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Does the human body actually require meat?

I've been a vegetarian for a month now... I have many reasons, like the cruelty to animals and the health benefits and what not. I'm wondering if the human body actually needs meat? I know it needs protein, I get enough of that from other foods. But does it actually need meat?

Public Comments

1. Well, considering that I'm not dead, I'll have to say no.
2. it does not. if anything, the stuff they put in meat can kill you. you never know what goes on behind the slaughter house walls and the processes they use.
3. It needs protein and iron. You can get them from other sources but many vegans especially women, neglect to get enough.
4. no just the b12 it can get from it...
5. If that were the case I would be cold and dead. I haven't had meat in a long time and I am healthier than I have ever been. It is important when you are a vegetarian though that you have a well-planned diet and you are sure you are getting all of the vitamins and minerals that you need. That is how it is with all diets though.
6. The human body requires protein to help repair cells and make new ones. It is also important for growth and development during childhood, adolescence and pregnancy. Protein-containing foods are grouped as either complete or incomplete proteins. Complete proteins contain all nine essential amino acids. Complete proteins are found in animal foods such as meat, fish, poultry, eggs, milk, and milk products such as yogurt and cheese. Soybeans are the only plant protein considered to be a complete protein. Incomplete proteins lack one or more of the essential amino acids. Sources of incomplete protein include beans, peas, nuts, seeds, and grain. A small amount of incomplete protein is also found in vegetables. Plant proteins can be combined to provide all of the essential amino acids and form a complete protein. Examples of combined, complete plant proteins are rice and beans, milk and wheat cereal, and corn and beans.
7. No, we do not have to eat meat. BUT, it is important to take a muti-vitamin daily and eat plenty of Protein, iron filled vegetables, fruits. I am posting some links where you can research questions that you have.
8. No. This is for Goodgreif (sic)40: Supplements are dead, inorganic/synthetic vitamins or minerals that the body cannot use. Protein is usually over-consumed in our society. Please get your facts straight! I would advise daily servings of colorful fruits/veggies (raw mostly), in addition to sea veggies like dulse and dulse flakes, along with nori. Cheers!
9. no, people are hardheaded and refuse to change
10. Scientifically NO. It does more HARM than good. It does more harm if you eat them raw. It is unnatural for human. Meet just need ignorance.
11. Nope not at all, the human body anatomy actually rejects meat and animal products. It causes a lot of health problems and diseases and our design proves we were not suppose to eat animal meat and products.
12. No, not at all. The human body needs nutrients. And all of them are available from non-meat sources.
13. Non-pregnant adults can get along fine on a non-meat diet if it's carefully chosen and supplementary vitamins and minerals taken as needed. But there's many a slip between cup and lip, and what comes naturally in a varied omnivorous diet becomes something you have to think about all the time in a vegetarian diet. For vegans, it's even trickier. And it's definitely not for children, women who are making children, and nursing mothers.
14. Many things in life are not absolutely necessary to sustain life. But I do not intend to give up meat any time soon.
15. There are twice as many vegetarian people in India than there are people in the US! They have never eaten meat or meat products and live long and well... Non-smoking vegetarians and vegans live an average of 7-10 years longer than those who eat dead animals.
16. Here is your answer: http://www.vegetarian-society.org/files/Anatomy.pdf Too much proteins is no good for the body.
17. No. You can look at something like this, copies all over the internet: http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/2062/ana.HTML
18. If it did, I doubt that this vegetarian & vegan section would exist.
19. Nope not at all. You can get all benefits of meat from been, vegetable and fruits. Then why anyone should kill animal? All vegetarian people are living very healthy life without eating meat, it proves that human body does not need meat any how.
20. The human body absolutely does NOT need meat. My grandmother was a vegetarian for 85 years and lived to the age of 107.