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There's often talk in this forum on vegetarian diet versus meat diet. Well, its really a personal choice, and you get to choose what you wish to eat. For those who are undecided, came across this article that will throw some light as the writer gives in his opinion of the choice(s). The good thing is, we have a choice.
Cheers!
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/health...fer+diet+versus+lifestyle/11498953/story.html
Where vegetarianism and veganism differ: a diet versus a lifestyle
David Kates, Postmedia News 11.05.2015
‘Get to know a diet’ is a weekly series that takes a closer look at some well-known diet trends. This week, we ask a dietitian and a nutritionist about vegetarianism and veganism.
What does it mean to be a vegetarian or vegan? With more people ascribing to both and taking a mindful approach to their consumption of animal products, it’s important to take a closer look at the benefits, risks, and key lessons to learn from vegetarianism and veganism.
Animal-free, to various degrees
In understanding just what it means to be a vegetarian or vegan, it may be helpful to understand each as residing along a continuum. This is because, first and foremost, there’s no single definition of what it means to be vegetarian.
“Some vegetarians eat seafood; they are called pesco-vegetarians,” explains dietitian Holly Kerr. “Those who eat eggs are called ovo-vegetarians, and those who consume milk products are called lacto-vegetarians. Many vegetarians eat both eggs and milk, and are therefore lacto-ovo vegetarians.”
At the other end of the spectrum is veganism, wherein all animal products are eliminated not just from the diet, but everywhere else as well. That means no leather, fur, wool, lanolin, honey or beeswax, among other things.
“Vegetarianism, I would define as a dietary choice,” says nutritionist and author Meghan Telpner, “whereas veganism is more of a lifestyle choice that dictates diet.”
Why vegetarian/vegan?
There are plenty of good reasons to become vegetarian or vegan, but the most common ones are ethical and health-related.
From an animal rights perspective, the reasons are self-explanatory: the mere notion of raising and slaughtering animals for human consumption may be enough to turn some people off meat. But the reality of factory farming raises a host of additional ethical questions around animal welfare, human health and environmental sustainability.
In this context, the range of options, from switching to organic food sources, to eliminating meat and other animal products from the diet, and ultimately to avoiding the consumption of animal products completely, is a matter of personal comfort and preference.
Both vegetarianism and veganism have their benefits from an ethical standpoint. But according to Telpner, it’s important to consider the big picture: a lifestyle free of animal products isn’t necessarily ethical or environmentally sound.
“It’s important to consider the footprint of the entire diet,” she says. “It’s not just that you’re not eating animal products, but, ‘Am I eating a processed soy burger made by the same company that’s also maintaining feedlots?’ There’s more to it than, ‘There’s no animal on my plate, so I’m doing my part.'”
Health benefits
“A well-planned vegetarian diet that is rich in vegetables and fruit, whole grains, nuts and seeds, and legumes, has many health benefits,” says Kerr. “It can help protect against heart disease, some cancers, high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, and high cholesterol. It can also promote a healthy weight, as long as it is not high in calories.”
Telpner agrees. “There’s a lot of health research to support a vegetarian diet or a high plant-based diet, so it can be an incredibly healthful shift for people.”
“Ideally, you’ll be taking in a lot more plants,” she adds. “Obviously, being a vegetarian doesn’t mean that’s what you’re going to eat. But hopefully, if you’re looking for a health benefit from it, that’s the result.”
Ultimately, a healthy plant-based diet is a balanced one. This is especially important the further you decide to go along the spectrum, as for every animal product that is removed from the equation, there must of course be suitable alternatives. This is where some people can run into challenges.
Health challenges
The first thing to understand about vegetarianism or veganism is that neither is healthy in and of itself.
“Simply cutting out meat does not mean that you will be healthier,” says Kerr. “What matters is what you are replacing it with. You may end up in poorer health if you replace meat with high calorie, processed meatless food products.”
Similarly, neglecting the unique demands of a vegetarian or vegan diet can lead to a host of nutritional deficiencies.
“Vegetarian diets tend to be lower in cholesterol, saturated fat, and total fat and higher in vegetables, fruit and fibre than non-vegetarian diets,” says Kerr. “However, they can also be lacking in vitamin B12 and D, iron, zinc, protein, calcium, and omega 3 fats if they are not appropriately planned.”
For vegans, these challenges are even more pronounced, simply because their options are more limited. In Telpner’s experience, she has found veganism to be more difficult to sustain over the long term.
“I understand people doing it for animal rights and ethical reasons,” she says. “It’s their only option. But for people who are doing it as a health choice, it may be time to re-evaluate: is this still working for me, or are different conditions starting to show up in my life?”
Key takeaways
“With the go-ahead of your primary healthcare provider or dietitian, I encourage people who are interested in switching to a vegetarian or vegan diet to give it a try,” says Kerr. “Both diets can offer many health benefits, as long as you plan your meals appropriately. They are a great option for those who want to change their eating out of concerns for the environment and animal welfare.”
Both Kerr and Telpner largely agree on the benefits, but acknowledge they are not necessarily unique to a vegetarian or vegan diet. Telpner describes her ideal diet as one she calls “plantiful” — predominantly plant-based, but not necessarily exclusively so. We can all be vegans and vegetarians at least part of the week, after all.
