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Vegetarianism is the practice of not eating Meat , including Beef , Poultry , Fish , or their by-products, with or without the use of Dairy products or Egg s. The exclusion may also extend to products derived from animal carcasses, such as Lard , Tallow , Gelatin , Rennet and Cochineal . Some who follow the diet also choose to refrain from wearing clothing that involves the death of animals, such as Leather , Silk , Fur and many or all Down Feathers . While most vegetarians consume dairy products; Veganism is a stricter form, which excludes dairy, eggs, and any foods that contain these or other animal products; still stricter is Fruitarianism , which excludes all food but the Botanic Fruits of plants. with mushrooms and tomatoes.'' Vegetarianism should not be confused with a vegetable-only diet.]] HISTORY Vegetarianism has been common in the Indian Subcontinent , since possibly the 2nd Millennium BC for Spirit ual reasons, such as '' Ahimsa '' ( Nonviolence ), to avoid indulgences (as meat was considered an indulgence), and to reduce bad Karmic influences. Hinduism preaches that it is the ideal diet for spiritual progress and Jainism enjoins all its followers to be vegetarian. Buddhist monks of Mahayana school have also historically practiced vegetarianism. A small number of Jew ish and Christian sects have historically practiced vegetarianism including the Nazirite s, Essene s and Ebionite s. Many Hindu scriptures advocate vegetarian diet. The secular literature of Tirukural in Tamil Nadu , India, proclaimed over 2000 years ago: "Perceptive souls who have abandoned passion will not feed on flesh abandoned by life. How can he practice true compassion, he who eats the flesh of an animal to fatten his own flesh?" Vegetarians in or Peace . For as long as men massacre animals, they will kill each other. Indeed, he who sows the seed of murder and pain cannot reap joy and love." In 1847 , the first Vegetarian Society in Ramsgate , England , agreed that a "vegetarian" — from the Latin ''uegetus'' "lively", and suggestive of the English word "vegetable" — was a person who refuses to consume flesh of any kind. Vegetarianism in the 19th century was associated with many cultural reform movements, such as Temperance and anti- Vivisection . Many "new women" feminists at the end of the century were vegetarians. Seventh-day Adventists and Rastafarians , denominations founded in the 19th and 20th centuries, are also frequently vegetarian. African Hebrew Israelites only eat an organic vegetarian diet that also excludes dairy products such as milk. Followers of the Sikh religion are divided in their opinion on whether their religion opposes meat consumption. RECENT TRENDS Indian vegetarians, primarily lacto-vegetarians, are estimated to make up more than 70% of the world's vegetarians. They make up 20 to 30% of the population in India, while occasional meat-eaters make up another 30%. Most Asian countries had a predominantly vegetarian diet until the past few decades, when increasing industrialization and westernization changed that. In the Western World , the popularity of vegetarianism steadily grew over the 20th Century as a result of nutritional, ethical, and more recently, Environmental concerns. In a survey the U.S. in 2000 estimated that 2.5% of the population (n = 968) were ovo-lacto-vegetarians In 2003 the same source recorded 2.8% (n = 1,031) [http://www.vrg.org/journal/vj2003issue3/vj2003issue3poll.htm . This indicated a modest growth of 4% p.a. over the 4 years. A 1994 and 1997 survey showed about 1% (n = 1,960; c.i. = 95%) {Link without Title} . The general trend has been up. TERMINOLOGY AND VARIETIES OF VEGETARIANISM Different practices of vegetarianism include:
The following are less common practices of vegetarianism:
The following similarly named diets are not considered full vegetarianism:
MOTIVATION Religious See Also: Vegetarianism and religion The majority of the world's vegetarians, according to the Society Of Ethical And Religious Vegetarians , follow the practice for religious reasons. Many religions, including Hinduism , Buddhism , Taoism , the Bahá'í Faith , Sikhism , and Jainism , teach that ideally life should always be valued and not willfully destroyed for unnecessary human gratification. Smaller denominations that prescribe the diet include the Seventh-day Adventist Church and the Rastafari Movement . Hinduism , Jainism and Ayyavazhi hold vegetarianism as the ideal. They believe that food shapes the personality, mood and mind. Meat is said to promote aggressiveness and a mental state of turmoil known as " Rajas " while a vegetarian diet is considered to promote Satvic qualities, calm the mind, and be essential for spiritual progress. They believe that animals have souls (a manifestation of the eternal Monist ic consciousness Brahman ) and killing animals have Karmic repercussions that are bound to be reaped later by oneself. Also, the principle of Ahimsa (non-violence) compels one to refrain from injuring any living creature, physically, mentally or emotionally. Most of the secular motivations for