Difference between revisions of "Talk:Vegetarianism"

Revision as of 20:08, May 29, 2007

While I'll agree that being vegetarian is wrong because steak is so right ... how can you possibly say that vegetarians are evil?? I seriously hope this is a joke. Jrssr5 11:39, 22 March 2007 (EDT)

I vehemently deny that porco-pesco-ovo-lacto-vegetarians do not exist. For I am one such.

I'd like to see a small discussion of the dietary habits of Seventh Day Adventists here. I don't know enough about it, so I don't know what to say. (I don't know if they are obliged to eat vegetarian, but I do know that it's common among them.) Also, if this article mentions the Bible forbidding eating pork products, it should also talk about other things forbidden in Leviticus--shellfish, certain birds and other animals. However, as these laws still allow eating beef, chicken, certain fish, and other animals, I'm not really sure it belongs in an article about vegetarianism. I may fix this later. Kolbe 05:12, 25 March 2007 (EDT)

I made a few corrections. example: Milk is a product, not a byproduct, of a cow. A Pesco-ovo-lacto veggie is also considered just a pescetarian. Rocksteel 02:27, 21 April 2007 (EDT)

Huh? Jesus a vegetarian/vegan or a raw foodist? Evidence in the Bible? I can think of one instance where he is clearly said to have eaten fish (after his resurrection, appearing to the apostles in the upper room) and several where it's implied (the Passover supper and the multiplication of the loaves and fishes, for example). Only raw foodists are pacifist or compassionate? I'm going to delete this reference. Kolbe 03:06, 22 April 2007 (EDT)

I don't think Jehovah's witnesses are obliged to be vegetarian. I once asked one why they disagreed with blood transfusions, and she said it's because it says somewhere in the Bible that thou shalt not drink blood (or something to that effect). I then asked if she was vegetarian, and she said no... Adventists refrain from vices like drinking coffee and smoking, but I think they eat meat. Emmeline 12:50, 8 May 2007 (EDT)

Why "think" when you can "google"? ;-)

• For more than 130 years Seventh-day Adventists (SDAs) have practiced a vegetarian dietary lifestyle because of their belief in the wholistic nature of people. [1] --Ed Poor 09:58, 29 May 2007 (EDT)

Just an FYI, from personal experience, this is not true of all SDAs. I was friends with a family that were SDA in high school, and from hanging out with them and attending a few of their church functions I can attest that they were not vegetarians. --Colest 10:05, 29 May 2007 (EDT)

Thanks, you saved me from "unthinkingly" putting in the first quote I googled! :-) --Ed Poor 12:19, 29 May 2007 (EDT)

comment on edit by Rschlafly

There is no evidence that vegetarians need to take any dietary supplements, other than B12 in some circumstances (Elderly, pregnant women, very small children), even then this vitamin can be found naturally:

"Fortified cereals are one of the few sources of vitamin B12 from plants, and are an important dietary source of vitamin B12 for strict vegetarians and vegans. Strict vegetarians and vegans who do not consume foods that come from plants that are fortified with vitamin B12 need to consider taking a dietary supplement that contains vitamin B12 and should discuss the need for vitamin B12 supplements with their physician". http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/vitaminb12.asp--Felix 12:16, 29 May 2007 (EDT)

Henry Thoreau famously lived a year and a half on food he grew himself, as described in Walden. --Ed Poor 12:18, 29 May 2007 (EDT)

Are you trying to distinguish eating a vitamin-fortified cereal from taking a vitamin supplement? I don't see the point. Either way, it is a vitamin supplement. RSchlafly 12:25, 29 May 2007 (EDT)

We should be clear, here: these are issues with a vegan diet only. You can get B12 from dairy sources. The issues appear to be:

Vitamin B-12. Vegans can get vitamin B-12, needed to produce red blood cells and maintain normal nerve function, from enriched breakfast cereals, fortified soy products, nutritional yeast, or supplements.

Calcium. We all need calcium for strong teeth and bones. You can get calcium from dark green vegetables (spinach, bok choy, broccoli, collards, kale, turnip greens), sesame seeds, almonds, red and white beans, soy foods, dried figs, blackstrap molasses, and calcium-fortified foods like fruit juices and breakfast cereals.

Vitamin D. Vitamin D helps our bodies absorb calcium and is synthesized by exposing skin to sunlight. But vitamin D deficiency can occur, especially if you don't spend a lot of time outside. Vitamin D is not found in plant foods; best dietary sources are fortified dairy products. Vegans can also get vitamin D from fortified foods, including vitamin D-fortified soy milk or rice milk.

Protein. Not getting enough protein is a concern when switching to a vegetarian diet. Protein needs can be met while following a vegan diet if you consume adequate calories and eat a variety of plant foods, including good plant sources of protein such as soy, other legumes, nuts, and seeds.

Iron. Iron from plant sources is less easily absorbed than iron in meat. This lower bioavailability means that iron intake for vegetarians should be higher than the RDA for nonvegetarians. Vegetarian food sources of iron include soy foods like soybeans, tempeh, and tofu; legumes like lentils and chickpeas; and fortified cereals. Iron absorption is enhanced by vitamin C.

Zinc. Zinc plays a role in many key body functions, including immune system response, so it's important to get enough of it, which vegans can do by eating nuts, legumes, miso and other soy products, pumpkin and sunflower seeds, tahini, wheat germ, and whole-grain breads and cereals.

Riboflavin. This B vitamin, which is important for growth and red blood cell production, can be found in almonds, mushrooms, broccoli, figs, sweet potatoes, soybeans, wheat germ, and fortified cereals and enriched bread.

Source: http://kidshealth.org/teen/food_fitness/nutrition/vegan.html

The stuff that I have enboldened, shows that you can get all you need by a judicious choice of vegetables.--Felix 12:44, 29 May 2007 (EDT)

I guess that you are agreeing that it is difficult to get a complete diet without vitamin supplements or fortifications. I've heard that it is also hard or impossible to get omega-3 from plants. RSchlafly 14:02, 29 May 2007 (EDT)

I guess that you are agreeing that it is difficult to get a complete diet without vitamin supplements or fortifications. I would agree with this statement *for vegans*, specifically as regards to B-12, but not for lacto-ovo vegetarians, who should have no problems with any of these nutrients, even B-12.--Hsmom 15:34, 29 May 2007 (EDT)

Well, let's not fight about it. If it's true, it will be easy to support. So I'm going to assign my research staff to digging into the details. --Ed Poor 16:08, 29 May 2007 (EDT)