Can A Meat-eating Diet Be Just As Healthy As A Vegan One?
I just want to know, because there are many vegans who claim that they eat healthy and yet I know that I eat healthier than them. I exercise, I eat fast food and drink soda minimally, I try to eat whole-wheat, and even if I eat junk two or three times a week it won’t kill me – I exercise so I’m healthy.
So can you answer my question?
Actually, yes. One thing you can always count on, as far as your health is concerned, is that you will ALWAYS be damned if you do, damned if you don’t, because EVERYBODY, expert and not, will always have different opinions about what’s good for people and what isn’t. Then, some of those same people will, ten years later, recant their views for different views. No matter what you eat or how you live, there will always be someone out there somewhere saying that something you’re eating or doing is good and someone else out there saying it’s bad. You’re never going to get it all perfectly right in anyone’s eyes no matter what you do so it doesn’t make sense to kill yourself trying. It is quite important to a healthy body to have healthy fuel, that is food, but food is also about enjoyment. Certainly you shouldn’t gorge yourself in anything high fat or high calorie like fast food/junk food, but small amounts are fine and are not going to kill you. You should take good care of your health, eat smart and exercise the right way, but good health is about much more than just diet. Genetics, environment, emotions, all these things affect a person’s health. The most important thing in life is to be happy and enjoy yourself. If that means being on a vegan diet, that’s great. If it means eating moderate amounts of meat and an occassional ice cream sundae or candy bar, that’s perfectly fine too. You don’t have to be a vegan to be healthy. The most important thing you can do to know if you’re maintaining good health is to listen to your body. Do you have high blood pressure or cholesterol? Do you feel energetic most of the time or sluggish? Whatever your diet and lifestyle, it’s your body itself that will indicate whether or not you are truly healthy. Just remember, whatever you eat, moderation is the key to everything.
Yes. And they can be healthier. Or the vegan could be healthier. There’s more to it than whether you eat meat or not.
You sound all right, except that “fast food and soda” three times a week sounds about average – not healthy – once every couple weeks is healthier. And I’d give up sodas altogether since they leech nutrients and rot your teeth as well as being bad for you. Drink water, milk or soy milk, or fruit juice. By fruit juice I don’t mean “fruit drink” with added refined sugar, I mean real juice like when you look on the carton the only ingredient is “orange juice” and maybe some calcium.
Also don’t listen to that urine drinking guy, the reason you dispel urine is because it is full of waste your body doesn’t need. Don’t drink it.
As long as the animals you ingest are pumped up with antibiotics, steroids and growth hormones; as long as they are linked to bird flu, salmonella, mad cow disease, and trichinosis, and as long as it takes two full weeks to pass their decomposing flesh through your colon — no question about it the flesh based diet is not as healthy as a grain based diet. PERIOD.
When I became vegetarian one of my sons chose to get a job in a high end market and worked in the meat department with the butchers — for about two weeks, when he came home absolutely green and swore he would never eat flesh foods again. He reported that many of the carcasses he butchered had to have tumors and other cancerous tissue cut out before the meat could be cut into steaks and chops, roasts and ground meat. This was not confined to farm animals either but also involved fish both salt and fresh water varieties. And that was way back in the 1970’s! I assure you that things have not gotten better.
The choice is yours — of course. But if you are young, and I suspect you are, you might want to give the question of what you choose to put in your body some more careful consideration.
Don’t know what planet you’re living on, but fast food and soda aren’t healthy… at all. First, let me say that I too eat meat. I also eat an occasional meal at Taco Bell. But I know that Taco Bell isn’t “healthy”. I say anything is fine in moderation.
You will die of something eventually. If you don’t have a heart attack from all the saturated fats in meat, you’ll get cancer from something else. Just try to make healthy choices and don’t punish yourself to never eating dairy, meat, or eggs again.
Yes it can. Any diet – vegan, vegetarian or a diet including meat – can be healthy or unhealthy depending on what’s eaten.
I’m vegan. Christine up there, the one talking about drinking pee, s/he isn’t vegan – just a troll who pretends to be vegan in an attempt to make vegans look silly. Don’t fall for it.
no. like one of the other people said being strong doesnt mean your healthy. (other than that….troll)
meat,especially with all the added flavors and colors and stuff (seriously go to youtube and watch how hot dogs are made) is extreamly unhealthy and it might seem like its fine but any amount of meat can have negative effects on your health.
like i used to eat meat and i thought i was healthy and i felt fine then i became a vegitarian and it makes me feel a million times better…..like i only feel as good as when i ate meat when i have a cold or something.
i would go into more detail but alas i must go
yes, as long as you also have your vegetables and grains and fruits. It sounds as if you are doing the right things in your diet. I wouldn’t worry about the health aspects of your diet. I think most vegetarians are more worried about the moral issues than the health issues of meat eating. I say be who you are and who You want to be not what someone else thinks you should be.
It’s possible to be healthy eating meat. It’s possible to be unhealthy eating vegan. Good health is about a lot more than whether you eat meat or not. If you focus on one food type to give you results, you’ll be disappointed. Focus on your entire diet and lifestyle and you’ll have better luck.
Theoretically, they should be about the same. But, Vegans tend to watch out on what they eat more.
You *seem* to have a healthy lifestyle. good for you.
Junk food as in candy or a cookie? 3 times a week is fine.;)
Yes. Most vegetarians eat grains instead of meat. Which is ok but that’s where carbs come from and if you don’t excersize it can add up. However if you eat vegitables and fruits it can be healthy
Yes. Probably the best option for meat eaters is a paleolithic style diet.
Finding links is left as an exercise to the reader.
It shouldnt matter unless you’re eating unhealthy red meat and other animal fats.Stick with just fish
Yes, they are just as healthy.
YES.
try this linkhttp://vegetarian.about.com/
kiss,
maggi