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vegetarian diets
Meryl:
Kelda, I'm glad you bumped Bill's thread, since I recently started a vegetarian routine. 8)
I went for a rare visit to my chiropractor last month, and he told me about a book that cast animal protein in a much less favorable light than we've been used to regarding it. The book is "The China Study" by T. Colin Campbell, PhD, published by BenBella Books in 2006. Campbell has strong credentials in nutrition research, and the China study of the book's title was a long-term (almost 30 years) study that produced literally thousands of significant factors between diet and disease.
The big finding? Animal protein (particularly casein, which makes up 87% of cow's milk protein) was consistently found to be a significant contributor to the development of cancer and other diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes. When plant protein was substituted for animal protein, disease was reduced significantly; even cancer growth was slowed. Since I am at risk for all of these, I am taking his findings seriously and eliminating red meat and poultry from my diet, as well as cutting down on eggs and dairy products. I highly recommend this book to everyone, since it is really difficult to find hard facts about the risks of an animal protein diet anywhere, what with the powerful meat and dairy industries working against the dissemination of this information.
For Christmas I bought myself a really wonderful cookbook that covers everything from A to Z about vegetarian cooking: "How to Cook Everything Vegetarian" by Mark Bittman, published in 2007 by Wiley Pubishing. It's $35, but well worth it. It's tremendously thorough, easy to use, and entertainingly written.
So far, I haven't missed meat much at all, but I'm still new at it. However, I'm really enjoying trying new foods and restaurants and I've noticed I feel more energetic and am more regular. Hooray for the veggies! 8)
brokeplex:
I've read other studies corroborating the study you reference. In order to avoid the "longevity" diseases (diseases which seem to afflict those who live to late middle age and elderly ages) a strict vegetarian diet seems one of the most important keys. A vegan diet is difficult because of the struggles to balance the b vitamins and proteins. I try a middle of the road approach and have a diet with some poulty and fish, but no beef, pork, or lamb.
And, If you can boost your consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables, you journey a long ways towards better health.
BelAir:
hi all,
I ate strictly veggie for about 4 1/2 years (I ate lots of cheese and eggs though). I started eating beef on occasion again as a result of all my Brokie-ness (and an accident at Taco Bell), and I will occasionally eat fish and chicken now...
Kelda - you know Taco Bell or no?
my accident - I ordered a bean burrito. It was late at night. I was STARVING. I wolfed it down and was like "Wow, this is soooo good..." Then I realized in my hunger/exhaustion I had ordered the wrong thing and it had beef in it!
I didn't miss the meat at all, but it was occasionally hard to order non-meat items at restaurants. Even though I am eating more meat now, I still don't care for places that don't have a variety of non-meat options.
Kelda:
--- Quote from: BelAir on January 12, 2008, 09:14:27 pm ---hi all,
I ate strictly veggie for about 4 1/2 years (I ate lots of cheese and eggs though). I started eating beef on occasion again as a result of all my Brokie-ness (and an accident at Taco Bell), and I will occasionally eat fish and chicken now...
Kelda - you know Taco Bell or no?
my accident - I ordered a bean burrito. It was late at night. I was STARVING. I wolfed it down and was like "Wow, this is soooo good..." Then I realized in my hunger/exhaustion I had ordered the wrong thing and it had beef in it!
I didn't miss the meat at all, but it was occasionally hard to order non-meat items at restaurants. Even though I am eating more meat now, I still don't care for places that don't have a variety of non-meat options.
--- End quote ---
I know of taco bell - a mexican fast food restaurant - but its not something we have over here - just the brand products!
Well I've been a vegetarian since I was nine so 17 years. Although for the first four or five years I was made to eat fish and chicken.
I have since cut this out and I don't eat gelatine wither.
I have to say I'm not so strict as I once was - I do eat cheeses thats aren't strictly vegetarian now and again- and I probably accidently use some canned products that have elements in it - like maybe pesto sause or red wine (although I drink this very very rarely).
And I have been known to eat celebrations - and not all of them are veggie.
But I'm definitely more strict than a lot of other veggies I know.
BelAir:
Kelda - did you decide on your own at 9 or did your family decide for you??
I'm not sure I knew that vegetarianism existed when I was nine, lol...
::)
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