| Vegetarian .. cravings??
Posted: 4/9/2007 10:40:20 AM | | So I've always thought of going vegetarian since I don't eat alot of meat and I know that going vegetarian is healthier, but I was wondering if anyone that has done the switch from your old way of eating to vegetarian, do you miss the other foods you use to eat? I'm type 2 diabetic and therefore my natural insulin levels are messed up. I'm on pills but find I crave sugar sometimes really bad. Has anyone noticed in general if your sugar cravings got worse or subsided from going vegetarian? I am actually visiting my Dr this thursday and will be discussing a vegetarian diet with him, but I was curious as to people experiences with "withdrawls" or whether your cravings for certain foods diminshed. | |
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| Vegetarian .. cravings??
Posted: 4/9/2007 1:56:03 PM | | Sounds to me like you don't really want to become vegetarian that much. And in all honesty it's no healthier than a diet including meat, as long as you're eating clean good quality cuts. If you are diabetic then I'm not sure how that will effect your situation since lean meats don't have high fat or sugar in them to worry about. The best thing you can do for your health is watch your carbohydrates and junk food. So avoid white starchy foods as much as you can. Try to eat more whole wheat and you'll probably feel a lot better. | |
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| Vegetarian .. cravings??
Posted: 4/9/2007 3:09:19 PM | I went from a meatarian to a vegetarian to a vegan in about 3 months.
I don't miss any of the foods I no longer eat...in fact, the smell of some of them now gross me out.
I did miss my chocolate cravings for awhile, but now I eat more fruit. I've also found chocolate bars that are between 70% and 99% pure cocoa for when I break down...
A vegetarian or vegan diet is way healthier for you. Countless studies have proved it time and again.
Not sure why your asking advice from your Dr. ( I assume your G.P.) They get about 20 hours of nutritional training in school. | |
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| Vegetarian .. cravings??
Posted: 4/9/2007 5:52:05 PM |
A vegetarian or vegan diet is way healthier for you. Countless studies have proved it time and again.
Could you please provide some unbiased source(s) of this? | |
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| Vegetarian .. cravings??
Posted: 4/9/2007 6:53:08 PM | Sounds to me like you don't really want to become vegetarian that much.
Umm how so? I was just curious to know if people find cravings intensify or diminsh, that's all.
I did miss my chocolate cravings for awhile, but now I eat more fruit. I've also found chocolate bars that are between 70% and 99% pure cocoa for when I break down...
Very cool. I hear the purer cocoa is actually good for you.
Not sure why your asking advice from your Dr. ( I assume your G.P.)
I'm talking to him moreso because he knows my medical history, especially with my diabetes, and for the fact he may be able to reccommend a nutritionist that I can actually sit down with and learn the different food choices/effects and such. It's not as simple as "just switching", when you have diabetes. Things such as bread, too much meat, too many fresh fruits, etc play with my insulin levels, and by cutting certain foods out I have to replace certain nutrients I'll lose with pills because it doesn't just affect me like it would everyone else, but again plays with my insulin levels. Now someone without diabetes can say "ok I'm cutting anything that isn't fruit and vegetable out my my diet", and not have to think twice about it. I figure it would be best to approach (for me) to approach it that way. But like I said in my initial post, I was curious to know if people found they craved certain foods, or if you didn't, or as you said, some now just gross you out. | |
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kimsy
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Joined: 11/22/2006
Msg: 6 | |
| Vegetarian .. cravings??
Posted: 4/9/2007 7:56:22 PM | I've been veggie for probably 10 years. I went veggie because I thought it was healthier, I'm not trying to save the chickens.
I don't have sweet cravings nor do I crave meat or poultry etc. I do have carb cravings though-I tend to eat (whole wheat) pasta more than I should. I talked to my doctor about this and both my doc (and dietician) said they'd rather have me eat too much pasta than too much meat. :)
Check out:
http://www.goveg.com/healthConcerns.asp
http://www.tryveg.com/cfi/toc/
Also you'll most likely need to take B12 and Iron supplements---trader joes has some veggie ones. You have to read the labels because most vitamins are animal based. | |
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| Vegetarian .. cravings??
Posted: 4/9/2007 8:02:21 PM | "Could you please provide some unbiased source(s) of this?"
http://chipusa.org/downloads/Section_3948.pdf
http://www.chipusa.org/downloads/Section8_1-8.pdf
http://www.nutritionadvocate.com/index.html
http://www.heartattackproof.com/
http://www.drmcdougall.com/res_breast_cancer2.html
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/542153
http://diabetes.webmd.com/news/20060726/low-fat-vegan-diet-may-treat-diabetes
The last 2 I found by googling "insulin levels vegan diet"
Couldn't resist clicking on this one....http://www.biblelife.org/vegetarian-deficiencies.htm
"Also you'll most likely need to take B12 and Iron supplements"
Fortified Rice Milk helps for B12.....good sources of iron are dried beans and dark green leafy vegetables.
http://www.vrg.org/nutrition/iron.htm
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| Vegetarian .. cravings??
