In all the threads I’ve noticed on this topic on the forum there is always a meat eater who chimes in and insists we are wrong and demands we prove we are right. We become defensive as a result of attack. I provided sources that backed up my statement. I haven’t seen sources that say I am wrong. I slowly got off of meat/chicken/fish and have felt better ever since. We chose to no longer eat meat for a variety of reasons, one of which can be our health. All or nothing? Either you eat meat or you don’t. It is binary.
I honestly believe I will live a healthier life if I eat a healthy vegetarian diet than if I had meat in that diet. The studies have shown this. We go with what the current information is, we always do. What if more studies show the same results? Will you also assume they are incorrect? The study of nutrition is evolving but eating a plant based diet will always be a healthy choice. At this point, it is being shown to be “heathier” than a meat eating diet.
Assuming meat and animal products have to provide some benefit doesn’t make it so. Even B12, which can be difficult for vegans, is found in Brewer’s Yeast. If you don’t want to have brewer’s yeast in your diet for whatever reason, eating fortified foods or a supplement will work fine. There are many sources of calcium and iron.
Eating meat doesn’t automatically make anyone healthier. Eating a plant based diet has been shown to do just that. Take a look at some of the studies cited at the bottom of the article. The Jehovia’s Witnesses have a very low incidence of cancer and heart disease and the China Study showed the same. A plant based diet is especially important if there are genetic risk factors such as colon cancer, heart diesease, breast cancer, diabetes, etc. in the family.
Real fruit juice without pulp spikes blood sugar so in this way it messes with the body’s insulin levels. Foods that trigger an insulin response can contribute to diabetes if you get your pancreas messed up enough. Obesity is a bigger factor. Yes, it is the fiber that slows down the absorbtion of the sugars into the blood stream. It is a problem of processed foods and not eating whole foods. Nothing inherantly wrong with fruit juice, just eat the fruit too or drink it with other food, especially proteins and fats.