digg

Facebook Connect Join Digg About
See the original image at dailymail.co.uk

Meat vs veggie: From depression to infertility, your choices

dailymail.co.uk — Scientists recently declared that vegetarians are much less likely to develop cancer. For the five per cent of the population who are vegetarian, that is good news indeed. But is meatfree always the healthiest option?

Who dugg this? Made popular Jul 19, 2009

Digg DudeWhat is Digg?

Digg is a place for people to discover and share content from anywhere on the web. Digg surfaces the best stuff as submitted and voted on by the community. Take the Tour to learn more.

259 Comments

show profanity settings
expand all
  • charm803, on 07/18/2009, -21/+73Written by Peta Bee, who also wrote:

    "As research shows mouthwash contains TWICE the alcohol of wine, could you be gargling your way to cancer?"

    Whether you are a vegetarian of not, it all depends on your overall lifestyle, which includes exercise and balanced meals.

    The only one I agree with is vegetarians are more prone to depression. If I couldn't eat bacon anymore, I'd be pretty sad, too.
  • inactive, on 07/19/2009, -8/+57This article isn't really comparing like with like. The scientific case linking high blood pressure, cancer, heart disease, etc. in meat eaters is very, very strong, and based richly on human studies. The "depression" and "infertility" studies referenced are based on a few studies where rats were given mega doses of purified soy isoflavones. The veg*n diet isn't perfect, but in order to present some evidence against veg*nism, the author had to exaggerate the significance of a few rat studies.

    Vegans do need to be careful of their B12 intake, and that means taking vitamins. However, everyone loses his/her ability to absorb B12 over his/her lifetime, which means that omnis need to augment their diet just as veg*ans do.
  • drawds, on 07/19/2009, -13/+54For those of you saying we have sharp teeth to eat meat I dare you to try and bite through an animal's hide.
    It's our ability to make tools and cook that enabled us to eat meat. If it wasn't for that we would never:
    a) Be able to catch an animal;
    b) If we caught an animal who was injured or slow we still couldn't bite through its hide nor bite the muscles off;
    c) if we managed to get to its muscles we still wouldn't find the meat tasty nor easy to chew unless we cooked it.

    Also, here's a photo of a gorilla http://bit.ly/s9rID he has teeth about 10x larger and sharper than ours and he's mostly vegetarian, eating a few insects and grubs for protein.

    And here's a panda http://bit.ly/Gi9BB who is strictly vegetarian too.

    Our considerably sharp teeth are more ideal to bite through fruits and vegetables.

    So, before saying something stupid, please look into the subject a bit more.
  • m0llusk, on 07/18/2009, -2/+34Diet choices are more complex than this. Eating the right amount at the right times can make a difference no matter what the content is.
  • localzuk, on 07/19/2009, -10/+34This article gives the impression that it was trying to be unbiased - by listing a handful of items for each side of the argument. By doing that, they have in fact revealed their bias.

    No mention of heart disease, bowel cancel, stomach cancer and other common meat eating related illnesses.

    It also mentions B12 - which is more a vegan problem than a vegetarian issue. And the muscle atrophy point is true only of those who are stupid enough to cut protein out of their diet - which is not an issue for any vegetarian (or vegan) that I've ever known. You'd have to be monumentally dumb to do that.
  • thePTS, on 07/19/2009, -2/+23I suggest bacon sex!
  • vsujohn2, on 07/18/2009, -17/+38You might be "safe" but you're gonna have bad teeth and unable to have children. Thats gonna make you depressed and you're gonna be a weakling with atrophied muscles. I'd rather be a rickety old man who can't remember why, but he ***** loves bacon, even if his hands hurt every time he eats it.
  • hikaruzero, on 07/19/2009, -2/+22hankpaulson09 is spot on here.

    The truth is, it doesn't matter whether you are a meat-eater or a veg*n, you *MUST* have a varied diet to avoid the side effects of an imbalanced diet.