Posted: 4/10/2007 10:01:05 AM | No I went to being a vegatarian when I was in my late 20's -
actually I ate meat - but as I was switching over - meat grossed me
out - I did not crave it at all - I craved healthy stuff - I had no withdrawl
at all - like I said - I was like repulsed - it was really really easy to make
the transition for me too - I think you will find it is easier than you think
it is- No craving at all and no withdrawl - like I said - it surprised me -
and I think you will be pleasantly surprised how easy it really is -
the only problem that I had - I did not look at your age - but I ate alot
of soy and I formed a breast tumor because of the soy and hormones -
that is what my surgeon told me- so - no more soy - just check with your
doctor about any concerns you have - | |
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| Vegetarian .. cravings??
Posted: 4/10/2007 12:15:31 PM | A healthy balanced diet should contain meat...regardless of what the egg heads tell you.
We have the correct acid Ph in the stomach, forward facing eyes and canine teeth.
Just get some decent excercise and eat healthy organic food...... | |
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| Vegetarian .. cravings??
Posted: 4/10/2007 7:20:34 PM | "A healthy balanced diet should contain meat..." do you have to add extra mad cow or do think you'll get enough naturally?
Why do people still think meat is healthy or we can't survive without it? Look around at your fellow North Americans, how many are healthy? We have the highest rate of Osteoporosis and the highest rate of milk consumption. It's called the milk paradox. We are being sold a diet that is killing us so the pharmaceutical companies can get rich.
With a proper diet you will have no more cravings. Try the Zone Diet to get started, it will help explain why and how to keep your blood sugar "in the zone". That will help stop the junk food cravings when your sugar crashes because you ate steak and potatoes for dinner. | |
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| Vegetarian .. cravings??
Posted: 4/10/2007 10:12:15 PM | | I dont eat meat except for chicken & tuna....every once in awhile Ill get a craving for red meat and go ahead and get a steak ,I figure my body's lacking something in it,but thats only like twice a year ,as far as sweets I have a daily craving for dark chocolate ,I try to stay away from it ....but that only last a few days before I have to have at least a couple pieces,I think as long as you dont over indulge you'll be ok....try drinking Slim Fast Optima using 2% or skim milk, they have it in Double Royal chocolate/strawberry or vanilla ,that will help with some of the sweet cravings....I drink a glass every day and it does seem to help as far as replacing the junk food craving. | |
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| Vegetarian .. cravings??
Posted: 4/11/2007 3:49:18 PM | | I have been vegetarian for 15 yrs and went vegan last year. I never had a craving for meat. I went vegetarian after doing a research paper in jr high about slaughterhouses and well that pretty much scarred me for life. There are always "fake" meat products to satisfy your cravings. Morning Star, Tofurkey, Boca, and Lifelite make some awesome products. As for craving sweets, I usually have some fruit to deal with those cravings or something like cinnamon pita chips with a cold glass of unsweetened chocolate almond milk. Its good stuff! There are so many delicious vegetarian/vegan products out there. | |
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| Vegetarian .. cravings??
Posted: 4/11/2007 6:44:33 PM | Fadeaway,
Anyone who needs a quick reality check (and yes, back in High School I butchered meat) just needs to go to meat dot org and watch the video.
I'd go back to vegetarian, but with starting back in at the gym, I've gotta find a dietician first.
And no, we don't need to eat meat. When my family went veg, we had our blood check for vitamin levels and they were just fine. It is getting certain B's naturally that can be difficult to do but it can be done.
I never felt healthier than when I was. On a deep down level, I don't like the thought of destroying any sentient being for my well being when it isn't needed.
More people will be veg in the future like it or not, we can't keep adding more people to this planet and have meat based diets...way to wasteful on energy...
Cheers! | |
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| Vegetarian .. cravings??
Posted: 4/12/2007 7:03:48 AM | OneSimpleNeed-
Ahhh! The "Meet your Meat" video! That is beyond disturbing! I ball my eyes out everytime I watch it. | |
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| Vegetarian .. cravings??
Posted: 4/12/2007 7:37:29 PM | Fadeaway...
Yeah,
See the thing is as an engineer, I know that the amount of energy it takes to go from calf to cow to the dinner table is not sustainable for the population of the planet. It isn't at its current level and most of the world doesn't eat the insane amounts of meats we do.
I'm going back to the veg thing here slowly, I have no problem giving up meat...after I saw how pigs actually live even in the best conditions? NASTY!
Cheeekuns? Ugh, if anyone ever saw a working chicken farm...
Fish? We are already overfishing to the point of extinction of several species and we don't understand the inner workings of the ocean any better than we have anyone that is an expert on Mars.
That leaves beef. Hmm...mad cow...and other diseases...no thanks.
So forget the fact I've traveled a lot and have eaten: Deer, Bear, Elk, Racoon, Squirrel, Turtle, Dove, pheasant, duck, geese, snake, horse, monkey, bat, rat, and yes...bow wow and mew mew (some cultures really do not see them as pets) among other things (believe it or not Emu is a lot like a good steak...but I am digressing).
