If you are considering your health like i have been over the last couple of years (now i'm reaching 43) you would be interested in what you put into your body. I've been reading this book called "The China Study" and wow has it opened my eyes on what we eat. Because of this book oue family have become True vegetarians (not the ones that eat white meat only). We have gone back to basics Plant based whole foods nothing maunfactured or that comes in a plastic package and boy has it made a difference. I've lost 9Kg (down from 93kg) over 6 mths with only walking as our only exercise and my wife has lost 3kg. Another place for good nutritional information is a place called Dr Mcdougall just google it it's easy to find. With this information it will change the way you eat. It's for everyone but if you are serious about your health you really must listen to these people.

Cheers
A much healthier family.

so in becoming a vegetarian, what are you using for protein? I tried to go to the vegetarian lifestyle and it caused me to be deficient in protein which caused all kinds of medical problems... Kudos to you for changing your lifestyle, but word of warning watch your protein levels

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God is and all is well
~John Greenleaf Whittier~

Man has not evolved to be a vegetarian. We have front incisor teeth like carnivorous animals.

I was a vegetarian for 13 years. almost 3 years mostly raw foods. It was during the raw food period that I got melanoma.

Since changing to a whole foods meat diet I have become much stronger.
I suggest that people took at their blood type to see what diet may suit them best. Me being 0+ a low carb meat/fish diet serves me well.

But granted we do not eat enough veggies in general. Most of our carbs should come from vegetables not bread, crackers, cookies, candy, milk or milk products. Those with the correct blood type can eat moderate amounts of these without ill effect, and I mean moderate.

In the correct combination of beans and rice a complete protien can be found. But because of the significant deficiencies found in B12 in many many vegetarians, I would say that it indicates we all should be eating meat.

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Ouch! Melanoma! Bad, bad, bad. I assume you worked though that.

Plant sources of protein (amino acids) include whole grains, rice, corn, beans, legumes, oatmeal, peas, and peanut butter. For vegetarians, vegans and/or those who do not eat meat, fish, eggs, or dairy products, it is important to eat a variety of these other foods in order to get enough protein.

I agree with the B12 deficiency with vegetarians. This is important to realize.

It can take 5 to 6 years for the body to show B12 deficiency. The liver amazingly is able to store B12 this long. At max, 6 years. So a vegetarian will think things are going very well for a long while.

You need B12 to make red blood cells, which carry oxygen through your body. Not having enough B12 can lead to anemia, which means your body does not have enough red blood cells to do the job. This can make you feel weak and tired.

* Feel weak, tired, and lightheaded.
* Have pale skin.
* Have a sore, red tongue or bleeding gums.
* Feel sick to your stomach and lose weight.
* Have diarrhea or constipation.

If the level of vitamin B12 stays low for a long time, it can damage your nerve cells. If this happens, you may have:

* Numbness or tingling in your fingers and toes.
* A poor sense of balance.
* Depression.
* Dementia, a loss of mental abilities.

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- Jim
"The most powerful force ever known on this planet is human cooperation � a force for construction and destruction.� (Jonathan Haidt)

Let me clear a few things up, you don't need to eat meat to get your protien. On average meat contains 27gms per 100grms of protien. There are a lot of other ways of getting protien from plant based foods Eg.Pumpkin seeds 26g/100, Split Peas 24.5g/100, Lentils25.8g/100, Oats 16g/100 and this is just to name a few. Yes it's very important yo monitor your B12 intake, all you need for that is 1 egg (we have chooks) a week this is the only compromise we make it's better than taking pills.

Meat on the other had where do you want me to start ? There is enough scientific evidence that states that the protien (and all animal protien) not only causes cancer but promotes its (reference The China Study & https://www.drmcdougall.com/forums/index.php) Milk protien has a what they call 60% of casein in it which is another BIG promoter of cancer. This is some of the reasons we have chosen not eat animal products. My wife had breast cancer(no family history of it) and everything we have read on this points to Milk as the main cause. But i Do state this is not for everyone. Not everyone can do this i do understand, and i'm not trying to convert other people but if you read/listen to the book called The China Study and go to the link above and read peoples testimonials and what diseases they have beaten using this way of eating you'll be surprised.

craig2,

It is good that you've made some compensation from a short while ago from:
"Because of this book oue family have become True vegetarians (not the ones that eat white meat only)."
To:
"Yes it's very important yo monitor your B12 intake, all you need for that is 1 egg (we have chooks) a week this is the only compromise we make it's better than taking pills."

I think as you go on you may make other changes as you journey on your health quest. I admire that you have a plan and intend to stick with it. I've never been able to discipline myself to only one diet. I've tried so many styles of diets. Not for weight. I am way underweight for America. But I no longer believe in a strict diet as I've learned from experience. It's also hard to have a strict diet and be sociable - for me.

B12 deficiency is the biggest drawback for a strictly vegetarian diet. Also, many vegetarians tend to eat most vegetables raw. Many vegetables, such as broccoli, cabbage and turnips are goitrogens. Therefore, they can suppress thyroid function. Cooking destroys goitrogens though after about 10 minutes of cooking. So look that up to see what vegetable apply to this.

The body only uses roughly 90 grams (3 ounces) of protein a day. Anything above that is waste and is broken down and eliminated. So meeting protein requirements is not hard to do.

Good for you for actively pursuing a healthy diet. It should be cheaper too.