Changes

Most non-religious vegetarians are [[college]] students or [[teenager]]s, for whom the vegeterianism is often a short-lived fad or mode of rebellion from their parents and other adults. Once their idealism becomes tempered with more experience (or they become tired of maintaining a vegetarian diet), they often return to eating meat. The major exception to this are teens who adopt vegetarianism as a personal form of animal activism. Lucy Watkins, editor of vegetarianteen.com, was interviewed on the matter:

Most non-religious vegetarians are [[college]] students or [[teenager]]s, for whom the vegeterianism is often a short-lived fad or mode of rebellion from their parents and other adults. Once their idealism becomes tempered with more experience (or they become tired of maintaining a vegetarian diet), they often return to eating meat. The major exception to this are teens who adopt vegetarianism as a personal form of animal activism. Lucy Watkins, editor of vegetarianteen.com, was interviewed on the matter:

{{cquote|Young people, especially girls, tend to be very loving and softhearted. [Lucy] Watkins says that, although sometimes teens become vegetarians because it's the latest fad, animal activism is often a spark for young people to become vegetarians. When it's done for "faddish" reasons, they usually don't stick with it. The animal rights kids tend to stay the course.<ref>http://www.preteenagerstoday.com/resources/articles/vegetarian.htm</ref>}}

{{cquote|Young people, especially girls, tend to be very loving and softhearted. [Lucy] Watkins says that, although sometimes teens become vegetarians because it's the latest fad, animal activism is often a spark for young people to become vegetarians. When it's done for "faddish" reasons, they usually don't stick with it. The animal rights kids tend to stay the course.<ref>http://www.preteenagerstoday.com/resources/articles/vegetarian.htm</ref>}}

Vegetarianism among teenage girls has troubled many [[dietitian]]s, because in their eagerness to adopt it, teenage girls often underestimate the responsibilities and consequences of a vegetarian lifestyle.<ref>[http://www.todaysdietitian.com/newarchives/feb2006pg58.shtml] "Most dietitians I spoke with who have teenage vegetarian clients agree that teens avoiding meat is becoming a trend or fad and that the vegetarian teenagers (mostly girls aged 14 to 17) they counsel usually come from meat-eating families."</ref><ref>[http://www.annecollins.com/teen-weight-loss-advice.htm] "Quite a few girls turn to vegetarian diets in their mid or late teens. As a way of eating, vegetarianism has a lot to recommend it. Trouble is, most teens don't realise that giving up meat makes it much more difficult to eat a healthy diet. The point is, meat is a very convenient source of important vitamins and minerals, especially iron. So if you stop eating meat, you need to eat a wide range of vegetarian foods to compensate for this deficiency. Unfortunately, vegetarian teenagers are not famous for doing this."</ref>  There is conflicting advice about the health effects of vegetarianism on teenagers <ref>http://www.pamf.org/teen/health/nutrition/veggieteens.html</ref>, however given the ideological underrtones associated with the movement parents might be wise to discourage vegetarianism <ref>http://wn.com/savage_more_mosque_history,_liberalism,_vegetarianism</ref>.

Vegetarianism among teenage girls has troubled many [[dietitian]]s, because in their eagerness to adopt it, teenage girls often underestimate the responsibilities and consequences of a vegetarian lifestyle.<ref>[http://www.todaysdietitian.com/newarchives/feb2006pg58.shtml] "Most dietitians I spoke with who have teenage vegetarian clients agree that teens avoiding meat is becoming a trend or fad and that the vegetarian teenagers (mostly girls aged 14 to 17) they counsel usually come from meat-eating families."</ref><ref>[http://www.annecollins.com/teen-weight-loss-advice.htm] "Quite a few girls turn to vegetarian diets in their mid or late teens. As a way of eating, vegetarianism has a lot to recommend it. Trouble is, most teens don't realise that giving up meat makes it much more difficult to eat a healthy diet. The point is, meat is a very convenient source of important vitamins and minerals, especially iron. So if you stop eating meat, you need to eat a wide range of vegetarian foods to compensate for this deficiency. Unfortunately, vegetarian teenagers are not famous for doing this."</ref>  There is conflicting advice about the health effects of vegetarianism on teenagers,<ref>http://www.pamf.org/teen/health/nutrition/veggieteens.html</ref> however given the ideological underrtones associated with the movement parents might be wise to discourage vegetarianism.<ref>http://wn.com/savage_more_mosque_history,_liberalism,_vegetarianism</ref>

==Forms of vegetarianism==

==Forms of vegetarianism==

In contrast, some nutritionists have argued that vegetarianism is an unsustainable diet, claiming that it can be difficult to regularly get all of your daily required [[nutrient]]s without eating animal products. [[Soy]], [[nut]]s and [[bean]]s are often used as a source of protein and a substitute for meat, but nonetheless many vegetarians have to take vitamin supplements or eat enriched foods - although lacto-ovo vegetarians usually have their needs met by dairy products and eggs.<ref>According to Olivant, the most useful supplements for the vegetarians contain nutrients that may be limited in their diet, such as omega-3. [http://www.nutraingredients.com/news/ng.asp?n=65255-vegetarian-supplements]</ref> Nutrionist Dr. Ray Sahelian warns "Those who eat very little meat, fish and foul (sic) and ... may be missing, or getting very little, crucial nutrients for optimal health such as [[vitamin B12]], [[iron]], [[creatine]], [[carnitine]], and several other [[nutrient]]s"<ref>[http://www.raysahelian.com/vegetarian.html Dr. Ray Sahelian]</ref> Vegetarians suffer from higher rates of certain diseases, such as [[osteoporosis]], [[anemia]], and [[thyroid]] problems due to the lack of [[calcium]] and other nutrients in their diets, although this should be compared with the much higher rates of [[heart]] disease and high [[cholesterol]] suffered by non-vegetarians.

