Did you notice benefits to more vegetarian meals?

[displace]

I watched Forks Over Knives as part of my Motivation to Lose Weight thread. I liked the movie and I want to eat more vegetables. I am not wanting to become vegetarian at this time. But the health benefits are very intriguing to me.

 

Has anyone here experienced some benefits (health or otherwise) from incorporating more vegetables into their diet or by going vegetarian or even vegan? :)

[mellifera33]

My digestion is much better when eating a whole foods plant based diet. 

 

Have you read anything by or watched any videos of Doug Lisle? I have been trying to follow his guidelines for food, and I find that when I avoid "pleasure trap" foods I am much better able to regulate intake. I eat, I am satisfied, I stop. I was shocked yesterday at lunch when I went on autopilot to get seconds and realized that I didn't want any more. 

[Bluegoat]

Well, if you are careful it can be cheaper, and I think it's good for your bowels.

 

I don't consider FOK to be particularly giving good info though, it was largely based on the China Study which has a lot of problems.

[KungFuPanda]

I think there are benefits to greatly increasing vegetables and reducing meat, but I'm not convinced there's a real health benefit to eliminating meat entirely.

[fairfarmhand]

We're a farming family. Big meat and potatoes family, we put a steer in the freezer each year, and love our bacon and sausage.

 

2 years ago, when beef prices were so high, my dh SOLD ALL OUR STEERS.

 

So for 2 years, I had to buy store beef. Then my fil got really sick with cancer. We began researching, and my dh asked if we could have 1-2 vegetarian nights a week and a fish night.  So I did. We also cut our pork consumption down to once a week.

 

And for both of us, even though our cholesterol was good before, it was GREAT after that year of less meat.

 

I also found it somewhat cheaper, since I could grow veggies. And wasn't paying store prices for beef.

Edited October 28, 2016 by fairfarmhand

[regentrude]

Mostly plant based foods and real ingredients, as little processed as possible, makes me feel better than processed junk.

Whether I include a small amount of meat in my diet or cut out meat entirely does not seem to make the slightest difference.

I am not convinced that a vegetarian diet is superior for health reasons.

[displace]

My digestion is much better when eating a whole foods plant based diet.

 

Have you read anything by or watched any videos of Doug Lisle? I have been trying to follow his guidelines for food, and I find that when I avoid "pleasure trap" foods I am much better able to regulate intake. I eat, I am satisfied, I stop. I was shocked yesterday at lunch when I went on autopilot to get seconds and realized that I didn't want any more.

No, I'll have to look him up. :). I'm focusing more on eating when hungry vs emotional overeating and trying to analyze myself. Edited October 28, 2016 by displace

[displace]

Well, if you are careful it can be cheaper, and I think it's good for your bowels.

 

I don't consider FOK to be particularly giving good info though, it was largely based on the China Study which has a lot of problems.

I had concerns about a lot of studies mentioned, but the lab changes from some people were amazing (though maybe some could have been due to weight loss). The idea of using meat/animal products selectively is not something I usually do and I'm wanting to experiment some. I had vegetables and rice with tofu for lunch. I had sushi rice because I love it so much but wish I had brown instead because now I'm feeling a bit tired. Edited October 28, 2016 by displace

[kiana]

I have not reduced meat but I feel a lot better after reducing processed foods and massively increasing vegetables. 

 

p.s. I know your title says vegetarian, but in your post you did say vegetables, so that's why I responded.

 

I'm also gonna add (in a funny way) that when people hear about a lot of the vegetable dishes I make, they say "Oh, you're a vegetarian?" No, that was a side dish, I just like my veggies!

Edited October 28, 2016 by kiana

[Lanny]

To my astonishment, during June 2015, my wife converted us to being Vegetarians. At least at home.  The reason for that was that she watched one or more videos about how cattle and chickens are slaughtered.  We live in Colombia, so we have an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables available for purchase  in the local supermarkets.  I still eat meat occasionally, if we are in a restaurant.  I suspect that if I'd had a blood test before June 2015 and I had the same blood test today, that the numbers would be better.  The other benefit is the cost savings.  We are spending much less money in the supermarket.  