I can live without meat. I say live without it meaning at a biological level. I can't live without water. I can live without meat. I can have a nice varied enjoyable diet that just doesn't include meat.
Now, come into my house and try to take my dairy? Oh no...god bless the cheese shoppe owners!
Eggs, meh! you can have 'em, I was never big on them.
Its a healthier diet and it doesn't take that much more work to have everyday versus a meat based diet.
I actually never felt better, had more energy and got sick less than the 2 years I was veg...and for some weird reason? I was a lot more umm...well there is only one way to put it, I was a lot more randy.
Cheers! | |
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| Vegetarian .. cravings??
Posted: 4/12/2007 9:44:12 PM | I actually spoke with my Dr, who said that a vegetarian diet would be best for me. He suggested to switch to soy milk for drinking/cereals. But suggested I stay with "real cheese" if I tend to eat cheese. He also said that I should keep fish, like Tuna, Haddock, etc in my diet. I'm not a big meat eater to start, but I think I'll start with switching things up like that. He ordered blood work and said because of my family history with Iron Deficiancies, that if I'm gonna take meat completely out of my diet, that I should be on iron suppliments. But other than that, he said I'm good to go with it. So...thus the switch begins.
My fiance on the other hand is pure carnivore LOL So we'll see how that works out lol
<div class='quote'> have been vegetarian for 15 yrs and went vegan last year. I never had a craving for meat. I went vegetarian after doing a research paper in jr high about slaughterhouses and well that pretty much scarred me for life
I got something in the mail from PETA ...ummm I couldn't look at even eggs for like weeks without my stomach turning. It's a good way to scare people into becoming vegetarian or vegan lol | |
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| Vegetarian .. cravings??
Posted: 4/12/2007 11:34:30 PM | Re: Soy Milk. From what I understand, soy is one of the most GMed products on the market. Google gm soy. Pretty scary stuff there...
I drink fortified rice milk. Typically, 1 cup gives you 50% of your B12 RDA.
Regarding iron, beans and dark leafy green vegetables are your best sources. Eat lots of them....supplements should be your last resort....besides....you get a lot more than just iron when eating foods that are high in it. | |
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| Vegetarian .. cravings??
Posted: 4/13/2007 1:53:20 AM | One more thing....30g of "Lindt and Sprungli" 70% Cocoa provides 10% of your RDA
50 g of 99% provides 20 % | |
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| Vegetarian .. cravings??
Posted: 4/13/2007 7:28:14 AM | | I now crave cheese its weird before I become a veggo I never really had a fondess for cheese now I love it | |
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| Vegetarian .. cravings??
Posted: 4/14/2007 2:25:24 PM | I was a vegetarian from when i was 11 up untill last year.I just cut meat out all together.I had no cravings for it at all.I used to eat linda macartney food,like veggi saussages,and veggi burgers and bacon.wasnt keen on the quorn food tho.
I even went through being pregnant being a veggi,and all my family kept telling me i shuld eat meat.I didnt still and they were all suprissed that i wasnt even anemic | |
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vr1960
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Joined: 3/24/2007
Msg: 21 | |
| Vegetarian .. cravings??
Posted: 4/15/2007 1:07:22 PM | Check out www.truthpublishing.com/HaltDiabetes/html
I haven't researched it but it sounds interesting, if you could reverse type-2 diabetes through diet and exercise. It would be worth it. | |
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| Vegetarian .. cravings??
Posted: 4/15/2007 4:45:01 PM | | Whether you choose to become a vegan is up to you. Saying that all meat is bad is a fallacy. Meat contains all types of amino acids, which are great for your muscle tissue and help balance out your blood's ph level in your body. Eating an alkaline diet(high in fruits and vegetables) is great for a change, but we must consume a variety of sources to keep ourselves healthy. Even if it means consuming some fish, eggs, and/or dairy, that would be feasible. | |
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| Vegetarian .. cravings??
Posted: 4/15/2007 4:46:23 PM | | Forgot to add, type 2 diabetes can be controlled if your diet remains consistent(clean) and your exercising a minimum of 3 times per week(most important in my opinion). | |
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| Vegetarian .. cravings??
Posted: 4/15/2007 7:22:16 PM | I'm not saying meat is bad as in unhealthy, then again everything in moderation. I am saying that from an energy and ecology stanndpoint we will NOT be able to sustain 9 billion people on a meat based diet and the sooner everyone realizes this and alters their diets accordingly, the less damage we will do.
I still ejoy an occasional memium rare steak, but my diet is shifting on its own again (my body decides what it is hungry for not me) and it is mostly veg now. | |
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| Vegetarian .. cravings??
Posted: 4/16/2007 12:14:40 AM | Re: Post 22:
Vegans eat a hell of a lot more than just fruits and vegetables. My diet has widened because of it.
I see in your profile you list yourself as catholic. I grew up in a catholic family.
One of the reasons for changing my diet was morals/ethics.
meat.org | |
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