Copyright 2007 - 2009 Martha Theus and 21st Century Vegetarians
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Below is a list of the most common questions that vegetarians and non-vegetarians have. If you don’t see your question on the list, email me and I’ll do my best to get the answer for you! Answers to these questions have been compiled from my independent research and from my own experiences. They are NOT meant to be scientific or medical assurances. Please conduct your own research and draw your own conclusions.
What does "Throwin' Down" Mean?
This may seem like a funny question, but you'd be surprised how many times I've been asked this! I am going to explain what we mean since it is the central theme of our book, our business, and our life. “Throwin’ Down”, like most slang, means a variety of things. Growing up in Detroit in the 1960’s and ‘70’s, we used it when referring to people fighting, dancing, partying, or eating really, really good food. For purposes of this book, we use the latter definitions; eating really, really, good food combined with an element of partying. Not the “In da Club” type of partying, but more of a celebration type of partying. A celebration of life, health, food, and family. That is what “Throwin’ Down” Vegetarian Style! is all about.
What is a vegetarian or a vegan? What do they eat and what are the differences?
A vegetarian is someone who doesn't consume meat, poultry, pork, fish or seafood. Technically, there are three types of vegetarians; lacto vegetarians, lacto-ovo vegetarians, and vegans. Vegans are sometimes also referred to as “strict” vegetarians. Lacto vegetarians include dairy products in their diet, but do not eat eggs or anything that contains eggs or animal rennet (also known as enzymes). Lacto-ovo vegetarians include dairy products and eggs in their diet. Vegans do not consume animal products of any kind, including butter and honey.
What is animal rennet?
Animal rennet is obtained from the stomachs of young mammals. In most cases the source is from the lining of young calves. Rennet is used in most cheeses as an enzyme in the cheese hardening process. Many lacto vegetarians do not eat cheeses that contain animal rennet or enzymes. Many organic cheeses (such as Horizon Organic) are made from vegetable enzymes and are suitable for these vegetarians. If the source of the enzymes is vegetarian, it will be noted in the list of ingredients.
Some people that only eat fish consider themselves to be vegetarians. Is this correct?
As my daughter likes to say, “What plant do fish come from?” In our opinion, and by the strictest definitions, people who eat fish or seafood are not considered to be vegetarians.
Why doesn't your family eat eggs?
Great question. As noted before, we are lacto-vegetarians which mean that we do eat milk products, but not eggs. The reason is that eggs, whether fertilized or not, are for the purpose of carrying an embryo, thus are designed to carry life into this world. Lacto-vegetarians do not consume animals or fish at all - "hatched" or "unhatched".
Some people only eat free range animals. Isn’t that OK?
Again, to quote my daughter, “It doesn’t matter if you eat a sad cow or a happy cow; you’re still eating the cow.” On the one hand, it may be true that the animals are treated better during their lives, but they are still murdered for our appetites. Our position is that we do not agree with that at all, whether they live a horrible life in a factory farm or a beautiful life on a free range organic farm.
Is a vegetarian diet healthy?
Yes. There has been extensive research some is presented in the articles at Articles and Research to prove that a vegetarian diet, if properly planned, is actually healthier than a non-vegetarian diet. Statistically, vegetarians do not suffer from obesity and chronic diseases at the same rate as non-vegetarians. Those who follow a vegetarian or vegan diet are nine times less likely to be overweight than those who consume animal foods. According to Dr. T. Colin Campbell, the author of The China Study , a nutritional researcher at Cornell University and the director of the largest epidemiological study in history, states “The vast majority of all cancers, cardiovascular diseases, and other forms of degenerative illness can be prevented simply by adopting a plant-based diet.” The American Heart Association also reports that vegetarians “have a lower risk of obesity, coronary heart disease (the cause of heart attacks), high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, and some forms of cancer.”
Where do you get your protein?
