The reasons people adopt a vegetarian regime are varied. Some decide to follow it on moral grounds as they feel bad about killing other animals. Others do so because they might feel it is a healthier option and they would benefit from such a diet. Others who have a slow metabolic rate may not produce enough hydrochloric acid and so do not feel well while eating meat and feel better when they give it up.

I would advise anyone who decides to become a vegetarian to do their homework first. That is to say, do not just give up meat without thinking where you are going to get your protein from. Meat is also  a high source of Iron and Zinc, so ensure that the foods you choose have these important minerals. Lentils are a good source of both protein and iron, as are eggs in moderation. Zinc seems to be a more difficult mineral to obtain from the vegetarian diet notably due to the fact that our soils are deficient in it. This can be a problem for vegetarians as it can lead to a build up of copper in the body which happens when there is not enough Zinc available. This can lead to lowered energy levels and to hyperactivity and depression. There are some young teenage girls who are at risk from a vegetarian diet as they can have vegetarian induced Zinc deficiency --this could predispose them to eating disorders such as anorexia and buliminia. So if you are a veggie try to take a form of Zinc supplementation to offset any problems.

If you do decide that you definitely want to become a vegetarian my advice is to do it gradually. First give up red meat for a few weeks and see how you feel. Then give up poultry and eventually fish. This could be done over a period of time. Each time you give something up try to judge how you feel. The mistake a lot of people make is to use cheese and milk as an alternative source of protein. But these are very high in fat and tend to slow down the metabolism considerably. Try to experiment with a variety of pulses and beans, soya products such as tofu and Quorn products as these are far healthier as an alternative. In order for the body to get the right amino acid content you nedd to combine your foods to get a complete protein, e.g., Lentils and Rice make a complete protein as does beans on toast. Nuts are quite high in fat in relation to their protein content so do not use as your main source of protein. Eggs are a good source of protein but use in moderation.

Being a healthy vegetarian means paying special attention to the quantity and quality of your vegetables. These will provide you with the necessary minerals and antioxidants to keep you healthy. Try to aim for a salad a day and also some steamed vegetable with your meal. Try to include as wide a variety as possible. It is best of course to get organic vegetables but if you cannot don't worry. Just make sure that you wash them well.

If you fail to thrive on a healthy vegetarian regime it may mean that your body type is not suited to it. Some peole simply lack the necessary fire energy in themselves and need to get it from an animal or fish source.

I have found that the warmer climates are more suited to a vegetarian regime as you can get more of your energy fromn the sun. The colder climates can necessitate the inclusion of some animal protein. You wouldn't ask an Eskimo if he'd fancy some crudities and a jacket potato!!!!!

It has been noted that the effects of the vegetarian diet may not be seen until years down the line. Sometimes after 7 years a person can find that they have put on a considerable amount of weight as the regime they adopted was too dependent on carbohydrates and not enough lean protein. An unhealthy dependence on cheese as protein can lead to a lot of weight gain and a tendency to a more sluggish system. Some people have fond that their muscles no longer seem to have sufficient power and their stamina decreases.

The best thing to do is to really listen to your body and pay attention to the messages that it is sending you.See if your energy levels have increased or decreased. I have found that the healthier vegetarians are those who do not rely on dairy foods as their main source of protein and who make a real effort to eat a lot of vegetables and fruit. If you have adopted a vegetarian diet and have failed to thrive then can you tell me what happened.? If you are one of those people who does not like a lot of fruit and vegetables then please can you e mail me and i will let you know what to do about it.

Harvey Diamond, co author of "Fit for Life" books rejects both veganism and vegetarianism. In an interview for Mind and Muscle Power harvey publicly reverses his earlier vegetarian Natural Hygiene position and acknowledges the long term limitations of vegan and vegetarian programs.

Former vegetarians such as Upton Sinclair also came to the realisation that a diet devoid of all animal products did not lead to long term health and energy. 
Max Gerson , founder of the Gerson Institute advocated the inclusion of cottage cheese and other animal products after a period of detoxification. 
Some people use the bible to justify their philosophy of vegetarianism but Genesis 9:3 says: "Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.

One of the dangers of a restrictive vegan program is an iron deficiency. Researchers at the Department of Nutrition at Kings College London found that girls who were anaemic scored an average of 10 points lower than those with normal iron levels.

There are many people who need the inclusion of animal protein in their diet for a healthy liver. If there is insufficient protein in the diet the liver can be inefficient at breaking down fats. Glycogen can be synthesised from fat but it is not easy as it involves a complex and relatively slow metabolic pathway. In the absence of adequate absorbable protein fats are inefficiently metabolised and the person will begin to store fat instead of using it as energy. 

Wishing you good health,

Martha Brassil, BA, H,Dip., D.Th.D.