Answerer

Hi guys, recently, one of my 'herbivore' friends argue with me about the 'perfection' of being a non-meat eater. His first view are focused upon the length and structure of humans' intestines which he claimed to be not 'designed' for digesting meat. Then he switch to the nutrients and ingredients within the plants and he carry on stating that vegetarians' standard(I don't know what he mean by standard) diet contains more proteins and vitamins than normal meat eaters' diets(thats the way he define non-vegetarian). Nevertheless, I had difficulty in countering his arguments since I'm no 'food' expert.
So guys, could anyone of you lend me a hand?

Nataraja

There are many essential vitamins and such that we cannot very easily get from a vegan diet.

Come to think of it, I don't think about it much. I mean, hey, come on, food is food is food! I love crab meat and pork, especially pork because it is so tasty, oh yeah, oh man, yeah! I've always had a love for crabmeat, actually. I just love it. Especially fake crab meat, but the real thing is good enough. I like clams, I really love clams. And oysters. Yummmmmmmmm! !

[ October 20, 2002: Message edited by: Nataraja ]</p>

lunachick

Hiya.

There is a difference in vegan and vegetarian.

But on to your friends claims - though I'm no expert, either.

Firstly, I think it must be pretty bogus that the human intestine is not designed for meat digestion as many peoples of very, very old would have had predominantly meat diets due to their geography and climate.

But here in the moderate climatic conditions of the South Pacific, the healthiest family I know are vegetarian. All three kids (who are now aged between 19 & 23) were vegetarian from conception till today, and they just don't seem to get sick.

I spent approx 5 years as a vegetarian and I felt great. I gave up vegetarianism when I lived in Holland, because it was so damned cold in the winter, I worked very long hours (making the preparation of the variety of foods you should eat, to get everything you need, difficult - junk food took over!), and I was in a hedonistic country doing hedonistic things, so couldn't keep up with the discipline of healthy vegetarianism.

Some people's vegetarianism is like a religion to them, and they insist on prosetylising their righteous benefits to poor carnivores like yourself. If you do become a vege, don't go that way - it's like born again non-smokers/christians/dieters.

Also, if you are to become a vegie, read up on it - you'll have a great tasting diet, with much variety; but you'll need to make sure you are eating enough of the right things to benefit your body. If you are prone to anaemia you'll probably need to take an iron supplement.

I should get back to it again sometime. My body did feel good for it. Hmmm, if only my daughter ate vegetables...

Edited 'cos I'm tired and should be sleeping

[ October 20, 2002: Message edited by: lunachick ]</p>

theyeti

This is not true. Our digestive tract is intermediate between that of an herbivore and that of a carnivore. In other words, it's length is what one would expect from an omnivore. Read more about it from the straightdope:

<a href="http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_087.html" target="_blank">Are humans meat eaters or vegetarians by nature?</a>

This sounds pretty suspect too. In terms of vitamins and minerals, plants (if you're eating the right kind) are probably better for you than meat. But with the possible exception of beans, they most certainly do not have more protein. In fact, the protein in meat is more nutritious than that of vegetables, since its amino acid content is more similar to our own. (The more closely related to you it is, the more similar its proteins are -- beef more so than chicken more so than fish.) This is why vegetarians risk not getting enough of certain amino acids, though I forget which ones. Phenylalanine and lysine I think. However, this doesn't mean that one can't eat a healthy vegetarian diet. In terms of fat content, vegies are certainly better for you. But vegetarians would do more to advance their cause by avoiding obviously false arguments.

theyeti

Kip

There is a long discussion about this issue over at the Moral Foundations forum under the Veganism topic. I originally argued that vegetarianism is healthier but others reminded me that vegetarianism ITSELF is not health - because there are many fat vegetarians who eat cheese, milkshakes, and french fries. However, I still maintain that the ideal diet is vegetarian or approaches vegetarianism.

There are many health benefits that vegetarians enjoy, statistically, more than meat eaters. Vegetarians have 6 more years of life expectancy and drastically lower rates of cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. The question is whether or not this relationship is causal or only a correlation. There are at least 5 possible mechanisms that account for this relationship, and none of these are NECESSARILY vegetarian, but vegetarianism would facilitate them.

I recommend the Veganism thread...

AtlanticCitySlave

If they adhere to a sensible diet, then yes, they are. You don't get high cholesterol from eating apples.

Answerer

Thanks for your help guys, I will try to find out about being a 'herbviore'.

Coragyps

My brother is a fairly healthy vegetarian - but his cholesterol was at 310 (200 is the high end of normal) a few years ago, due to cheese and eggs. He may well outlive me, but I gotta have those hamburgers....

Radcliffe Emerson

A program I saw about Neanderthals claimed that humans really began evolving into Cro-Magnons, etc, than onto Homosapiens when they started eating meat, getting the protein from meat. It said the protein over the millenia helped the species' brain evolve.
However, we can now get protein from other sources than just meat, so that wouldn't have to be sacrificed to be a vegetarian.
My cholesterol was 280 the last time it was checked, but I too have to have a filet mignon or a burger now and then.

[ October 21, 2002: Message edited by: Radcliffe Emerson ]</p>

ohwilleke

I think it is fair to say that most people in the developed world (perhaps with the exception of Japan) eat more meat and fewer vegetables as a proportion of their daily diet than is consistent with a good nutritional mix. But, there is no reason to believe that totally abstaining from meat is necessary to good health or long life.