Are some people not suited to a vegetarian diet?

Question

i want so much to live a meat free diet but i keep craving it. What do i do? I have been vegetarian 4weeks the longest. But anything beyond 4weeks i just keep going back to meat. Why? How do i stick to a vegetarian diet? Its been so many trials and i still cant do it. when i do vegetarian i take the required daily amount of protien, iron and vitamins. And once i even stopped craving meat but then i started eating it again? Whats wrong with me? Or are some people just not suited to eating a vegetarian diet? Or is it largely psychological? How can i overcome this?

Answer 1

Anthropologists suggest that animals teeth are a sign of what their body is suppose to eat. The human being is sort of a carnivore which means its digestion system allow a variety of food including meat. Being complete vegetarian may not necessarily be very good unless you follow the rules completely or you will be missing many vital vitamins.

You can also try exercising each time you get a crave for meat it may keep your mind off of it.

Answer 2

I think that maybe the pressure to have to do it is too much for you, and you are forgetting about the benefits that come from being a vegetarian. Focus and will power is the key to succeeding. I would start off finding all the vegetarian meals that you enjoy to eat and make sure to always have those ingredients on hand, don't buy meat products and remember why you started being a vegetarian in the first place, and there is nothing wrong with you, changing life style habits especially eating habits is difficult, but if you don't try you will never succeed at anything. If we never fail at anything that means we are not trying! Good luck

Answer 3

It's hard to stop eating a food you enjoy. It doesn't mean your body isn't suited to a meatless diet. It means you miss the taste, which is totally normal for a lot of people. Have you tried veggie burgers, or making your own? Are you eating delicious food and staying full and satisfied? It's harder to resist old favorites when you let yourself be hungry. You don't need vitamin pills; a vegetarian diet can give you everything you need.



I'd encourage you to start experimenting with a wide variety of vegetarian foods - American, Italian, Chinese, Mexican, Greek, Indian, Middle Eastern, everything. Try pizzas, pastas, stir fry, stuffed peppers, roasted chickpeas, curry, soup, chili, tacos, enchiladas, sandwiches, falafel, hummus, bean dip, all kinds of things. Do some internet searches to see if there's a vegetarian or vegan restaurant near you. Find new favorites. In time, if you choose to stick with it, you'll start craving different things.

Answer 4

I think most people are suited for vegetarian diets and can follow them healthfully. HOWEVER, I know that some people, depending on culture and genes, are genetically predisposed to being able to function better on certain diets. Inuit cultures have evolved to eat diets that primarily consist of meat with supplementation from grasses, tubers, roots, stems, berries, fireweed and seaweed. If a human who lived in India, that has had many generations of vegetarians within their family or they are genetically predisposed to deriving nutrients better from certain sources, were to follow an Inuit diet, they would become incredibly sick and possibly even die.



So, while there is a possibility some people genetically do better on meat inclusive diets, that doesn't mean everyone does. Some people are just more prone to certain eating habits.

Answer 5

It'd say it's psychological. I highly suggest reading up on why meat is actually bad for the body and what chemicals are actually added in the production of meat. Two books I would suggest are 'Crazy, Sexy, Diet' by Kris Carr and 'The Food Revolution' by John Robbins. Granted they push more of a plant based diet but have some great information on the downfalls of meat. Once you get that in your head it's hard to not look at McDonalds or a pound of beef in your supermarket or a steak at a restaurant without seeing the chemicals and other downfalls that go along with it.

Answer 6

For you, it's probably mostly in your head. Overcoming strong cravings is tough. Just ask anyone who has given up something for Lent or tried to quit smoking. Meat is a habit. You obviously derive pleasure from continuing to eat it, so quitting isn't going to be easy.



I suggest that you think harder about your motivations for not eating meat. You obviously aren't just doing it for the heck of it, right? Why stop eating meat? Why is that something that you want to do? Write it down, carry it with you, whatever. Just remind yourself why your choice to not do it is more important than the choice to do it.



If you don't have a strong conviction backing you up, it's going to be really hard to say "no thanks" when someone offers you the chicken, pepperoni pizza, or whatever.



Also, for what it's worth, there are some people who aren't suited to vegetarianism. For instance, people with advanced kidney disease (as in on dialysis) often have trouble with it. Ditto for folks with herpes. In both cases, it is because of the balance of amino acids. In order to get enough of one, you often get too much of another, which can exacerbate the respective conditions.



Obviously, someone who is allergic to or intolerant of dairy, legumes, wheat, seeds, nuts, and eggs would have trouble on a vegetarian diet as well.

Answer 7

Hi. I totally agree with K M T. Maybe the best way is to do it slowly. Also, try making meals that you like and normally make, but making them with a meat substitute. I.e. if you have a fondness for lasagna, make it exactly the way you would do normally but just leave the meat out - perhaps use soya mince or just replace the meat with a different vegetable. I do think that you would find it easier if you weaned yourself off meat slowly.

Answer 8

Sounds like you are putting yourself under too much pressure to succeed.

Why not start by having just one day a week when you have meat, then cut it down slowly like every ten days and then once every two weeks.

Maybe your system isn't quite ready to go the "all or nothing" route quite yet.

Answer 9

meat tastes nice and is also in most hearty meals so mabey u r just craving hearty meals. try risotto, bean stew, veggi curry stuff like that. good luck :)))

Answer 10

Dude, u hav lack of self confidence.

Will-power can help u here , it means when u take a decision u must follow it whateve happens.

I also had lack of self confidence in delivering a speech infront of audience bu WILL POWER helped me here.

So, take a decision dat i will become a vegetarian and see hw will-power helps u here.