That is the question!
I'm a vegetarian and have been for 13 years. I do eat fish but no meat what so ever. Dr myhill has suggested all along I should be eating meat- to get from meat what only meat can give you.
Does anyone have any views on this? Does she have a point?
Cheers simon
I am veggie, and have been for 25 year. Or rather, I started eating fish again about a decade ago, and I am now pesco-vegetarian. I simply can't imagine eating meat, any more than I can imagine eating hay! 
Basically, there isn't anything that *only* meat can give you, but certain vitamins and minerals are more readily available from meat.
Low iron is a risk for people who don't eat meat. Vitamin B12 is also one that many veggies struggle with... And getting enough Vitamin D is hard for everyone in the UK!
The key to any well-balanced nutritional diet is variety and freshness/naturalness. The more you eat that is processed/pre-prepared/unnatural, the worse your natural vitamin and mineral intake will be. And the more different/varied foods you eat, the better...
The iron available in meat is 'heme' iron, which is more easily absorbed than the 'non-heme' iron in veg sources, but not 'better'. You also need vitamin C to absorb iron properly.
Iron rich veggie foods include:
Herbs, esp. thyme
Dried fruits, especially dark/unsulphured apricots
Cocoa and dark chocolate
Molasses
Seeds, especially pumpkin, sunflower and sesame seeds
Beans and pulses, esp soya beans
Spinach and other leafy dark green veg
There is some more info and a useful list of iron-rich veg foods here: vrg.org/nutrition/iron.htm
Vit B12 is found in yeast. The most easily available source of it is marmite. It is also in eggs, cheese and beer! If you don't like Marmite, and you're veggie, you will probably need to find a fortified source - breakfast cereals and soya products often have it added.
Vit D is mostly obtained through the skin from sunlight. Some foods are fortified with it - e.g. cornflakes. If you are hypothyroid, you may need vit D supplements, but I don't think you are any more or less likely to need them as a veggie.
Hope that helps. 
Hi there,
Many thanks for your reply :0) Nice of you to take the time to explain.
I'm only questioning myself as Myhill had suggested-more than once- that i should eat meat. It will affect my recovery not eating at least some meat. So yes, i am questioning my reasons not for eating meat now.
I take an iron supplement, but only started that 6 months ago. I am topped up with Vit B now. As for vit D, levels are very good.
Do you eat organic? I've been 'trying' to follow the Paleo diet for 8 months now but of course thats hard when one doesn't eat meat! lol
Many thank again
Simon
I have been a vegetarian for more years that I can remember and a vegan as well for about 6 years of those and Dr Myhill has TOTALLY changed the way I eat and I can't be happier in mind and in body.
I have been eating Paleo since February and feel FANTASTIC. I went to see my father last week and he had not seen me in 2 years (so my brother's wife and a friend) and they all commented and could not stop commenting not just only on the weight I've lost but on 'how healthy' I now look.
I shared my story with them as a result:
my father has given up dairy products as dr myhill says these are the most common cause of 'breathing problems' in humans and my father has these problems. My brother's wife (veggie for almost a lifetime) has started introducing meat and thinking of other steps to take next.
I am totally on Dr Myhill's side on this one, yes I have done a lot of reading around the subject and I am still on her side.
BUT it is a very personal decision to make so I would not dare say to you what to do.
So you have gone back to eating meat after being veggie for years nd?!
Hi Sporty, as mentioned before, the gut health expert Dr Natasha Campbell McBride firmly states that she has never seen a really healthy vegetarian and promotes eating meat as does Dr Myhill. I know this is controversial to the dedicated veggies here and I do not wish to offend, just repeating expert's views.
For answers read Gut and Psychology by Dr McBride x
Sorry, it's meat or B12 supplements (my guts are fine! hubby's aren't with bread 'tho)
Whilst I respect your choice, over time it won't do you any favours (especially with thyroid disease too). J
thyroiduk.healthunlocked.co...
.... Won't do me any favours?!
Tuna / Marlin / Sword-fish / Shark...surely plenty of the right stuff in those 'meats'? Worth a Google....
Am also a veggie who eats fish.(I've been brought up on fish as my family own the largest retail fish business in the UK!...pity I now live over 200 miles away!)
Si
Well apparently not! Apparently only in meat can one get whats required. I guess there's an argument from both sides though isn't there? I was always under the impression not eating meat was better for ones gut. Falsely may be..... I do not know.
Si
I think its worth some serious research Si...
I dont know if you have time but I certainly dont at the mo ....keep me posted if you do!
Ta, Si
So what are we researching? If fish has the same benefits as meat? I can say now it doesn't! Myhill wouldn't have suggested me to eat meat otherwise. I think we need to research if meat is what we need, to feel better :0)
Si
Yes....I've been a veggie for 3 years and for sure feel worse BUT it could other factors of course.
I do take B12 amongst others...
fish is good too! esp mackerel, here's one list, of many, cheese & eggs help.
healthaliciousness.com/arti...
oh i eat mackerel daily! i eat a lot of fish. eggs for breakfast every morning. Just the meat i don't have any of....lol
sorry sporty, I know it's awkward territory - I remember suggesting pregaday & not realising you're a bloke! by favours I mean over time, vital substances like B12 will deplete (in my humble opinion).
so if you were making a human would you suggest no meat? would you ignore vital stuff for someone you created? just a thought - feel free to ignore me! lol Jane
DIO2, 23andme - or not bother?
to Armour or not to Armour
What to do if GP 'not bothered'!? Ferritin + Hashimoto's
T3 or not T3
Not to good