Everywhere! What would you say if I told you that on any given day, my family gets more protein than yours? Not only more protein, but better protein. You see, we eat products loaded with protein made from soy, wheat gluten, texturized vegetable protein and other vegetarian sources. Most of these products can be even found in all major grocery stores (refer to the Product List for a few of our favorites). Pound for pound, many of these products actually have more protein than their animal based counterparts. In addition, the products we eat are made from plant based proteins which are more easily digested and assimilated into our systems. They are also completely free of cholesterol and uric arid which are two components widely linked to chronic diseases (cholesterol and uric acid are only found in animal sources) In 2003 a comprehensive study conducted by the American Dietary Association (ADA) concluded that a vegetarian based diet was as sufficient in nutrients as an animal based diet, and was actually healthier in all major categories. For example, did you know that consuming an excess amount of animal protein can actually lead to symptoms associated with kidney disease and osteoporosis? Too much animal protein can leech your bones of calcium, thus resulting in osteoporosis. In addition, if the body takes in more animal protein than it needs, the excess can be deposited into the kidneys and can lead to kidney disease.
I’m an athlete. Will I lose strength or endurance if I become vegetarian?
This is a question we are asked all the time since we are an athletic family. From our own experience, we can say that a vegetarian diet has actually improved our athletic ability because the food is purer and the body does not have to deal with the excess toxins that are found in animal products. In fact, many athletic trainers are now recommending that their athletes adopt a vegetarian diet during their training program for this very reason. The problem most new vegetarians (both athletes and non-athletes) have is that they do not eat balanced meals, so they may experience perceived weakness or diminished athletic ability. This is primarily due to lack of knowledge about the many types of vegetarian foods they can consume that are both protein and calorie rich. This is one of the main reasons I wrote the book “Throwin’ Down” Vegetarian Style! This book includes a detailed product list, recipes and sample meals that my very athletic husband and children eat on a regular basis. Check out our page The Vegetarian Athlete for more information.
Will I be able to get all of the required vitamins and minerals on a vegetarian diet?
Yes. Just all major research states that a vegetarian diet that is balanced and well planned will give you all of the required vitamins and minerals. In fact, you may even get more because vegetarians tend to include more vitamin and mineral rich foods in their diets on a daily basis. In addition, like anyone else, vegetarians can include a daily multi-vitamin to supplement the nutrients they get from their food.
What about calcium?
In addition to milk and dairy products, there are plenty of non-animal sources of calcium which are great if you are vegan or lactose intolerant. These sources include Kale, Collards Greens, Broccoli, Okra, and Bok Choy. Some soy milks, fruit juices and tofu are now enriched with calcium as well. Finally, if you may take a daily calcium supplement which are easily available in most drug stores and supermarkets.
What is B12 and how can I get it if I don’t eat meat?
Vitamin B12 helps build our genetic material, DNA, and is most important for cells that rapidly reproduce themselves, such as red blood cells that are produced in our bone marrow. Vegetarians can get B12 from a number of sources, including milk, aged cheeses, fortified brewer's yeast, and B12 vitamin and supplements. Some breakfast cereals, soy milk and vegetarian burger patties that are also fortified with vitamin B12.
Shouldn’t I eat meat during a pregnancy?
In addition to my own personal experience, there is a wealth of information which supports the fact that you and your unborn children can be completely healthy during a vegetarian pregnancy. Of course, you should do your own research and consult your doctor to ensure that both mother and baby are getting what they need. As noted in the Our Family section, I had two back to back pregnancies as a vegetarian. My doctor was very open minded and ensured that my diet and prenatal vitamins were sufficient for the health of me and my babies. All went well. My children were born at normal weights and sizes and are still healthy to this day, more than 21 years later!
Don’t my children need meat to grow healthy?
