This is why I tend to not like some vegetarians. Some, not all of them, will shove it in your face why they think they're better than the normal omnivorous people. the truth of the matter is, ALL foods have their positives and negatives. We all know that relying on excessive amounts of soy based products is not good for the body. There are people, that for religious, moral, or special health reasons, do not eat meat, and that's absolutely fine. But when the sole purpose is for "health" the logic there is quite faulty. The "healthier than thou" approach of some vegetarians really puts me off. What's so healthy about denying your body of essential nutrients if your body can function normally when eating animal products? Yes, you can still get protein from nuts and beans, but it's very difficult. Choosing vegetarianism is a very difficult path with very little, if any, health benefit. Vegetarianism done wrong is actually very dangerous.
Here's just a funny way I think of these limited diet labels:
Vegetarians: Cool if you're into animal rights. You don't eat meat, but you still eat eggs and milk products. A nice balanced diet can be achieved.
Vegans: they don't eat any product that comes from an animal. It's very difficult to get a balanced diet with enough protein, and incredibly difficult to get certain nutrients. I know some people can do it, so more power to them.
Raw Vegans: They're vegans, but they do not eat any food that has been cooked in any way. I really can't understand this, or why on Earth it would be considered healthy. This is basically how rabbits eat. We're humans, not rabbits.
Fruitarians: This is where it gets very silly. Fruitarians believe it is healthiest to survive on raw fruit alone. Now, its even better if the fruit was gathered off the ground after it has been shed off the tree. The act of plucking the fruit off of the tree damages the tree's self esteem and violates it's rights as a living being. (Okay, I got carried away there) Anyway, some fruitarians do not eat any seeds or choose to eat only fruits that allow seeds to be dropped. Interfering with the plant's natural reproductive process is considered sinful.
Breatharians: Now, this is crazy. The breatharians believe that humans do not have the right to interfere with any other living being, plant, animal, fungus, whatever, to seek nourishment. They believe that energy can come from the air we breathe and the sun rays we soak up. Needless to say, most breatharians die shortly after they adopt the new lifestyle due to "starvation". At least they died with a noble cause in mind. They didn't kill any plants or animals for those few weeks as their bodies wasted away.
So, you get the idea. Some of these diets, or lack thereof, can get pretty out of hand. There is no one "right" way to eat. Sure there are plenty of "wrong" ways to eat, but a balanced diet that includes meat or animal products is not "unhealthy" or "wrong". I say, if you really love animals or your body is animal protein intolerant, then vegetarianism is the best choice for YOU. It doesn't mean it's the best choice for everyone else though.
there, send this to your NA guy and see what he thinks!
