Diet Myths Debunked

Comments (10)
Print

Pages in this Story:

The Vegetarian Diet

The Myth: It's healthy beyond belief. What could be bad about eating vegetables?

The Truth: Unless you replace the vitamins and minerals lost by cutting out an entire food group, like meat, you maybe weakening your immune system, says Eberle. That's because you won't be getting enough key nutrients -- such as iron, which affects energy levels, the ability to think clearly, and the production of enzymes that fight infection. Too little iron can even increase a woman's risk of postpartum depression, say researchers at Pennsylvania State University. And that's not all: "Meat-free diets that don't include dairy, beans, or eggs are also low in the quality protein needed to repair the microdamage to your muscles that comes from working out," explains Eberle.

The Fix: Dig into iron-rich plant foods (lentils, kidney beans, black beans, fortified cereals and pasta, tofu, and baked potatoes), along with oranges, kiwis, strawberries, peppers, and tomatoes, which are loaded with vitamin C and help boost iron absorption. For your daily dose of protein (about 85 grams for an active 140-pound woman), eat eggs, milk, yogurt, beans, or soy at every meal and with most snacks.

Next: The Vegan Diet

What do you think of this story? Leave a Comment.

Related Links

SAVE EVEN MORE! Say "Yes" to Fitness® Magazine today and get a second year for HALF PRICE – 2 full years (20 issues) for just $15. You also get our new Fitness Band and Total Body Express Band Workout ABSOLUTELY FREE! (U.S. orders only)

First Name:

Last Name:

Address:

City:

State:

Zip Code:

Email Address:

100% Money-Back Guarantee: You must be pleased, or you may cancel any time during the life of your subscription and receive a refund on any unserved issues – no questions asked. Fitness® Magazine is currently published 10 times annually – subject to change without notice. Double issues may be published, which count as 2 issues. Applicable sales tax will be added. E-mail address required to access your account and member benefits online. We will not share your e-mail address with anyone. Click here to view our privacy policy.

What do you think? Review this story! >

chrisdietric wrote:

You don't need an expert to look at the nutrition labels of dairy milk and almond milk. Which has cholesterol, saturated fat and LESS calcium? Yes dairy milk.

1/1/2013 09:17:16 PM Report Abuse

anonymous wrote:

What a lame article! I hate it when so called "experts" try to scare people into believing they need to eat meat & dairy to be healthy. One paragraph talks about lack of iron in a meat/dairy free diet and then goes on to a long list of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains to "fix" the problem. I have to wonder about the author's connection to the meat/dairy industry.

8/9/2012 09:24:55 AM Report Abuse

ivanzbecker wrote:

Right - eat healthy. Period. You don't need gluten to survive. And I have experienced a huge reduction in inflammation since I removed it from my diet.

4/11/2012 02:32:12 PM Report Abuse

ctovar0726 wrote:

Eliminating dairy from your diet does not mean that you won't consume enough calcium. Silk (soymilk), for example, has more calcium per serving than cow's milk. On top of that, Silk, or other non-dairy milk, has no antibiotics. I don't see how not consuming dairy can be bad for you.

12/13/2011 05:34:22 PM Report Abuse

user1972 wrote:

I'm a vegan. I run 60s miles a week, cross-train, and lift weights three times a week. I'm in great health and shape. I do NOT need meat or diary at all! I hate articles like this!

1/7/2011 09:14:43 AM Report Abuse