“There’s definitely a benefit to eating mostly plants most of the time,” says Telpner. “But it’s important to assess whether it’s going to be a sustainable, long-term diet for someone.”
Cheers!
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/health...fer+diet+versus+lifestyle/11498953/story.html
Where vegetarianism and veganism differ: a diet versus a lifestyle
David Kates, Postmedia News 11.05.2015
‘Get to know a diet’ is a weekly series that takes a closer look at some well-known diet trends. This week, we ask a dietitian and a nutritionist about vegetarianism and veganism.
What does it mean to be a vegetarian or vegan? With more people ascribing to both and taking a mindful approach to their consumption of animal products, it’s important to take a closer look at the benefits, risks, and key lessons to learn from vegetarianism and veganism.
Animal-free, to various degrees
In understanding just what it means to be a vegetarian or vegan, it may be helpful to understand each as residing along a continuum. This is because, first and foremost, there’s no single definition of what it means to be vegetarian.
“Some vegetarians eat seafood; they are called pesco-vegetarians,” explains dietitian Holly Kerr. “Those who eat eggs are called ovo-vegetarians, and those who consume milk products are called lacto-vegetarians. Many vegetarians eat both eggs and milk, and are therefore lacto-ovo vegetarians.”
At the other end of the spectrum is veganism, wherein all animal products are eliminated not just from the diet, but everywhere else as well. That means no leather, fur, wool, lanolin, honey or beeswax, among other things.
“Vegetarianism, I would define as a dietary choice,” says nutritionist and author Meghan Telpner, “whereas veganism is more of a lifestyle choice that dictates diet.”
Why vegetarian/vegan?
There are plenty of good reasons to become vegetarian or vegan, but the most common ones are ethical and health-related.
From an animal rights perspective, the reasons are self-explanatory: the mere notion of raising and slaughtering animals for human consumption may be enough to turn some people off meat. But the reality of factory farming raises a host of additional ethical questions around animal welfare, human health and environmental sustainability.
In this context, the range of options, from switching to organic food sources, to eliminating meat and other animal products from the diet, and ultimately to avoiding the consumption of animal products completely, is a matter of personal comfort and preference.
Both vegetarianism and veganism have their benefits from an ethical standpoint. But according to Telpner, it’s important to consider the big picture: a lifestyle free of animal products isn’t necessarily ethical or environmentally sound.
“It’s important to consider the footprint of the entire diet,” she says. “It’s not just that you’re not eating animal products, but, ‘Am I eating a processed soy burger made by the same company that’s also maintaining feedlots?’ There’s more to it than, ‘There’s no animal on my plate, so I’m doing my part.'”
Health benefits
“A well-planned vegetarian diet that is rich in vegetables and fruit, whole grains, nuts and seeds, and legumes, has many health benefits,” says Kerr. “It can help protect against heart disease, some cancers, high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, and high cholesterol. It can also promote a healthy weight, as long as it is not high in calories.”
Telpner agrees. “There’s a lot of health research to support a vegetarian diet or a high plant-based diet, so it can be an incredibly healthful shift for people.”
“Ideally, you’ll be taking in a lot more plants,” she adds. “Obviously, being a vegetarian doesn’t mean that’s what you’re going to eat. But hopefully, if you’re looking for a health benefit from it, that’s the result.”
Ultimately, a healthy plant-based diet is a balanced one. This is especially important the further you decide to go along the spectrum, as for every animal product that is removed from the equation, there must of course be suitable alternatives. This is where some people can run into challenges.
Health challenges
The first thing to understand about vegetarianism or veganism is that neither is healthy in and of itself.
“Simply cutting out meat does not mean that you will be healthier,” says Kerr. “What matters is what you are replacing it with. You may end up in poorer health if you replace meat with high calorie, processed meatless food products.”
Similarly, neglecting the unique demands of a vegetarian or vegan diet can lead to a host of nutritional deficiencies.
“Vegetarian diets tend to be lower in cholesterol, saturated fat, and total fat and higher in vegetables, fruit and fibre than non-vegetarian diets,” says Kerr. “However, they can also be lacking in vitamin B12 and D, iron, zinc, protein, calcium, and omega 3 fats if they are not appropriately planned.”
For vegans, these challenges are even more pronounced, simply because their options are more limited. In Telpner’s experience, she has found veganism to be more difficult to sustain over the long term.
“I understand people doing it for animal rights and ethical reasons,” she says. “It’s their only option. But for people who are doing it as a health choice, it may be time to re-evaluate: is this still working for me, or are different conditions starting to show up in my life?”
Key takeaways
“With the go-ahead of your primary healthcare provider or dietitian, I encourage people who are interested in switching to a vegetarian or vegan diet to give it a try,” says Kerr. “Both diets can offer many health benefits, as long as you plan your meals appropriately. They are a great option for those who want to change their eating out of concerns for the environment and animal welfare.”
Both Kerr and Telpner largely agree on the benefits, but acknowledge they are not necessarily unique to a vegetarian or vegan diet. Telpner describes her ideal diet as one she calls “plantiful” — predominantly plant-based, but not necessarily exclusively so. We can all be vegans and vegetarians at least part of the week, after all.
“There’s definitely a benefit to eating mostly plants most of the time,” says Telpner. “But it’s important to assess whether it’s going to be a sustainable, long-term diet for someone.”
