Skip to content

Guest post: Eating vegetarian

July 4, 2012

This post was sent in by Jillian Mckee. Jillian McKee has worked as the Complementary Medicine Advocate at the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance since June of 2009. Jillian spends most her time on outreach efforts and spreading information about the integration of complementary and alternative medicine when used in conjunction with traditional cancer treatment. You can read more about the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance at the bottom of this post, or you can visit their website.

Eating Vegetarian

According to the Guardian, vegetarians are less likely to experience cancer than people who eat meat. While researchers agree that more study is needed, the truth of the matter is that it seems eating a vegetarian diet can be beneficial in many ways. If you have just entered treatment for mesothelioma cancer or you are in a place where you are currently in remission from breast cancer, you may be curious to see how vegetarianism can affect your life.

In the first place, remember that vegetarianism means that you are not eating any meat at all, though you are still allowed to eat meat by-products. Things like eggs, cheese and milk are still okay if you choose and they will supply you with the protein that you need. For many people who are coming to a vegetarian diet for the first time, a certain amount of study is necessary to find out how to eat healthy when an entire food group has been eliminated. This is where consulting a nutritionist or a dietitian can be very helpful.

If you are just getting started with eating vegetarian, you may find that you are hungry very often. It takes a while for the body to stop craving meat and when you notice that you are craving meat, there are many different things that you can do. For example, consider taking a moment to think about what might replace the meat craving. This is where meat substitutes that are meant to mimic meat can come in. Take a trip to your local supermarket to find out what your favorite supplements might be.

Consider what your options are when it comes to getting more interesting vegetarian meals at home. Many of the vegetarian options that you can get at a restaurant are quite dull or they are simply side orders that are not very filling. This can become very frustrating, so learn to cook for yourself. There are many delicious vegetarian dishes out there. Look for recipes for roasted vegetables and also consider how you can use spices to add savor to your food. This is a wonderful way to get all the nutrients that you need.

Another thing that you might consider is meeting up with other vegetarians. If all of your friends and family are meat eaters, difficulties can arise. There are plenty of vegetarian meet-up groups, particularly in the larger cities, and you can meet to trade recipes and have great meals together. This is something that can make a huge difference to you, especially if you have been feeling a little isolated with your new eating habits.

When you are curious about how you can eat your way to good health, consider vegetarianism. This is a large change, but it can make a huge impact on your health.

***

The Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance is dedicated to serving mesothelioma victims and their families.

Malignant mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that occurs in the thin layer of cells lining the body’s internal organs, known as the mesothelium. There are three recognized types of mesothelioma. Pleural mesothelioma is the most common form of the disease, accounting for roughly 70% of cases, and occurs in the lining of the lung known as the pleura. Peritoneal mesothelioma occurs in the lining of the abdominal cavity, known as the peritoneum and pericardial mesothelioma originates in the pericardium, which lines the heart.

An individual may be at risk to develop mesothelioma if he or she was exposed to asbestos in the workplace or at home. Mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos and the inhalation of asbestos particles. In most cases, mesothelioma symptoms will not appear in an individual exposed to asbestos until many years after the exposure has occurred. Those with a past asbestos exposure history experiencing symptoms should consult a physician with experience in accurately diagnosing mesothelioma. The earlier mesothelioma is diagnosed, the more likely it is to be caught at an early stage. At earlier stages of mesothelioma progression, more treatment options are available and oftentimes a better prognosis is given.

***

This was a guest post,  any inaccuracies should be addressed to the author. If you would like to submit an article for publication on this blog (must be linked to vegetarianism or veganism) please contact us. Please note we do do not make any profit from this blog and therefore are unable to pay for contributions.

Leave a comment