In contrast, some nutritionists have argued that vegetarianism is an unsustainable diet, claiming that it can be difficult to regularly get all of your daily required [[nutrient]]s without eating animal products. [[Soy]], [[nut]]s and [[bean]]s are often used as a source of protein and a substitute for meat, but nonetheless many vegetarians have to take vitamin supplements or eat enriched foods - although lacto-ovo vegetarians usually have their needs met by dairy products and eggs.<ref>According to Olivant, the most useful supplements for the vegetarians contain nutrients that may be limited in their diet, such as omega-3. [http://www.nutraingredients.com/news/ng.asp?n=65255-vegetarian-supplements]</ref> Nutrionist Dr. Ray Sahelian warns "Those who eat very little meat, fish and foul (sic) and ... may be missing, or getting very little, crucial nutrients for optimal health such as [[vitamin B12]], [[iron]], [[creatine]], [[carnitine]], and several other [[nutrient]]s"<ref>[http://www.raysahelian.com/vegetarian.html Dr. Ray Sahelian]</ref> Vegetarians suffer from higher rates of certain diseases, such as [[osteoporosis]], [[anemia]], and [[thyroid]] problems due to the lack of [[calcium]] and other nutrients in their diets, although this should be compared with the much higher rates of [[heart]] disease and high [[cholesterol]] suffered by non-vegetarians.

Another danger of the vegetarian diet is an over reliance on highly processed soy products.  Some critics have alleged that because soy contains phytoestrogens (plant estrogens), it can impair proper thyroid functions and contains compounds that inhibit absorption of minerals and protein. Many people mistake the historic use of soy in Asian countries (with high life expectancies) as evidence that soy is healthy, however these cultures use different methods of preparing their soy foods, and consume far less than the average vegetarian. <ref>http://www.foodrenegade.com/dangers-of-soy/</ref>

Another danger of the vegetarian diet is an over reliance on highly processed soy products.  Some critics have alleged that because soy contains phytoestrogens (plant estrogens), it can impair proper thyroid functions and contains compounds that inhibit absorption of minerals and protein. Many people mistake the historic use of soy in Asian countries (with high life expectancies) as evidence that soy is healthy, however these cultures use different methods of preparing their soy foods, and consume far less than the average vegetarian.<ref>http://www.foodrenegade.com/dangers-of-soy/</ref>

==Biblical issues==

==Biblical issues==

[[Image:H G Wells 2.jpg|right|H G Wells, science fiction writer and vegetarian]]

[[Image:H G Wells 2.jpg|right|H G Wells, science fiction writer and vegetarian]]

*[[Adam and Eve]], at least while in Eden <ref>(Genesis 1:29)</ref>

*[[Adam and Eve]], at least while in Eden <ref>(Genesis 1:29)</ref>

*[[Bob Barker]] - Game Show Host, most notably [[The Price is Right]] <ref>Bob Barker [http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/b/bobbarker179450.html]</ref>

*[[Bob Barker]] - Game Show Host, most notably [[The Price is Right]] <ref>[http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/b/bobbarker179450.html Bob Barker]</ref>

*[[Albert Einstein]] - Scientist, famous for [[Theory of Relativity]]. He became a vegetarian a year before his death. <ref>History of Vegetarianism [http://www.ivu.org/history/northam20a/einstein.html]</ref>

*[[Albert Einstein]] - Scientist, famous for [[Theory of Relativity]]. He became a vegetarian a year before his death.<ref>[http://www.ivu.org/history/northam20a/einstein.html History of Vegetarianism]</ref>

*[[Thomas Edison]] - inventor <ref>History of Vegetarianism [http://www.ivu.org/history/northam20a/edison.html]</ref>

*[[Thomas Edison]] - inventor <ref>[http://www.ivu.org/history/northam20a/edison.html History of Vegetarianism]</ref>

*[[Ralph Waldo Emerson]] - writer and philosopher in [[Transcendentalism]].

*[[Ralph Waldo Emerson]] - writer and philosopher in [[Transcendentalism]].

*[[Benjamin Franklin]] - Statesman, scientist, author and diplomat. <ref>PBS.org [http://www.pbs.org/benfranklin/l3_wit_self.html]</ref>

*[[Benjamin Franklin]] - Statesman, scientist, author and diplomat.<ref>[http://www.pbs.org/benfranklin/l3_wit_self.html PBS.org]</ref>

*[[Mohandas K. Gandhi]] - activist and political leader

*[[Mohandas K. Gandhi]] - activist and political leader

[[Image:Hitler.jpg|thumb|200px|left|[[Adolf Hitler]] was a vegetarian for much of his life.]]

[[Image:Hitler.jpg|thumb|200px|left|[[Adolf Hitler]] was a vegetarian for much of his life.]]

*[[Siddhartha Gautama]] - founder of [[Buddhism]]

*[[Siddhartha Gautama]] - founder of [[Buddhism]]

*[[Adolf Hitler]] - dictator

*[[Adolf Hitler]] - dictator

*[[Henry Heimlich]] - Inventor of the [[Heimlich Maneuver]]<ref>www.famousveggie.com[http://www.famousveggie.com/peoplenew.cfm]</ref>

*[[Henry Heimlich]] - Inventor of the [[Heimlich Maneuver]]<ref>[http://www.famousveggie.com/peoplenew.cfm http://www.famousveggie.com]</ref>

*[[Mahavira]]

*[[Mahavira]]

*[[Paul McCartney]] - singer/bassist for [[The Beatles]]

*[[Paul McCartney]] - singer/bassist for [[The Beatles]]