# Benefits of Vegetarianism **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 28, 2001, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/benefits-of-vegetarianism/90093 "2001-10-28T11:10:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![McStain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@McStain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/McStain)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2001, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/benefits-of-vegetarianism/90093/1 "2001-10-28T11:10:59Z")
So, um, you know vegetarianism? I read an unsupported claim that vegetarians average living something like six more years than non-vegetarians. I can understand an age difference, because of the preponderance of heart disease in we meat eaters, but six years seems pretty extraordinary. So, I’m not actually asking for a cite, but if some non-partisan, well-educated person could confirm or deny this, I’d appreciate it. Thank you, Chris ---
**Author:** ![AxeElf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e99b99/32.png) [@AxeElf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AxeElf)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2001, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/benefits-of-vegetarianism/90093/2 "2001-10-28T11:18:18Z")
Cigarettes, red meat, do whatever you can to take those years off your life. 'Cause it’s not these fun-loving youthful years we’re losing, is it… No. It’s the wheelchair jockeying, colostomy bag carrying senile years that you’ll be cutting out, and I say, who needs 'em. ---
**Author:** ![grettle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/aeb1de/32.png) [@grettle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grettle)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2001, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/benefits-of-vegetarianism/90093/3 "2001-10-28T12:04:05Z")
there is a connection between people flossing their teeth and living somehing ridiculous like 10 years longer. proposterous? yes. in general, vegetarians pay more attention to their health and listen to their bodies. (same with people who floss daily) when i first quit eating meat, all my hair started to fall out, because i was just substituting carbohydrate calories for the missing protein. without the “four food groups” guide we’ve learned since grade school, vegetarians have to study what’s in the food they are eating and figure out what they need, and therefore (usually) are healthier because they are more informed. ---
**Author:** ![LorieSmurf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a587f6/32.png) [@LorieSmurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LorieSmurf)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2001, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/benefits-of-vegetarianism/90093/4 "2001-10-28T12:49:19Z")
could someone post some good links to vegetarian websites? I’m dabbling with the idea of becoming vegetarian, but don’t really know how I’d survive with the eating thing. I’m one of those people who needs step by step instructions 😃 I don’t wanna be eating bean sprouts and tofu or stirfry everyday. I wanna eat real food. I’m thinking Im gonna have to go through a lot of effort here for this lifestyle change. I’m willing to do it. I think. Lorie ---
**Author:** ![tapioca\_tundra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a88e57/32.png) [@tapioca\_tundra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tapioca_tundra)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2001, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/benefits-of-vegetarianism/90093/5 "2001-10-28T13:23:58Z")
~ There are no controls set for this type of question and answer “study”. You’d be surprised at the number of vegans I’ve had to tell about beta bonds. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2001, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/benefits-of-vegetarianism/90093/6 "2001-10-28T13:57:54Z")
Eat meat, you bastard. ---
**Author:** ![grettle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/aeb1de/32.png) [@grettle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grettle)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2001, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/benefits-of-vegetarianism/90093/7 "2001-10-28T15:11:36Z")
was that really neccessary, senorbeef? i don’t know any good vegetarian websites, but i do know that soy is highly versatile and a slightly acquired taste. i wouldn’t go for the “meat-taste-a-likes”-they are not very good or easy on the stomach IMHO. soy milk is damn good. ---