vegetarianism such as ethical considerations and nutrition apply to Hindu & Jain motivations as well. Different schools of Buddhists oppose the consumption of meat, and Chinese Mahayana monks observe vegetarianism. The Mahayana schools of Tibetan and Japanese Buddhism do not consider a vegetarian diet to be essential, nor do Theravadin Buddhists, although Theravadin Buddhists will refuse meat if the animal has been killed specifically for them. (See Vegetarianism In Buddhism ) Many adherents of Rastafarianism are vegetarian for religious reasons. While vegetarianism is not common in Christian thought, some Christian leaders, such as the Reverend Andrew Linzey, have supported the view that Jesus was a vegetarian. An ancient version of the Gospel of Matthew, known as the is not considered a Canonical text in any major branch of modern Christianity. Nutritional See Also: Vegetarian nutrition ]] Most Nutrition ists claim that a diet rich in fresh fruit and vegetables but low in animal fat and red meat offers numerous health benefits, including a significantly lower risk of Heart Disease , Cancer , Renal Failure and Stroke . The has significantly lower levels of Pesticide residue than a non-vegetarian's. Some vegetable protein sources lack in one or more "essential" Amino Acid s. For example, grains and nuts are low in Lysine and Legumes are low in Methionine . While everyone should eat a variety of foods to ensure a balanced nutrition, the body’s requirement for essential amino acids now appears to be much less important than researchers once believed. Vegetarians get all the Protein and Amino Acid s they need from eating a normal variety of Whole Grains (whole Wheat Bread , Oatmeal , Brown Rice ), Beans , Nuts , and Soy ( Tofu , veggie Burgers / Hotdog s, Edamame , etc). The intake of such foods has to be larger since the protein percentage in these foods are comparatively lower than in a similar serving of meat. Attaining sufficient protein intake is rarely a problem in Developed Countries and the lower protein intake of vegetarians has even been suggested as a possible cause of some of the health benefits above. A vegetarian diet does not include Fish - a major source of Omega 3 , though some plant-based sources of it exist such as Soy , Walnut s, Pumpkin seeds, Canola Oil and, especially, Hempseed and Flaxseed . Some suggest that vegetarians have higher rates of deficiencies in those nutrients which are found in high concentrations in meat. However, studies endorsed by the ADA found that this was not the case for Iron or Calcium . Some claim that Vitamin B-12 and Zinc from vegetarian sources other than dairy products and eggs are not readily absorbed by the body and a vegan diet usually needs supplements. {Link without Title} . Ethical See Also: Ethics of vegetarianism Many vegetarians consider the Production , subsequent Slaughtering and consumption of meat or animal products as Unethical . Reasons for believing this are varied, and may include a belief in Animal Rights , or an aversion to inflicting Pain or harm on other Living creatures. The belief also exists among vegetarians that other lives should not have to end in order for theirs to continue. In developed countries, ethical vegetarianism has become popular particularly after the spread of Factory Farming , which has reduced the sense of Husbandry that used to exist in farming and led to animals being treated as commodities. Many believe that the treatment which animals undergo in the production of meat and animal products obliges them to never eat meat or use animal products. Environmental See Also: Environmental vegetarianism Environmental vegetarianism is the belief that the production of meat and animal products at current and likely future levels is Environmentally Unsustainable . Industrialization has lead to intensive farming practices and diets high in animal protein, primarily in devoloped nations and mainly the United States. According to the National Academy Of Sciences (NAS) "Most of the world's population today subsists on vegetarian or near-vegetarian diets for reasons that are economic, philosophical, religious, cultural, or ecological." {Link without Title} Thus, the main protest of environmental vegetarians is primarily of intensive farming in devoloped nations. According to the United Nations Population Fund "Each U.S. citizen consumes an average of 260 lb. of meat per year, the world's highest rate. That is about 1.5 times the industrial world average, three times the East Asian average, and 40 times the average in Bangladesh." {Link without Title} All modern, intensive farming practices consume large amounts of fossil fuel and water resources and have lead to emissions of harmful gases and chemicals. The habitat for wildlife provided by large industrial Monoculture farms is very poor, and modern industrial agriculture is a threat to Biodiversity compared with farming practices such as Organic Farming , Permaculture , Arable , Pastoral , and rainfed agriculture. Animals fed on grain, and also those which rely on grazing, need far more water than grain crops {Link without Title} . According to