the great vegetarian debate

[morning mist]

There is a new consensus in dietary science, and it does not support the low fat vegetarian approach.

The consensus I'm aware of is that saturated and (even worse) trans fats should be minimized, and a moderate amount of unsaturated fats encouraged. ....
The "good" fats can be obtained from avocados, sunflower or flax seeds, soybeans, walnuts and other non-meat sources, as well as from poultry or fish. The meat sources, however, also contribute higher levels of "bad" fat, and that's especially true of red meat.

I'm a fan of sunflower seed butter. More nutritious than peanut butter, and it's really yummy.

Sunflow seed butter sounds tasty. Virgin olive oil is also one of the best sources of healthy fats.

Good fats

" Monounsaturated fats (MUFAs) lower total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol (the bad cholesterol) while increasing HDL cholesterol (the good cholesterol). Nuts including peanuts, walnuts, almonds and pistachios, avocado, canola and olive oil are high in MUFAs. MUFAs have also been found to help in weight loss, particularly body fat. "

Bad fats

"Saturated fats raise total blood cholesterol as well as LDL cholesterol (the bad cholesterol). Saturated fats are mainly found in animal products such as meat, dairy, eggs and seafood. Some plant foods are also high in saturated fats such as coconut oil, palm oil and palm kernel oil."

Good fats
"Polyunsaturated fats also lower total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. Seafood like salmon and fish oil, as well as corn, soy, safflower and sunflower oils are high in polyunsaturated fats. Omega 3 fatty acids belong to this group." - HealthCastle.com

[octathlon]

There is something you can add to your diet that will make you healthier and slimmer.

Could it be ... the right attitude? :

When a person is constantly mindful, And knows when enough food has been taken, All their afflictions become more slender — They age more gradually, protecting their lives.

[alan]

There are serious questions about the theory that saturated fats are the main culprit in the obesity epidemic, or that they contribute to heart disease. It is easy to research this.
I've been taking coconut oil for several years now and am much healthier for it. http://www.coconutoil.com/health_benefi ... ut_oil.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
If you want to remain stuck in old thought patterns, there is nothing I can do. If f you are open to new ideas, read this and try it for yourselves.

[bodom]

There is something you can add to your diet that will make you healthier and slimmer.

Could it be ... the right attitude? :

When a person is constantly mindful, And knows when enough food has been taken, All their afflictions become more slender — They age more gradually, protecting their lives.

Yes, moderation is the best medicine, the best supplement.

[alan]

Not entirely accurate. There are ways to improve your health. You can act on them.

[DNS]

I've been taking coconut oil for several years now and am much healthier for it. http://www.coconutoil.com/health_benefi ... ut_oil.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
If you want to remain stuck in old thought patterns, there is nothing I can do. If f you are open to new ideas, read this and try it for yourselves.

Thanks for the info. How about coconut milk? What is your opinion about coconut milk? I like coconut curry (mixing curry powder with coconut milk) with my stir-fry foods.

I have heard that coconut is also good for people with thyroid problems.

[alan]

By all means eat a coconut milk curry every day. Don't buy "lite" coconut milk--it's just been mixed with water, to assuage those still obsessed with their fat intake.
Some fats are good! I'll keep saying this until people believe it.
I discovered coconut oil when I was living in the Philippines. They treat it as a health food. Which it is.

[alan]

The importance of medium chain triglycerides cannot be overstated. If you are serious about health, or have an entrenched position regarding the role of fats in the diet, you really need to understand this. But I can't do it for you. You will have to believe me, and look into this for yourself.

[tiltbillings]

Some fats are good! I'll keep saying this until people believe it.

As for coconut oil, soy isolate, MSM, Noni, garlic, eating meat, not eating meat, dairy product, etc., etc., etc., etc., educated opinions vary.

[alan]

Incorrect. And as usual, pointlessly contrarian.

[tiltbillings]

Incorrect. And as usual, pointlessly contrarian.

Not at all incorrect, nor contrarian. You are asking us to believe you, based upon what? Your true belief, it would seem. You post a link singing the praises of coconut oil, which maybe all the things the linked article says it is, but it is not unlike any number of links that could be posted, writen by degree holding individuals with tons of footnotes, singing the praises of or damning any number of nutritional things. Other than stating you believe it and a link, you have made no real argument that vegetarianism is a cultish thing as you claim (which is rather insulting for the obvious reasons), that vegies are closed minded, etc, etc.

[alan]

I offer you information. Take it or don't. That is all I can do.
Much better you take it.

[tiltbillings]

I offer you information. Take it or don't. That is all I can do.
Much better you take it.

Other than your link, you really have offered no information other than a negative opinion or two.

[Spiny O'Norman]

...frankly so much of this discussion seems to be at base narcissistic,

Narcissistic would be eating whatever one likes without considering the conseqences.

Spiny

[Spiny O'Norman]

CTR..." Oh of course I forget you are a westerner and so you assume that one cow is more sentient than a thousand beetles ".

Nice story, but basically flawed. It isn't a case of killing either the cow or the beetles, because the beetles would be killed anyway in the process of growing grain to feed the cow. So if we eat the cow we're responsible for killing both the cow and the beetles.
Plus which you could feed something like 3 times as many people by feeding them the grain instead of feeding it to the cow then eating the cow.

Spiny