20+ year vegetarian here. Do eggs and dairy - no fish or other meats.

[HopeHoops]

[RC]

1. For your continued good health, you need to ingest some minimum about of animal products.

After all our bodies are omnivorous by nature. Eating an otherwise balanced meals, including eggs and dairy, several times a week are enough to supply the missing nutrients, when on a plant only diet.

Supplements help, but are not really enough.

[HopeHoops]

2. We do eggs and cheese. Vegan is really difficult.

Well, and other dairy products.

[WillParkinson]

3. Sorry, I do not believe that's true...

I've been completely vegan for many years and my health has never been better, according to the doctor.

Also read this: http://colindonoghue.wordpress.com/2010/05/26/do-we-need-to-eat-animal-products-for-optimum-health/

[HopeHoops]

13. I just said "difficult" - John Robbins is vegan (heir to Baskin Robbins).

His book, "Diet for a New America", was instrumental in our decision.

[Elad]

4. Sorry, but that is a myth that is simply not true.

Please note even the mainstream American Dietetic Association approves of all-plant diets:

It is the position of the American Dietetic Association that appropriately planned vegetarian diets, including total vegetarian or vegan diets, are healthful, nutritionally adequate, and may provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases. Well-planned vegetarian diets are appropriate for individuals during all stages of the life cycle, including pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood, and adolescence, and for athletes.

http://www.eatright.org/about/content.aspx?id=8357

[flvegan]

7. Really? Want to talk to a nutritionist about that fallacy?

Because I'll be happy to help you correct your thinking.

[LeftyMom]

8. A pretty decent fraction of the human race can't even digest dairy.

Why on earth would we have evolved to need the reproductive tissues of ruminant mammals and tropical jungle fowl? That's just silly on it's face.

FWIW, I'm horribly allergic to dairy and never could stand the taste of eggs unless they were cooked into something to hide them (and I haven't eaten either in a number of years measured in two digits,) and rumor has it I'm perfectly healthy, as is my kid who's never eaten either on purpose.

[RC]

10. And almost all of those people eat meat.

And that is the point. Humans are by history, nature and biology, omnivorous animals. We are designed to digest meat. If you don't want to eat meat for whatever reason, you still need B12 form some source. Being a vegan all all your life used to mean you could expect to live 45-50 years max. What does that tell you about the human diet?

BTY, eggs are not dairy and they will do for the B12 source.

[WillParkinson]

11. B12

Nutritional Yeast supplies more than enough B12.

http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/custom/1323565/2

[LeftyMom]

12. B12 comes from bacterial action.

That animal products make awesome bacteria chow really isn't a selling point.

Can I ask why you're posting in this group?

[HopeHoops]

14. B12 is the bitch, but yes, there are non-animal sources.

[RebelOne]

16. What do you mean 45-50 years max?

I am a vegetarian, and I am 72 years old soon to be 73 in January.

[RC]

17. Because you ingested enough diary or ate eggs or ate some meat of fish to get the needed B12.

[NRaleighLiberal]

5. We just finished listening to The China Study on CD....just incredible -

really opened our eyes. Starting to move toward a whole food plant based diet.

I've lost 50 lb since last Jan - eating mostly fruits, veggies, whole grains - have never, ever felt better in my 55 years.

[flvegan]

9. That's fantastic. So good to hear.

[Exultant Democracy]

6. 30+, but I got a head start, my parents were.

[HopeHoops]

15. My three daughters are all next-generation vegetarians.

We raised them that way but always offered the choice once they understood what they were asking to eat. They're all strict vegetarians now (dairy & egg excepted).