Can vegetarians eat fish and seafood?

Pescatarians have a lot in common with vegetarians. They eat fruits, veggies, nuts, seeds, whole grains, beans, eggs, and dairy, and stay away from meat and poultry. But there’s one way they part company from vegetarians: Pescatarians eat fish and other seafood.

Why do vegetarian do not eat meat and fish?

Why Choose a Vegetarian Diet Many vegetarians, for example, avoid meat because they do not want animals killed or harmed. These individuals may also object to the treatment of animals raised on industrial farms. The environment is an additional concern for some vegetarians.

Is fish OK for vegetarians?

Vegetarians do not eat the flesh of animals. Thus, by this definition, fish and seafood are not vegetarian ( 1 ). Some vegetarians, known as lacto-ovo-vegetarians, eat certain animal products, such as eggs, milk, and cheese.

Why is it OK for vegetarians to eat fish?

Though they are not considered strict vegetarians, the name for them is pesco-vegetarians or pescetarians. The reason for this diet is the numerous health benefits that fish provide. Seafood is a healthy source of protein, is full of heart healthy fats and contains iron and a host of vitamins like B-12.

Why is eating fish OK but not meat?

Some people may also eat fish for its health benefits. Fish and seafood are rich in protein and provide numerous vitamins and minerals, including zinc and vitamin B12, which are vital for your immune and nervous systems. It can be difficult to get enough of these nutrients on a strict vegetarian diet ( 2 , 3, 4 ).

Are you still vegetarian if you eat fish?

Since fish and seafood are considered animal flesh, they’re not technically vegetarian. If someone eats these foods while otherwise following a vegetarian diet, they’re typically referred to as a pescatarian.

Why is eating fish ethical?

Ethical vegans believe that eating fish is unjust, harmful to animals, humans, and the planet. They also recognize the individuality of fishes and understand that being human does not justify complete control over the life of another being who thinks and feels as we do.

Why is eating fish unethical?

Fish’s Flesh Contains Toxic Chemicals Both wild and farmed fish live in increasingly polluted waters, and their flesh rapidly accumulates high levels of dangerous toxins. The most prominent of these are polychlorinated biphenals (PCB) and mercury, which can harm the brain of anyone who eats them.

What happens to your body when you go pescatarian?

People who eat fish have lower blood pressure, a lower risk of abnormal heart rhythms, and fewer fatal heart attacks than those who do not include fish in their diet. Apart from fish, the pescatarian diet consists mainly of plant foods.