[AmandaVT]

DH's cholesterol went down from borderline high to under 150, his blood sugar levels went from pre-diabetic to normal and his blood pressure went down some when we switched to eating vegetarian. His gout also became much easier to manage with a drastic reduction in attacks (this was our impetus to cut way down on meat). 

[Guest]

Well some time ago we stopped eating meat that we felt was treated poorly while it was alive and there are some psychic benefits to knowing you're not throwing money at inhumane husbandry practices . I assume someone eating less meat overall could or would feel the same.

Well since time ago we stopped eating meat that we felt was treated poorly while it was alive and there are some psychic benefits to knowing you're not throwing money at inhumane husbandry practices . I assume someone eating less meat overall could or would feel the same.

Edited October 28, 2016 by OKBud

[scrapbookbuzz]

I wonder if there have been any studies done comparing the health of those who eat large industry grain fed beef to those who eat small farm, grass fed beef?

 

When I was strictly following a Paleo method of eating, just meat, veggies, and fruit (no grain or legumes), I did feel much better than when I have processed foods in my diet.

[happi duck]

When I eat vegan I feel great and my anxiety is less. For some dopey reason I struggle to stick with it. :(

[SparklyUnicorn]

Not unless feeling starved is a benefit.

 

 

[Arcadia]

I had gone on a vegetarian diet a few times for months and I needed iron supplements every time. I do feel lots better on a low carbohydrate diet. I don't absorb iron well from vegetables sources but absorb well from dark chocolate. My DS10 has similar absorption issues. So it really varies by individuals.

[J-rap]

My dh and I were vegetarians for years.  When we started our family and were on a student's budget, we still stuck with vegetarian, but then slowly transitioned to adding meat thinking that might be good for them.  We've continued on a meat diet, but it is a smaller portion in a meal made up primarily of vegetables.  So, maybe 1/4 meat to 3/4 vegetables for a typical meal.  That combination feels really good for us.  The meat we use is mostly locally raised, but at the very least hormone-free.  I feel great and no longer have anemia issues that I had from time to time on an all-vegetarian diet.

 

 

[Tanaqui]

Our budget is certainly healthier (and by doing this consistently it's not like we're feeling put-upon if we add an extra veggie meal in because we're having a tough pay period), and - though I shouldn't admit this - I do like the feeling of being "that lady who eats so healthy" at the grocery store!

[Crimson Wife]

I think there are benefits to greatly increasing vegetables and reducing meat, but I'm not convinced there's a real health benefit to eliminating meat entirely.

 

I've tried going vegetarian and I feel AWFUL on it. That's with taking a multi, iron, and B-complex. When we've had to eat mostly vegetarian for budget reasons I can always tell when I need to eat some inexpensive meat/poultry/fish because I start feeling lousy. I don't need a lot to feel better, but I do need to eat it regularly.

[Monica_in_Switzerland]

I have not reduced meat but I feel a lot better after reducing processed foods and massively increasing vegetables. 

 

p.s. I know your title says vegetarian, but in your post you did say vegetables, so that's why I responded.

 

I'm also gonna add (in a funny way) that when people hear about a lot of the vegetable dishes I make, they say "Oh, you're a vegetarian?" No, that was a side dish, I just like my veggies!

 

 

Yes, I would not replace meat with veggies, but rather replace processed food with veggies.  I like the paleo slogan of "I eat more vegetables than most vegetarians!"- in my experience, this is true, as the vegetarians I know eat quite a bit of processed soy and meat-replacements and bread products compared to how I eat on paleo where I'm definitely hitting my 5+ servings a day.  

 

The six months I was a real vegetarian (12 years ago now) I remember feeling horrible.  But it's possible I just wasn't doing it right!