Again, according to research and my own personal experience, the answer is no. Like with any child, you should ensure that their diet is healthy and well balanced. In my opinion, raising vegetarian children is actually healthier since there is not a heavy concentration of fast foods and saturated fats in a vegetarian diet. Obesity is now starting to be an epidemic even amongst our children due to our “super-sized fast food nation” society. We are now starting to see more incidences of diabetes, high cholesterol, and even heart disease than ever before among our teenagers. This is tragic in my opinion. What will there quality of life be in 30 or 40 years if they are suffering from these ailments now?
What do vegetarians eat? There do not seem to be many options.
This question always surprises me because our diets have just as much variety as a diet that contains animal products. Just think about it; most people eat the same types of foods every day, let’s say chicken, beef and pork. The only difference is the way in which is it prepared. Well, we eat the same way. I have my favorite vegetarian substitutes for chicken, turkey, beef, pork, even shrimp! You would be amazed at how many options are available these days. I can prepare each of my products the same way the “meat” versions are prepared and many times no one can tell the difference (except for the fact that they may not feel heavy or tired afterward!). There are over 50 such products listed in my book. For a few, check out Vegetarian Products. When you’re on the go, consider taking some vegetarian lunchmeats (Tofurkey makes some delicious ones) and putting them on your favorite Subway or Quiznos sandwich. Or, better yet, get one of the dozens of frozen pizzas or complete meals offered by Amy’s Kitchen. Their products can now be found in virtually every grocery store!
My store doesn’t sell anything vegetarian. What should I do?
Ask! Chances are that your store sells many items; you’re just not sure what to look for or where they stock them. Ask the store manager or a clerk to give you a “tour.” If you have a favorite product that they do not carry, ask them to special order it for you. I have done this numerous times and have never been refused. It helps if you provide them with the phone number, address, website, and even an empty package so that the manager will order the correct item. I have lived or traveled all over the United States and even abroad and although I will admit that my favorite products are easier to find in some cities than in others, I have never had a problem finding something to eat that is healthy, high in protein and tasty. You just have to be resourceful. It is not as hard as you may think. Also, HappyCow.net is a great resource for health food stores and vegetarian restaurants.
Isn’t being a vegetarian really expensive?
It is true that some of my favorite products, pound for pound, are more expensive than their “meat” counterparts. However, in general a vegetarian diet can be much less expensive than an animal based diet. It really just depends on what you eat and how you prepare it. Many vegetarian items can be purchased in bulk from health food stores which is less expensive than buying the products that are prepared and ready to eat. (For some examples, see Money Saving Tips). Many societies that are not as affluent as the United States are primarily vegetarian because it is less expensive than raising animals for food. In my opinion, a vegetarian diet is actually cheaper in the long run due to decreased costs for health care and the environmental effects of the depletion of our natural resources used to support factory farming of animals. Not to discount the question of expense, but the real question is, “How much is your health and the well being of our planet worth?”
Will changing my diet be a lot of work? I don’t have much time.
Once you commit to a new way of life, it becomes exactly that – a new way of life. Then, it is not a matter of convenience or not, it is just the how you live and you automatically make the necessary adjustments. In the beginning, as you get used to a new routine, it will require more forethought and planning, but then it will become second nature. I have found that the meals I make actually take less time because most vegetarian products do not even need to be cooked; we just do it to add to or change the texture or taste. In addition, when I was working in the corporate world, many times I would bring my lunch instead of running out each day to a restaurant or fast food place. This saves time as well. So, in fact you may find that this way of life actually saves you time instead of costing you more time.
Wouldn’t there be an explosion in the animal population if we didn’t eat them?
Actually, it is just the opposite. Because of the demand for meat in our country, our agricultural system has actually instituted “factory farming” which is a highly mechanized, immensely cruel way to raise and mass produce animals for food. This process is very harmful to our environment and causes much more damage and toxic effects than if animals were allowed to breed and live according to their natural cycle of life. For a short video that gives you an insider’s look at factory farming here in the U.S., check out our Video Gallery where you can watch PETA’s Meet Your Meat, or Fast Food Nation’s The Meatrix.
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