http://downtoearthblog.com/foodproduction/heart-health-requires-fatty-acids-and-b-12/archives/244 Facts, opinions and reflections on being a techno-geek granolarancher Mom Thu, 20 Jun 2013 06:54:52 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 http://downtoearthblog.com/foodproduction/heart-health-requires-fatty-acids-and-b-12/archives/244#comment-32589 Mark Taylor Thu, 12 May 2011 00:01:17 +0000 http://downtoearthblog.com/foodproduction/heart-health-requires-fatty-acids-and-b-12/archives/244#comment-32589 We are omnivores but we don't have to eat meat to get a balanced diet. Education is the key here. Most vegetarians are just not educated about the their diets in general. It is highly documented that you can sustain a vegetarian regimen and get the same balance nutritionally as those who eat meat. With regard to fat, there are 3 categories of fat. Saturated(found primarily in animal products), monounsaturated(found mostly in vegetable and nut oils), and Polyunsaturated(found in corn, soybean, safflower, and sunflower oils and certain fish oils) Excessive saturated fatty acids leads to your liver manufacturing too much cholesterol, especially the "bad" LDL or low density lipoproteins. However, they are needed in low amounts and a balance needs to be established. In addition the Polyunsaturated fatty acids may tend to lower the good cholesterol and are higher in calories, so you should keep these below 10% of your caloric intake. By the way I am not a vegetarian but my daughter tends to lean that way, so I have had to research all the elements of diet and nutrition. I do agree with your philosophy about extreme behaviors. We are omnivores but we don’t have to eat meat to get a balanced diet. Education is the key here. Most vegetarians are just not educated about the their diets in general. It is highly documented that you can sustain a vegetarian regimen and get the same balance nutritionally as those who eat meat. With regard to fat, there are 3 categories of fat. Saturated(found primarily in animal products), monounsaturated(found mostly in vegetable and nut oils), and Polyunsaturated(found in corn, soybean, safflower, and sunflower oils and certain fish oils) Excessive saturated fatty acids leads to your liver manufacturing too much cholesterol, especially the “bad” LDL or low density lipoproteins. However, they are needed in low amounts and a balance needs to be established. In addition the Polyunsaturated fatty acids may tend to lower the good cholesterol and are higher in calories, so you should keep these below 10% of your caloric intake. By the way I am not a vegetarian but my daughter tends to lean that way, so I have had to research all the elements of diet and nutrition. I do agree with your philosophy about extreme behaviors.

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