    I personally have been vegan for 5 years now and I do not supplement with anything at all (except when ill). I've had no problems at all getting intake for things like, protein, vitamin B12, calcium, etc. All you need to do is be sure you aren't eating the same foods every day for weeks on end. Unfortunately, many meat-eaters have health problems because they don't do this -- many people in today's society eat almost exclusively from fast food joints or buy the same kinds of meat/produce from the same stores every week.

    Likewise there are 2 important things the article doesn't mention:

    On average, vegetarians live about 7 years longer, and vegans live 15 years longer. This is NOT due to diet alone -- diet alone contributes maybe 1 or 2 years at the most. This is primarily due to lifestyle choices -- things like not smoking, avoiding unnatural products and foods which contain ***** weird ***** like aspartame and cochineal extract.

    And, the article fails to mention any major diseases, things like high blood pressure and cholesterol, diabetes, etc. Most of the common reasons why people die at old ages (save falling down the stairs) are exclusive to omnivores and have a far lower incidence rate in veg*ns -- this effect, unlike longevity, IS due primarily to a diet which is high in complete proteins and low in cholesterol and processed sugars.
  • ronh, on 07/19/2009, -4/+23Daily Mail, enough said.

    I think I'll get my dietary information form somewhere a little more reputable.
  • kenism, on 07/19/2009, -4/+22Taking the extreme of anything will give problems. Just eat a balanced diet and exercise.
  • ronh, on 07/19/2009, -3/+18Don't bet on it. Wear a rubber!

    Me and my wife vegan for 10 years. Three boys. Love all of them.
  • redwolfwalker, on 07/18/2009, -3/+18Where do Pietarians fit in all of this?
  • cubicrystal, on 07/19/2009, -6/+20I don't care what the *experts* have to say on this or anything else for that matter. When I see with my own two eyes animals caged, without room to move without falling over either in their own wastes or over another animal, pumped to the gills with antibiotics and steroids, removed from their natural environment and their offspring, where they stand all day and all night in misery, fed the bones of their relatives and rotting garbage or pesticide laden grains, only later to be rendered petrified as they're boxed in cattle cars, hauling them off to a slaughterhouse where they then watch how their friends are hoisted up, punched and abused then left to bleed to death, their fear frozen in their ligaments and flesh, then - excuse me if I opt out of consuming these animals .
  • ghall, on 07/19/2009, -1/+15Someone who's diet consists only of pie?
  • gtrob, on 07/19/2009, -9/+22I am more concerned with the demands of meat production in terms of water and energy supply than I am about anything health related. The amount of water that goes into a pound of beef is staggering compared with that needed for a pound of veggies.

    edit: but meat is delicious and I love it.
  • budser, on 07/19/2009, -14/+26Article breakdown:

    risks of veggie diet:
    infertility (for women who gorge on soy)
    cavities
    B12 deficiency-induced depression (small risk for vegans, Very unlikely for veggies)
    muscle atrophy (I weigh 192lbs at 5'11 and haven't had meat since I was 3. Believe me, you can get fat and or muscular on a veggie diet)

    risks for meat eaters:
    arthritis
    gallstones
    ALZHEIMER'S
    OSTEOPOROSIS
    food poisoning

    I'll stick with veggies for now.




  • whorunbartertwn, on 07/19/2009, -0/+11This is the answer to so much more than diet, moderation in life will take you far.
  • inactive, on 07/19/2009, -2/+13Hopefully they don't need capital letters because you're taking more than your fair share.
  • Stewdean, on 07/19/2009, -7/+17I always love that one.

    Okay, now look around your room. How many bits of equipment do you have related to your hunting of your own meat do you have? Maybe a fishing pole? Do you throw the fish back?

    Eating meat USED to be natural and then most humans would eat it about once a week. That's the natural human diet. Go to other countries that live a life closer to the one we first evolved into and you'll see what I mean. They arn't vegetarians but unless they're living in very cold climates you'll find a very low amount of meat in their daily diet.

