Vegetarian!

Sure they can. Even protein. Technically protein is made from anything that contains amino acids (most vegetables do, though in different quantities), and our bodies already know how to convert amino acids into protein. Is this a path you choose to follow, or are considering? If so, I highly recommend meeting with a nutritionist to ensure you're getting everything you need.

I am pretty certain that our teeth were made to deal mainly with vegetables but that quite early on in our development we learned the benefit of getting some of our protein from meat and, while our dentition didn't change, our stomachs and metabolism have adapted.

Certainly we can live on an entirely vegetarian diet - if we have to or choose to - though some kinds of protein that we need are quite hard to find as vegetable protein (which is why your first respondent advises consulting a nutritionist).

I think that it's generally accepted that no human needs more than about two ounces of meat a week (and even that isn't necessary provided we can find the appropriate vegetable foods to replace the small but necessary quantities of the appropriate protein).

Vitamins and minerals are not a problem in a vegetarian diet. Most of them, anyway, come from the vegetables we eat rather than from meat.

It is quite possible that, if we devoted the land we now use for producing meat to growing those crops which supply the rarer proteins - and, of course, were able to distribute it fairly and cheaply, there would be no starvation or malnutrition in this world. Things made of leather and animal hair would be harder to find, though, and more expensive. We might have to choose one day between shoes for our feet or food for our children!

Hi Peach,
That's a wonderful question you have asked. The fact is that yes vegetables can replace all the things that we get from meat including the minerals. You just need to select the correct range of vegetables and fruits for that. The only concern for me these days with Vegetables and fruits is the excess amount of fertilizers and chemicals that seem to be seeping into the fruits!!

Cheers!
Ram

You don't need meat in your body to be strong. You can get protein from many other foods, such as dairy products, eggs, beans, and tofu. A vegetarian diet can be very healthy. I have been a vegetarian for more than 20 years now.

Kelly

Why, yes! Of course - if not all the vegetarians we see will either be dead or dying of malnutrition - but they arent, are they?

In fact, some vegetarians have gone on to become Olympic athletes.

Most animal proteins are complete.Most vegetable proteins are incomplete.Since your body requires complete proteins to function properly you must combine vegetable proteins in away that makes them complete.For an example,you can combine legumes with nuts and seeds or you can combine egg or dairy products with any vegetable protein.cheers..

Personally, I would not think so. Because meat is the protein that is needed for strong muscle tone.. Vegetables alone just could not amount to that..