vegetarian

vegetarian /veg·e·tar·i·an/ (vej″ĕ-tar´e-an)

1. one who practices vegetarianism.

2. pertaining to vegetarianism.

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veg·e·tar·i·an (vj-târ-n)

n.

One who practices vegetarianism.

adj.

1. Of or relating to vegetarianism or vegetarians.

2. Consisting primarily or wholly of vegetables and vegetable products.

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vegetarian

[vej′əter′ē·ən]

Etymology: L, vegetare

a person who eats only foods of plant origin, including fruits, grains, and nuts. Many vegetarians eat eggs and milk products but avoid all animal flesh. Kinds of vegetarians are lacto-ovo-vegetarian, ovo-vegetarian, and strict vegetarian.

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Patient discussion about vegetarian.

Q. Well I’m a vegetarian and I might get anemia. How do I get Iron and protein without meat? My mom my take giant vitamin pills and eat nasty protein bars. It's not as bad killing animals though... Is their any way I can stay healthy? Also being a vegetarian has made me extremely under weight and I am probably going to get anemia if i don't get all my vitamins. HELP!

A. You are, at least partially, what you eat, so it's important to take care of your diet. Being underweight, especially during adolescence, may pose substantial risk to the health. If your diet caused you to be underweight I would consider consulting a professional (e.g doctor, dietitian).

Iron from vegetables is not as good as iron from meat. Foods rich in iron include whole or enriched breads or grains, iron-fortified cereals, legumes, green leafy vegetables, dried fruits, soy products, blackstrap molasses, bulgur, and wheat germ. Vitamin C helps the body to absorb the iron from the food better.



You may read more here:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/vegetariandiet.html

Q. What vitamins does meat have that i should replace in my diet? I stop eating meat and am trying to make sure that I get the right vitamins. I already take a multivitamins and fish oil pills every day. Are there any other specific vitamins I should take? If so, what do they do?

A. Vitamin B complex, iron pills, protein supplement. You can find those in legumes, they have a lot of proteins. Lentils have vitamin B, brown rice also.
Soya.
Tofu.
Can’t think of anything more…

Q. Is it really healthyer to be a vegetarian? plus a friend told me that she shed weight by doing that.

A. i was vegetarian for about 3 years, i don't recall being healthier...sorry- it all depends on how you manage your diet (i didn't). if you'll insist on a balanced diet- it will be healthier. as a vegetarian you will have to take vitamin B supplements, take care of your hemoglobin levels, eat a good amount of protein, ect. about loosing weight- i think it's otherwise..you eat more carbon (pasta, bread, pastry)and that will gain weight. here is what you should be aware of while being on a vegetarian diet -
http://www.youngwomenshealth.org/vegetarian.html