Are Vegetarians Healthier?

Are Vegetarians Healthier?

Could veggie burgers increase your lifespan? Many experts insist that switching to a vegetarian lifestyle can greatly increase overall health, leading some to ditch their pork rinds like an old smoking habit. Still others swear by an omnivorous diet, saying that occasional New York steak never hurt anyone. Is a fresh helping of tofu just what the doctor ordered, or only a lot of empty calories?

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Regarding Argument
Dairy May Not Really Be "Good" for Bones
- From International Vegetarian Union
Yes Side
By International Vegetarian Union - Promoting Vegetarianism Worldwide

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  • ElaineVigneault
    Dairy is Sacry

    Read The China Study to see the correlation between dairy and cancer:
    http://www.thechinastudy.com/about.html

    Furthermore, the production of dairy is an incredibly cruel industry:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhlhSQ5z4V4
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUJmytzUVUc

    - ElaineVigneaultUS October 8, 2008 11:04AM

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    • jizu
      dairy doesn't have to be scary!

      Yes, it is evident that conventional dairy production practices are cruel. Many cows receive little space to roam and may even suffer abuse. Also, the majority of conventional farmers feed their animals (not only dairy cows) crap like wheat, soy, etc. instead of grass, the food best suitable for many ruminants' digestive systems. The animals' health deteriorates as a result.

      Even worse, antibiotics and hormones may be given to the animals. The meat, fat, milk, etc. of the animals may then become contaminated due to these harmful chemicals.

      In addition, most of the milk you find in markets has undergone some form of pasteurization and also homogenization. Although pasteurization may kill bad bacteria and other nasties, it may remove some of the nutrients (UHT especially).However, there would be no need for pasteurization if all cows were raised organically and fed grass. Healthier cows translates to better milk.

      Homogenization is another harmful process. It prevents milk from separating into cream on top. Yet studies show it may also reduce nutritional value, just like pasteurization.

      Therefore, I would say that the china study probably has some validity judging from the widespread use of conventional dairy practices

      However, how about organic milk from cows that are fed grass? Unhomogenized, preferably raw or least low-temperature pasteurized milk? (and of course full-fat...)

      Healthier! More Humane! and much Tastier IMO!
      Just look at traditional peoples who consumed raw, organic milk. They tended to be healthy and did NOT suffer from raw-milk-food poisoning (check out www.westonaprice.org /)

      Well, that's all for now. I could go on but my fingers ache. Here's some stuff:
      Real Milk
      Milk, Does It Do A Body Good?
      -----------
      And remember, the fat in milk isn't harmful! Rising consumption of polyunsaturated fats and trans fats are some of the culprits (starchy carbs too ;), but let's not go off-topic) behind rising rates of degenrative diseases like cancer. On the other hand, the body needs saturated fats and monounsaturated fats to function properly. Check out this:
      Dear Mark: Saturated Fat

      - jizuJP October 27, 2008 5:55AM

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      • Patricia Robinett
        cows' milk is for baby calves

        were you weaned from your mother's breast? most humans were and most calves are also weaned at an early age. humans are odd creatures who 1) continue to 'nurse' all their lives and 2) drink the milk of another species.

        go on a dairy-only diet for a few weeks. you will soon see and feel the effects dairy has on the body. do your research. your body is a laboratory. experiment, but don't abuse it. it's a precious gift.

        - Patricia RobinettUS October 27, 2008 9:40AM

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        • jizu
          true, cow's milk is for baby calves but...!

          Negative effects of dairy-only diet? If one consumes tons of processed, unpastured dairy products, of course his/her health will be negatively impacted. As stated before, many dairy cows receive the wrong nutrition and may be treated with harmful chemicals.

          And who goes on a dairy-only diet anyways? It's common sense that too much anything can be harmful, not just dairy. If I ate only ate grains for breakfast, lunch, and dinner everyday, I would lose muscle mass and possibly develop scurvy and other diseases caused by nutrient-deficiencies ( actually, I try to avoid grains/starchy crabs as much as possible since I follow some aspects of the paleo diet).

          This explains why people need balanced diets.

          Furthermore, one should always go for organic, unprocessed milk. Lactose-intolerant individuals find raw milk easier to digest because it contains lactase, an enzyme removed during conventional milk processing.

          Although humans do not need dairy as a part of their diet, it can be quite healthy when consumed in its natural, unpasteurized form (from pastured cows of course) and in certain amounts depending on the individual's health requirements/limitations.

          At the very least, treat it as fine wine, an occasional indulgence,

          - jizuJP October 27, 2008 8:58PM

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