the loss. Environmental vegetarianism can be compared with Economic Vegetarianism . An economic vegetarian is someone who practices vegetarianism from either the philosophical viewpoint concerning issues such as public health and curbing world starvation, the belief that the consumption of meat is economically unsound, part of a conscious simple living strategy or just out of necessity. According to the WorldWatch Institute "Massive reductions in meat consumption in industrial nations will ease the health care burden while improving public health; declining livestock herds will take pressure off of rangelands and grainlands, allowing the agricultural resource base to rejuvenate. As populations grow, lowering meat consumption worldwide will allow more efficient use of declining per capita land and water resources, while at the same time making grain more affordable to the world's chronically hungry." {Link without Title} Physiological Many vegetarians contend that humans are where a semi-vegetarian Mediterranean diet is common (fresh fruit, vegetables, olive oil, goats cheese and fish), than northern France where an omnivore diet is more common (also including pork, beef, butter, cows cheese and cream) [http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/bmj;330/7498/991 . It must be noted that many other influences come into life expectancy, such as clean water, sunshine, pollution, genetics, exercise and lifestyle (alcohol, smoking, stress etc), making it difficult to scientifically prove any correlation between regional diets and life expectancy. Some vegetarian beliefs (such as Hare Krishna and perhaps some Buddhists) suggest that human beings are "designed" to consume vegetable matter rather than meat. The reasons are mainly associated with the differences between predators and plant-eating animals. Predators usually have sharp teeth or claws to tear fresh meat. Dogs, cats or lions are examples, while plant-eating animals (such as horse and deer) have no sharp teeth or claws to tear meat. Humans occupy a middle ground between the two having no claws and mostly blunt teeth ( Molars ) but also a pair of sharp Canine teeth designed for tearing. The intestines of predators are relatively short compared with those of plant-eating animals. This allows meat eaten by predators to pass more quickly though the intestines. Since meat rots much faster than vegetables, it is necessary for predators to have short intestines to prevent meat rotting inside the body that could harm the creature. Herbivores, however, need a much longer intestine to allow sufficient time for the digestion of vegetable fibres. According to The Straight Dope , {Link without Title} humans have evolved to be omnivores. Human intestinal length is, taken as a ratio, half way between carnivores (such as cats and dogs) and herbivores (such as cows and horses). The way in which predators and plant eating mammals drink is another reason that is suggested. Predators like dogs, cats or lions use their tongue to drink water as digesting meat does not consume as much water compared with digesting vegetables. Plant-eating animals like horses, deer or sheep, suck water as do humans. Psychological Many vegetarians choose to be so in part because they find meat and meat products aesthetically unappetizing. Proponents assert that human beings are not instinctively attracted to eating live or dead meat in nature. For example, the carcass of a cow lying in a forest would attract a real carnivore like a wolf or leopard, but would disgust most human beings. The metaphor by Douglas Dunn is that if one gives a young child an apple and a live chicken, the child would instinctively play with the chicken and eat the apple, whereas if a cat was presented with the same choices, its natural impulse would be the opposite. {Link without Title} Food safety Various animal food safety scares over recent years have led people towards semi-vegetarianism or vegetarianism. These scares have included BSE in cows, Avian Flu in poultry, Foot-and-mouth in sheep, Salmonella in eggs, PCB s in farmed salmon and high Dioxin levels in animal products. For many these dietary changes are only temporary though, returning to their original diets once the health scare has subsided. Advocates such as Howard Lyman and groups such as People For The Ethical Treatment Of Animals have promoted vegetarianism in response to cases of E.coli infection and BSE, believed to be transmitted to humans through Beef . According to various organisations, VCJD is strongly linked with exposure to the BSE agent {Link without Title} . However, E.coli can be acquired from any excrement-contaminated food or human commensal bacteria. Social Some people are vegetarian because they were Raised in a vegetarian household. Others may have become vegetarians because of a vegetarian Partner , Family member, or Friend . Some people live in a predominantly vegetarian society (such as India ), and so adopt this practice to avoid ostracism, or for the difficulty of buying meat in such a society. Spiritual Some adherents of Eastern religions, such as Mahatma Gandhi , claim that Spirit