**Author:** ![whatmove](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecc23a/32.png) [@whatmove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whatmove)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2001, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/benefits-of-vegetarianism/90093/8 "2001-10-28T15:32:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jkbelle \* > \*\*i wouldn’t go for the “meat-taste-a-likes”-they are not very good or easy on the stomach. \*\* I disagree. I’ve been veggie for the last two-years-and-change and I love meat taste-a-likes. I never ate much more than hot dogs and ground beef when I was omnivorous, and I find that their soy counterparts do a great job capturing the essence of the originals. I highly recommend _Morningstar Farms_, especially their “Grillers” (ground “beef” for use in tacos, shepherd’s pie…) and their “Corn Dog Nuggets”. Even my meat eating friends crave Morningstar’s corn dogs. They’re great with honey mustard. As for the OP, I very much agree with the vegetarian/flossing analogy. I have a feeling that there are many non-vegetarians who also live 6 years longer than average because of their health and diet habits. It just takes decisions like pasta over a cheeseburger once in a while or pretzels instead of potato chips in front of the TV (or turning the damn TV off and going outside). ---
**Author:** ![TlighT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@TlighT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TlighT)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2001, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/benefits-of-vegetarianism/90093/9 "2001-10-28T15:42:50Z")
A large vegetarian site is [http://www.vegsource.com/](http://www.vegsource.com/). I don’t know how good it is since that’s the only vegetarian site I visit now and then. A minor objection to that site is that a lot of the visitors are hardcore vegan people and some of them have a tendency to regard vegetarians as people who still need to be converted to true veganism and they act accordingly 😉 About the six years extra; while I think that a lot of people would be living a lot healthier if they cut back on the meat (and fatty products in general) and start eating more fresh fruit and vegetables, the six year figure is largely because vegetarians tend to have a healthier lifestyle in general. So the correct advice would be to maintain a healthy lifestyle and a healty lifestyle can also include some meat if you like (but not too much). Ofcourse there are other reasons for becoming a vegetarian other than the health issue. ---
**Author:** ![whatmove](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecc23a/32.png) [@whatmove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whatmove)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2001, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/benefits-of-vegetarianism/90093/10 "2001-10-28T15:48:03Z")
I found this somewhere a while back and just had to share it here. (the cartoon they speak of is _Scooby Doo_) > [@](#): > > Despite Shaggy’s love of food, he stopped eating meat sometime in the early 1980s. Casey Kasem had become a vegetarian, and when he eventually requested that his animated character do the same, Hanna-Barbera graciously agreed. You’ll see Shaggy downing pizza, salads, cookies, cakes, and God knows what else in the later episodes, but not meat. When the cartoon gang was reassembled the a few years ago for two straight-to-video features, it’s someone else providing the scratchy, cracking tones for Shaggy, though. Rumor has it that Warner Brothers, who produced the movies, apparently weren’t as accomodating as their predecessors–the script called for Shaggy to eat shrimp gumbo, Kasem balked, and was let go. He apparently won’t be back. He can be on _my_ Top 40 any day. P.S. I guess it’s been three-and-change. Wow. ---
**Author:** ![manhattan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manhattan/32/7_2.png) [@manhattan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manhattan)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2001, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/benefits-of-vegetarianism/90093/11 "2001-10-28T17:29:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by McStain \* > \*\* So, I’m not actually asking for a cite, but if some non-partisan, well-educated person could confirm or deny this, I’d appreciate it. > \*\* I, on the other hand, am asking for a cite. And a note to the wise. My appetite (heh) for a _debate or rant or whatever_ about vegetarianism in this forum is **exactly zero**. Anyone who engages in one from this point forward, or who responds to debate bait, **will be banned from this message board**. Capice? Stick to the topic and factual, scientific information. ---
**Author:** ![Hazel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e56c9b/32.png) [@Hazel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazel)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2001, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/benefits-of-vegetarianism/90093/12 "2001-10-28T17:55:06Z")
IANAV (I am not a vegtarian), but I’ve heard that this is a good resource: [http://www.vrg.org/](http://www.vrg.org/) The Vegtarian Resource Group ---
**Author:** ![robinh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b77776/32.png) [@robinh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robinh)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2001, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/benefits-of-vegetarianism/90093/13 "2001-10-28T19:42:17Z")
The Vegetarian Resource Group’s site has a lot of information, but every time I visit there they seem to have made it more difficult to read. Another good resource, with lots of information and advice, is the [Vegetarian Times](http://www.vegetariantimes.com) website. ---