    That's what we where 'designed' to do. If you eat meat every day your body is not designed for it.
  • freebird09, on 07/19/2009, -0/+10death from snoo snoo? Sounds good!
  • seala, on 07/19/2009, -3/+13there is an article in the Australian Dental Journal by Associate Professor of Oral Medicine, Dr. Michael McCullough who says there is sufficient evidence that mouthwashes containing alcohol increase the risk of oral cancer.
  • Tyrghast, on 07/19/2009, -3/+12Dugg for bacon.
  • akaz, on 07/19/2009, -3/+12men are violent. I hate it when people say "nature is violent" to justify being cruel, mass-murdering douchebags.
  • Stewdean, on 07/19/2009, -4/+13You've missed out heart disease, cancer, strokes... :)

    As long as I get my B12 (I love marmite) my protein (I do eat a bit too much cheese) and don't consume too much soya (I use rice milk not soya milk) then I'm okay.

    I'm currently on a diet to lose weight and would still look stocky even after some muscle atrophy. Anyone thinking that being veggie means you're weak and sickly doesn't know many real veggies.



  • JinxCrow, on 07/19/2009, -8/+17Why do they always make it sound that people who eat meat ONLY eat meat? Wtf? We're actually omnivores, we're the ones with the varied, balanced diet practiced for long as we've been capable of it.

    Least I do, I mean, my meals are meat + grain + veggie. I hate when they make these arguments because it makes us 'meat eaters' sound like we're a bunch of T-rexes monching sheep and goats or some *****.
  • skipvt, on 07/19/2009, -5/+14Buried, didn't explain how cake fits into the overall picture.
  • deathstryk, on 07/19/2009, -0/+8did somebody mention BRAAAAINS!!!!!!!
  • inactive, on 07/19/2009, -4/+12So, date a vegetarian chick?
  • Stewdean, on 07/19/2009, -9/+17Read it again. That's only if you have a bad veggie diet. I'm a veggie that's except form all of the above as I eat Marmite, I don't consume much Soya and look after my teeth.

    So I get all the benefits of not dying early. Atrophied muscles only applies if you don't get enough protein. No problems there either (i'm up for an arm wrestle :). I also have all my own teeth with about one filling.
  • litsgt, on 07/19/2009, -1/+9WE"RE OMNIVORES!!!!
  • thepotatoman, on 07/19/2009, -2/+10So i guess you just need to lay off the soy a little and take a B-12 vitamin and i guess you are set. Cancer and heart desease is much more scary then cavities and muscle atrophy as far as I am concerned. Actually I'm surprised they didn't mention calcium problems since they were already reaching to begin with, but I guess that's just for vegans.

    I wish I could find some good evidence that vegetarians dont usually get enough protein. Its my understanding that all foods have amino acids and your body can build protiens from those. Things like rice and many nuts and beans even have 7 of the 8 necessary amino acids. Protein deficiency generally only occurs in the anorexic and poor from my understanding. Even if that isn't the case there is still the body building type vegetarian protein shakes if you are worried about it.
  • electrikyle, on 07/19/2009, -4/+11Been vegetarian for 4 and a half years and feeling great. I used to have frequent horrible stomachaches when I ate meat.. I just don't get them anymore now.
  • jman583, on 07/19/2009, -3/+10So, I should die from bacon?... or maybe sex?
  • ronh, on 07/19/2009, -1/+8So, no vegetables at all? Just a straight meat diet. If you do eat vegetables (even if it's a little) then your an omnivore.
  • ShadowLady, on 07/19/2009, -3/+9I don't eat enough red meat a week to be at risk for the negative things meat can cause and I eat plenty of veggies to benefit from the positive things they can provide.
    A healthy balance between meat, fish, cereals, fruit and veggies ftw.

    Sooo basically I need to watch out with roasting courgette and not eat soya when I want to have babies? EASY!
  • inactive, on 07/19/2009, -0/+6I consider pastrami the most sensuous of all the salted and cured meats ; )
  • inactive, on 07/19/2009, -1/+7Well for a start I see that you shouldn't give acid to a gorrilla...
  • offspring06, on 07/19/2009, -7/+13I tried being a vegetarian but it just wasn't for me. I am an omnivore.
  • sandipc, on 07/19/2009, -1/+6poor cell 3G coverage and angry iPhone customers?
  • CircleFusion, on 07/19/2009, -0/+5consider this...
    I have been vegetarian and vegan at various points throughout my adult life. During that time, I've never been preachy. Most vegetarians/vegans are not preachy. Occasionally, they are, and it's annoying and I wish they would shut the ***** up.

