wdog

one reason that meat eaters tend to have some health issues is that modern farming produces a meat that has a higher fat to protein ratio than what is usually found in the wild (what we evolved to live on). It also contains other crap not found in nature. I buy lots of fish, lean high quality beef, and poultry and i feel great. Combine that with lots of vegetables and I think you have a healthy diet since that is what we evolved to eat.

Answerer

Thanks for your help guys, I see what my friend have to say in our next encounter. Anyway, Radcliffe, I had heard about the above story or rather fact before. At times, I really wonder how different will man evolve if they were vegetarians at the pre-historical times? Will they become less intelligent or what?
Actually, from my past experiences, I found out that most of my vegetarian friends(for a long time) belong to the non-aggressive type of people. Somehow, they have almost no bad-temper at all but I don't think this got anything to do with their food and is most likely to be just another coincidence.

Boro Nut

Go on, poke fun at us while you can. You won't be laughing so loudly come judgement day mate, when your hauled before the Great Lord Carrot.

Boro Nut

nogods4me

healthier than who? and which vegetarian?
people are different, some vegetarians are quite healthy and some seem to me to be deathly pale and lethargic, the same can be said for those who eat meat.

lunachick

Lettuce prey.