**Author:** ![VeraGemini](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/e9bcb4/32.png) [@VeraGemini](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VeraGemini)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2001, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/benefits-of-vegetarianism/90093/14 "2001-10-28T19:58:12Z")
IAAV. Links ahoy: [http://www.vegetarianstuff.com](http://www.vegetarianstuff.com) [http://www.veganmeat.com/index.html](http://www.veganmeat.com/index.html) [http://www.ivu.org/](http://www.ivu.org/) > **[The Vegetarian Society UK](https://vegsoc.org/)** > > The Vegetarian Society influences, inspires and supports people to embrace and maintain a vegetarian lifestyle. [http://www.globalvegetarian.com/benefits.htm](http://www.globalvegetarian.com/benefits.htm) [http://www.pcrm.org/health/Info\_on\_Veg\_Diets/index.html](http://www.pcrm.org/health/Info_on_Veg_Diets/index.html) The last two specifically address health benefits. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2001, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/benefits-of-vegetarianism/90093/15 "2001-10-28T20:21:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SuperLorie \* > \*\*could someone post some good links to vegetarian websites? I’m dabbling with the idea of becoming vegetarian, but don’t really know how I’d survive with the eating thing. I’m one of those people who needs step by step instructions 😃 > I don’t wanna be eating bean sprouts and tofu or stirfry everyday. I wanna eat real food. I’m thinking Im gonna have to go through a lot of effort here for this lifestyle change. I’m willing to do it. I think. > \*\* You could first try cutting out red meat, or even just processed meats (like hamburger). This would give you many of the health benefits of vegetarianism, without requiring a dramatic change in your lifestyle. It would also make it easier for you to eventually “wean” yourself off meat altogether if you really want to be a vegetarian. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2001, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/benefits-of-vegetarianism/90093/16 "2001-10-28T21:29:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by AxeElf \* > \*\*Cigarettes, red meat, do whatever you can to take those years off your life. 'Cause it’s not these fun-loving youthful years we’re losing, is it… No. It’s the wheelchair jockeying, colostomy bag carrying senile years that you’ll be cutting out, and I say, who needs 'em. \*\* Erm, I think the implication is that the “wheelchair jockeying, colostomy bag carrying senile years” will both _begin_ and _end_ earlier if you do those things, so you end up with less of the “fun-loving youthful years”. (Don’t ask me to back that up with a cite; it’s just a WAG). ---
**Author:** ![WEW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8edcca/32.png) [@WEW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WEW)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2001, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/benefits-of-vegetarianism/90093/17 "2001-10-28T22:17:18Z")
So Mangetout, do you? Eat everything that is, or are you a vegetarian? ---
**Author:** ![Gaspode](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/aeb1de/32.png) [@Gaspode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gaspode)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2001, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/benefits-of-vegetarianism/90093/18 "2001-10-28T22:29:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lamia \* > You could first try cutting out red meat, or even just processed meats (like hamburger). This would give you many of the health benefits of vegetarianism, without requiring a dramatic change in your lifestyle. \*\* Is theer any evidence that red meat has more deleterious health effects than white? I thought that particular view had been debunked in ten years ago. The beef marketing bodies around the world certainly hold that view. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2001, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/benefits-of-vegetarianism/90093/19 "2001-10-28T22:50:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by WEW \* > \*\*So Mangetout, do you? > Eat everything that is, or are you a vegetarian? \*\* When I say that I eat everything, people tend to snigger and mutter innuendo, so lets just say that I like to try new foodstuffs, I seek out new food experiences. Vegetarian? - tried it for a year once but gave up due to the roast-chicken hallucinations and other meat-desire-based psychotic episodes. I still like vegetarian food; I find that it often makes an excellent accompaniment for meat. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2001, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/benefits-of-vegetarianism/90093/20 "2001-10-29T00:42:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Gaspode \* > \*\* > Is theer any evidence that red meat has more deleterious health effects than white? I thought that particular view had been debunked in ten years ago. The beef marketing bodies around the world certainly hold that view. \*\* I believe that recent health studies suggest that the supposed ill effects of red meat are due more to processed red meat than red meat per se. That’s why I mentioned processed meats in my earlier post. But goodness knows – it seems there’s always some new study coming out that says something new. Not a very GQ answer, but it’s the best I can manage. 😉 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/benefits-of-vegetarianism/90093.md?page=2)