How healthy is a vegetarian diet?

I try and not eat meat simply because I hate the thought of animals being killed and I did a vegetarian cooking course and the teacher there said it is usually in the later years of like that meat eating takes its toll, as it gradually slows down the digestive system quicker...the way it was explained sounded sensible...

The choice to be Vegetarian or Vegan is a personal one-As I understand it,they have to take some food supplements to balance what's missing in their diet that a meat eater would be getting in a "normal" diet..At the same time,We have (in industrialised countries,anyway..) gone down something of a slippery slope with overeating,unhealthy diets,too much sugar,carbs,etc..We need to find a proper dietary balance to combat this obesity problem,and I think going back along the scale towards vegetarianism and away from fast food and cola is a good idea..but meat still has it's part to play!

Are people vegetarians on dietary grounds? Or on moral grounds? Personally I don't like the slaughter of animals for human consumption. I especially don't like the mistreatment of animals prior to slaughtering them. I believe in treating them humanely even if they are going to be murdered. I think it should be done in a humane way and they should not be tortured or mistreated in any way. I don't think that I'm a nut or that anyone else is a nut who doesn't eat animal flesh. In fact I would be willing to bet that some vegetarians think that people who eat meat are nuts. Eating meat isn't all that healthy, you know. It sits in your colon and gives you cancer.

What's so crazy about being healthy and excluding beef and meat in one's diet? I went completely vegetarian for two months awhile back and have never felt healthier. I didn't have the usual aches and pains and never felt sick. Since going back to regular meats in my diet, I never feel right. Sort of sluggish all the time. I found that cutting beef from my diet helped. I still eat chicken on occasion and lots and lots of fruits, veggies and legumes!

i think a well rounded,healthy diet is good. I am not to keen to vegetarians because most of them look very skinny and pale. I tried it once for about six months and I did feel somewhat better but I did get some anemia as well as a lack of protein in my body. I don't criticize it but I guess it is not for everyone