ual awareness and experiences are greatly enhanced on a vegetarian diet. In the Western world there are also individuals like James Redfield who, independent from any specific religious beliefs, share the same sentiment. These people believe that vegetarianism helps an individual to explore deeper levels of Consciousness , find Inner Peace and establish a connection with the Divine, through such practices as Meditation , Yoga or Whirling . Even in the West, numerous social justice leaders, such as Cesar Chavez, have adopted a vegan/vegetarian diet in order to communicate an agenda of social harmony and fellowship. VEGETARIAN CUISINE See Also: Vegetarian cuisine This generally means food which excludes ingredients under which an animal must have died, such as meat, meat broth, cheeses that use animal Rennet , Gelatin (from animal Skin and Connective Tissue ), and for the strictest, even some sugars that are whitened with Bone Char (e.g. Cane sugar, but not Beet sugar) and Alcohol clarified with Gelatin or crushed Shellfish and Sturgeon . COUNTRY SPECIFIC INFORMATION
India has devised a system (since 2000???) of marking any edible product with a green dot in a green square to signify that only vegetarian ingredients were used and that no 'hidden' meat ingredients were used. A red dot in a red square is meant to convey that one or more ingredients used are of non-vegetarian content or 'hidden' meat ingredients like gelatin, lard, or meat stock may have been used. Even medicines are marked similarly, a famous Omega 3 capsule uses flax seeds to extract omega-3 fatty acids. But it is marked with a Red dot since the capsule uses non vegetarian ingredients.
VEGETARIAN SOCIETIES Vegetarian societies (apart from India) were first formed in majority meat eating European countries both as a means to promote the diet and to gather together vegetarians for mutual support. By 2000 , most western and developing nations had functioning vegetarian societies. The countries that were first to establish societies are still the ones most likely to have the greatest proportion of vegetarians within their populations. The first societies were:
The . CRITICISM There are three main criticisms of vegetarianism, based on health, environment, and mortality. Vegetarian diet and longevity Life Expectancy is arguably the most objective and quantifiable measure of health. Most recent studies consistently show that vegetarian sample populations have longer life expectancies than the general populations. However, it has been pointed out that people who are vegetarian tend to have a higher socio-economic status, which is associated with a healthier life style with respect to smoking, alcohol, exercise and "better diet" (such as increased intake of fruits and green vegetables which does not relate to the decision not to eat meat). The question is whether being vegetarian alone could account for any increase in life expectancy when these factors have been taken out. In "Mortality in vegetarians and nonvegetarians: detailed findings from a collaborative analysis of 5 prospective studies" six major studies (three in Britain, one in Germany, one in U.S and one in Italy) of this kind were cross examined. It was found that the mortality ratio was the lowest in fish eaters (0.82) followed by occasional meat eaters (0.84) and vegetarians (0.84) which was then followed by regular meat eaters (1.0) and vegans (1.0). These statistics do not mean that fish eating is the healthiest diet. In "Mortality in British vegetarians" [http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/full/78/3/533S , it was concluded that "British vegetarians have low mortality compared with the general population. Their death rates are similar to those of comparable non-vegetarians, suggesting that much of this benefit may be attributed to non-dietary lifestyle factors such as a low prevalence of smoking and a generally high socio-economic status, or to aspects of the diet other than the avoidance of meat and fish." Environment Some question the assumption that food given to livestock could instead be used to feed humans. In developing countries particularly, such food is usually of poor quality and not fit for human consumption, though the land it utilizes could be turned over to human food production. Cornell scientists have advised that the U.S. could feed 800 million people with grain that livestock eat However, diverting this grain away from livestock would not resolve the economic causes that prevent starving (poor) people from buying food [http://www.animalrights.net/archives/related_topics/topics/diet/vegetarianism_world_hunger.html . Also, there exist some types of terrain (such as mountains, desert fringes, and regions with very poor soil) that are suitable for grazing animals, but not suitable as farmland. Environmentalists counter that these "marginal lands" should not be used at all, and that grazing livestock on these lands exerts more pressure than they can carry and/or directly competes with native wild animal species which would graze the same land. REFERENCES |
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