AboutPaulette Ann Leibowitz Expertise I can answer almost any question asked of me as I have a vast knowledge of all food including my field of vegetarian cuisine.
I have been a vegetarian my entire life and opened a vegetarian restaurant when I moved to Atlanta 18 years ago. I now run a personal chef business in Atlanta and all of my customers love my food. I also work on Chefsline.com which is the culinary hotline for food questions. I spend most of my week answering questions from thousands of people about all types of food.
Experience I have an Occupational Science Degree in the field of Culinary Arts from Johnson and Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island.
I graduated in 1985. Since then I have been working and teaching people about food. I teach mostly vegetarian cooking classes however I use my food knowledge to help anyone I can.
Organizations President of my Temple
Volunteer at PADV, Partnership against domestic violence, help women learn how to cook
Expert: Paulette Ann Leibowitz Date: 4/15/2008 Subject: Is non-veg. diet more 'power-packed' than veg. diet?
Question Hello Paulette,
I'm a 27 years old man from Lucknow (city of Nawabs), U.P., India. I hope that you are aware of the fact that India has the highest number of vegetarians in the whole world. Though, this is religion influenced, philosophical choice, rather than a conscious health choice. (Anyways, the vegetarians in India are way behind their European cousins, in terms of health well-being and life expectancy; but then, that's due to some other factors like pollution, unhygienic/unhealthy practices, low level of health consciousness, high intake of sweets and dairy products, etc.).
I was born to a father (whose whole family and extended family has always been a vegetarian) and a mother (whose immediate family is a non-vegetarian; my mom turned veggie after marriage). Being thin and underweight and influenced by a few friends of mine, I turned a non-vegetarian for a brief period of time 1999-2001. During that period I had mutton rolls(kebabs)twice a week and I felt following physical changes in myself > my weight had increased almost to the point of optimal weight, my physique had clearly improved and my sperm flow or count had greatly increased. Then, at my father's request, I stopped consuming meat. Soon after, I started losing weight & got depressed. Then during my post graduation my alcohol consumption increased and I started smoking. This further decreased my weight and sperm count to their lowest levels.
Then, just day before yesterday, after months of 'self-debate', I had a few pieces of roasted-fried chicken. Believe it or not, I felt so much better in just that one meal, that I didn't even feel like smoking, felt as I've been missing this-something for years and had this enormous sense of physical well-being. I understand that much of this is psychological, but it's difficult to ignore the positive physical, biological changes that non-veg. diet had brought on me, earlier, and perhaps can do to me, once again, now. Though, being a Vedic Aryan Brahmin + a sensitive person, I do feel guilty of animal slaughter in my name. But maybe, it's not good to be too sensitive??
I'm very very confused right now and don't know what should I choose - veg. or a mix of veg. & non-veg.diet. Do you have any comments on this?
- Gaurav.
Answer Dear Gaurav,
I'm not quite sure what your question is. Are you saying that you feel better eating meat than a vegetarian diet? Being a Vegetarian is a choice. When you make this choice, then you have to make certain that you are eating all the necessary protein and carbs and vegetables and fruit at every meal. You can be a vegetarian and eat wrong just as you can be a meat eater and eat wrong as well.
There are plenty of people who eat fish only or chicken only as well as a vegetarian. THese would be your choice to make. I would take the time and consider all of your options before making a choice. Lots of people go on and off this diet during their lifetime.
Please let me know what I can do to help you in this decision.