    Far more often, what happens is that omnivores feel the need to defend their diet when they meet a vegetarian/vegan. I've seen it happen dozens of times by now. It goes down just like this...

    I go to a dinner party. The host offers me a steak. I say "no thanks". Then someone else will chime in and speak for me (which, btw, I ***** hate that) and say something like "oh, he's a vegetarian. He doesn't eat steak). Then the host will feel the need to defend eating steak and make comments like "you gotta eat steak. it puts meat on your bones" or whatever. I've been pulled into those ***** awkward conversations so many times. The result is that people act like I AM being preachy, when it's just not true. I don't judge them for what they eat. I know that I personally feel healthier eating a vegan diet. That has always been when I'm the healthiest in my life. For the past three years, I've been eating a "normal" diet and my overall stamina and energy are lower, I have picked up too much fat on my body and I have digestive problems to show for it -- and that is just with eating fish, chicken and turkey, no pork or steak. So, over the past month, I've gotten back to eating vegan again, and my health is improving dramatically. Ideally, I think a 95% vegan and 5% seafood diet would be best, and that is what I'm going to aim for.

    It's like the very existence of a vegetarian/vegan around an omnivore makes them uncomfortable and it's treated as a judgement upon them, and that sucks. I don't feel that way. Eat whatever the ***** you want.
  • diggdiggerid, on 07/19/2009, -1/+6-Just because we can doesn't mean we should, but it also doesn't mean we shouldn't. Who is to say?

    -Re: tools. So what if we can't take down animals without tools? Tools are a natural part of the human species, just like beavers building a dam or monkeys using sticks to eat ants or bees building a hive. None of those things are natural, they are all created by animals and are just as much a part of the species as their physical composition.

    -I'm not sure what you mean we weren't "designed" to do something. Designed by who and for what purpose, if not to survive in any way possible?

    -If the majority of Westerners were dying from meat you might have a point; however, it is a very small amount.

    -I don't care if my lifespan is extended several years. Using your own logic we weren't meant to live past 30 or 40 years unless we used medicines which is "fairly recent in evolutionary timeframes," so why would this be a factor? Furthermore I could extend my lifespan by several years by never leaving my house, but that doesn't make it desirable.
  • Dream0Weaver, on 07/19/2009, -3/+8Lol, *Peta* Bee. Coincidence?
  • localzuk, on 07/19/2009, -1/+6Take a look at this photo - what do you see? http://cache.gizmodo.com/assets/resources/2007/10/ ...
  • junkfoodjoe, on 07/19/2009, -1/+6YOU AUGH PUNY! IT IS TIME TO PUMP



    YOU UP!
  • whorunbartertwn, on 07/19/2009, -2/+7The article also mixes food handling and diet choice. If the risk of food poisoning is greater for the meat eaters because most people don't wash their hands and store meat properly, this is mitigated by proper food handling.
  • JinxCrow, on 07/19/2009, -1/+5Ditto, though I think I may increase my soy intake.
  • skidork, on 07/19/2009, -3/+7I used to eat chicken liver all the time.
  • sandipc, on 07/19/2009, -1/+5A million? Mind listing even 50 of those animals you looked at? Oh, right... you're BSing.
  • atchon, on 07/19/2009, -2/+6Some of us don't care about the killing of animals as our reason for being a vegetarian. I just feel better.
  • Fetching more discussions...
    Show 51 - 100 of 260 discussions

  • Add a Comment

    Login or register to comment!
    Or, sign-in super fast with your Facebook account ...


© Digg Inc. 2009 — Content created and posted by Digg users is dedicated to the public domain | Terms of Use Updated | Privacy Policy
DIGG, DIGG IT, DUGG, DIGG THIS, Digg graphics, logos, designs, page headers, button icons, scripts, and other service names are the trademarks of Digg Inc.