I've been a vegetarian for 2 years (first year I was eating fish but I stopped, I still consume milk and eggs). In my family it's only me a vegetarian, my parents and my sisters eat meat so, I'm cooking for myself. I'm trying to eat soya twice a week and I'm eating vegetables a lot. Still, I feel scared because I'm not sure if I have all the products that I should eat included in my diet. Can a doctor help me? Or am I just making noice for nothing? Thanks
As long as you're eating healthy, why not listen to your body? You will get cravings for things you need. You don't need a doctor, just education. Read up on the subject. Empower yourself. x
My thoughts exactly Invest in a copy of 'becoming vegetarian' (Davis & Melina) or 'becoming vegan' (same authors). I have the latter and can't recommend it highly enough. Easy to read but very detailed about all aspects of nutrition.
Basically everyone in India is a lacto vegetarian(a vegetarian who consumes dairy), and I doubt many of them consult with nutritionists. Just eat a lot of whole organic foods, and a lot of fresh food and youll be doing great. Also, most doctors are not trained in nutrition. It's a very very small part of their study, and many doctors I meet are actually overweight. Don't take health advice from overweight people, just as a general rule of thumb. They can treat sickness but they can't show you how to achieve vibrant health...that is not their job. I recommend joining www.thebestdayever.com if you want to learn about nutrition and whole food nutrition.
token, I know you mean well, but don't be an ass, OK? we are dealing with a cultural and language barrier: in the former Soviet bloc I often run into fish eating veggies (and it all goes back to the catholic church linguistically). Xenon is correct. you need to empower yourself with knowledge, so go through the veggie FAQ and look at the resources gathered there. soy in and of itself is no wonder food. it is a reliable source of protein for bean-phobic people. Isolates are bad news in large amounts, so go for tempeh/tofu over analogues/mock meats/ soy powders.
Very true. As it is the only resturant I've been served fish as a veg option was in Poland. Which in the grand scheme of things wasn't suprising considering it's Catholic and all. Really we can only do the best we can with what we know.
Many vegetarians in the US still consider themselves vegetarian although they eat meat. I've noticed that especially in the Jewish community (but probably for similar reasons as Catholics). Anyway, if you feel weak or tired all the time, then perhaps see a nutritionist. Just make sure you're getting your nutrients. A multivitamin should be good, and should be taken vegetarian or not.
You probably don't need a doctor, but a nutritionist (as you said in your post title) would be of great help. You'll need to learn about all the different ways you can get protein and various vitamins. I'd say spend some time on the web researching, but since there are often conflicting opinions it can get confusing. Just go to your local health food store and ask if their nutritionist is in.
The one thing that a lot of vegetarians lack is omega-3's in their diet. I call these people "angry vegetarians." These people are not pleasant to be around...lol It's been proven that a diet that lacks omega-3s is responsible for increased aggressive behaviors. http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=nutrient&dbid=84 Omega-3s are in hemp oil/milk, soybeans, walnuts, and eggs to name a few.
A person who is a vegitarian but still eats fish is called a pesci-vegetarian for future referance. That is what i was for the first 2.5 years that i was vegetarian. the past 6 months i haven't had any meat.
this discussion can go on and on, but if it's meat, then you're NOT a vegetarian of any kind in my own opinion.
Thanks guys. I'll do as someone of you told me - I'll look for a nutritionist and ask him all of those things that confuse me. And yeah... Maybe I wasn't vegetarian coz I was eating fish but I've stopped, so... Peace
Haha. I like the term angry vegetarians. So perfect. But yeah, don't forget those omega 3s. Also important are B12 and Iron, both nutrients that may be lacking in a veggie diet.
That is most of the population though, not just vegetarians...very few people are conscious of making sure they consume enough omega 3 fatty acids, even if its in fish. Most people have like an omega 6/9 to 3 ratio of like 40:1 when it should be 3:1 Omega 3 is definatley good for your brain and nervous system. I've always though of it causing more spacy kinds of behavior where as too much sugar would cause someone to get a sugar high, crash and become irritable and angry. It's awesome to see your still into hemp milk though =) !
I'm assuming you meant "... although they eat FISH." I see the opposite, but I'm around rigid kashrus:no fish near dairy.
