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While maybe okay, need to be very careful that it gets sufficient minerals and vitamins found in meat. A balanced meat diet maybe better. IMHO nothing is wrong with eating meat and fish for health reasons, it is more important not to eat wheat, sugar, and other forms or carb
A vegetarian diet is healthier than an omnivorous diet and therefore a healthier long-term diet than the most common diet in the USA [5]:
In a 1988 report, it was found that there is a significant positive association between meat consumption and mortality because of all causes of death combined, coronary heart disease, and diabetes. [1]
Additionally, in another 2007 study, it was found that there is a significant positive association between red and processed meat intake and risk of cancer of the colon and rectum, oesophagus, liver, lung, and pancreas [2].
This shows that meat consumption significantly lowers life quality as diabetes and cancer significantly decrease life-quality.
Most importantly, in a 2003 meta-analysis, it was concluded that long-term (≥ 2 decades) adherence to a vegetarian diet can lead to a significant 3.6-year increase in life expectancy [3] which shows that adherence to a vegetarian diet is definitely a "good idea in the long term" as it actually increases the amount of time that the long term is going to last.
Furthermore, it is the position of the American Dietetic Association that appropriately planned vegetarian diets are healthful and nutritionally adequate [4].
In conclusion, a vegetarian diet is not only healthy in the long term but, in fact, healthier than an omnivorous diet as it reduces the chances for acquiring several cancers, coronary heart disease and diabetes and thus not only increases the general life expectancy but also improves the life quality of adherents to a vegetarian diet.
It really depends on the details of that diet. See, the biggest problem with vegetarian and especially vegan diet is lack of proper protein influx, which can have incredibly adverse long-term effects. It is not rare for vegetarians to abandon their diet after encountering serious health issues, and it is especially common with children of vegetarian parents who quickly develop various deformities, urging their parents to reconsider their nutrition.
However, at least in theory, the lack of proteins can be compensated without resorting to eating meat or products of meat-possessing creatures. The lack of meat proteins can be compensated for by eating large amounts of mushrooms. Mushrooms tend to be very expensive in most parts of the world, far more expensive than meat for the equal amount of proteins, but for some individuals the ideological benefit of eating mushrooms can offset the costs.
There are also various protein supplements that are derived from synthetic or plant/mushroom-based tissues. Those tend to be much more affordable than mushrooms and even than meat itself, but there are still questions on whether our digestive system is adapted to getting the most out of them.
Finally, depending on the "degree" of vegetarianism, the person can be willing to eat eggs, or fish, or insects. Those are all relatively cheap (depending on the area) and nutritious protein sources.
---
To add to that, it is also important to note that the definition of "healthy" is somewhat ambiguous. A strict vegan diet is probably must more healthy than a mostly-fast food diet - but it will be much less healthy than a properly balanced omnivorous diet. What serves as a quality standard is an open question.
@MayCaesar all phenomenal points! I just want to piggy back off your comment and add that level and type of physical activity has a major impact on how healthy a diet can be. Also obviously what non meat products one ways has a huge impact. Some of our early ancestors in Africa would rather eat meat, yet they were in amazing shape thanks to fruits, vegetables, nuts, and clean fats. The important part here is that they rarely are any type of grains. Once agriculture started life span and average health declined. Don't bother asking why they decided to settle down into an agrarian society as they've had entire academic conventions to debate over it and there are tons of theories.
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In a 1988 report, it was found that there is a significant positive association between meat consumption and mortality because of all causes of death combined, coronary heart disease, and diabetes. [1]
Additionally, in another 2007 study, it was found that there is a significant positive association between red and processed meat intake and risk of cancer of the colon and rectum, oesophagus, liver, lung, and pancreas [2].
This shows that meat consumption significantly lowers life quality as diabetes and cancer significantly decrease life-quality.
Most importantly, in a 2003 meta-analysis, it was concluded that long-term (≥ 2 decades) adherence to a vegetarian diet can lead to a significant 3.6-year increase in life expectancy [3] which shows that adherence to a vegetarian diet is definitely a "good idea in the long term" as it actually increases the amount of time that the long term is going to last.
Furthermore, it is the position of the American Dietetic Association that appropriately planned vegetarian diets are healthful and nutritionally adequate [4].
In conclusion, a vegetarian diet is not only healthy in the long term but, in fact, healthier than an omnivorous diet as it reduces the chances for acquiring several cancers, coronary heart disease and diabetes and thus not only increases the general life expectancy but also improves the life quality of adherents to a vegetarian diet.
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However, at least in theory, the lack of proteins can be compensated without resorting to eating meat or products of meat-possessing creatures. The lack of meat proteins can be compensated for by eating large amounts of mushrooms. Mushrooms tend to be very expensive in most parts of the world, far more expensive than meat for the equal amount of proteins, but for some individuals the ideological benefit of eating mushrooms can offset the costs.
There are also various protein supplements that are derived from synthetic or plant/mushroom-based tissues. Those tend to be much more affordable than mushrooms and even than meat itself, but there are still questions on whether our digestive system is adapted to getting the most out of them.
Finally, depending on the "degree" of vegetarianism, the person can be willing to eat eggs, or fish, or insects. Those are all relatively cheap (depending on the area) and nutritious protein sources.
---
To add to that, it is also important to note that the definition of "healthy" is somewhat ambiguous. A strict vegan diet is probably must more healthy than a mostly-fast food diet - but it will be much less healthy than a properly balanced omnivorous diet. What serves as a quality standard is an open question.
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