Vegetarian Diets
When you look at vegetarian diets, it's hard to do so without understanding that many of the practitioners believe that it is not only healthful, but more to practice vegetarianism. This is true even if the diet may include occasional meats or fish as in the Macrobiotic diet with it's Zen beliefs, or the Indian Ayurvedic diet, which finds milk and dairy central to good health along with plants.
Anyone considering a vegetarian diet should learn about the food values of different vegetables, and consider getting advice on whether or not to supplement the diet with vitamins and minerals, particularly if you have special nutritional needs like growing children or pregnant or lactating women.
Recently Answered
- Q Why do vegetarians have lower blood pressure than nonvegetarians?
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Dr. Dean Ornish, Internal MedicineWhile dietary salt tends to raise your blood pressure (BP), dietary potassium tends to lower it. This may be one of the reasons that vegetarians have lower blood pressure than those who eat a carnivorous or omnivorous diet, since fruits and vegetables... Full Answer
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- Q How do I get enough protein if I am a vegetarian?
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Dr. Vonda Wright, Orthopedic SurgeryVegetarians generally have a lower protein intake since plant protein is less easily digested than animal protein. Athletes should make sure they are getting 1.3 -- 1.8 grams per kilogram of body weight of plant protein per day. Vegetarian athletes... Full Answer
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- Q What are the risks of following a vegetarian diet?
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Dr. Joel Fuhrman, Family MedicineAlthough whole food vegetarian and flexitarian diets that include the occasional or minimal use of animal products may markedly reduce the risk for coronary heart disease, diabetes, and many common cancers, the real Achilles heel of no-animal-fat... Full Answer
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- Q Can a vegetarian diet help prevent heart disease?
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Dr. Mehmet Oz, CardiologyA recent study from scientists at Oxford University in England suggests that vegetarians are 32% less likely to be hospitalized or die from heart disease than meat eaters -- including those who eat mostly fish.Researchers followed a total of 44,561 men... Full Answer
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- Q What is the vegetarian diet?
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A vegetarian diet is one that's filled with fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and seeds, legumes, dairy, eggs, and soy products. You do not eat meat, poultry, or fish. You get your protein from beans, legumes, seeds, soy, eggs, and dairy... Full Answer
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- Q Why is a low-fat plant-based diet better then a meat-centered diet?
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Dr. Dean Ornish, Internal MedicineA recent series of studies found that iron is a potent risk factor for heart disease, because it oxidizes cholesterol. When cholesterol is oxidized, your body absorbs cholesterol into your arteries more easily. So when you eat a lot of meat, you eat the... Full Answer
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- Q What are good sources of nutrients that vegetarian diets sometimes lack?
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Below is a list of the nutrients that vegetarian diets lack sometimes and the foods to eat so you get enough of them: Vitamin B-12 -- B12 is only found in animal products and fortified foods, so it can be difficult for those who follow a vegan diet to... Full Answer
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- Q How will a vegetarian diet affect my athletic performance?
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Vegetarian diets will not typically affect performance. However, like all people, you need to eat a healthy, balanced diet to ensure that you are getting ample amounts of vitamins, minerals, fats, carbohydrates, and protein to fuel yourself for... Full Answer
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- Q How can I meet my dietary protein needs while on a vegetarian diet?
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Dr. Dean Ornish, Internal MedicineIf you are on a vegetarian diet you must make sure that you meet all of your dietary protein requirements. To achieve this, combine dried beans and legumes with various grains, such as corn, rice, and wheat. Combining the legumes and grains or... Full Answer
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- Q What should my child eat if she becomes vegetarian?
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Educating yourself and your child about this new way of eating will ensure that nutritional needs are being met. I’m not saying it will be easy. You must pay careful attention to providing alternatives for foods that have been eliminated from the... Full Answer
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