Description and Definition of Vegetarianism

The term vegetarian was coined in 1847 by the founders of the Vegetarian Society of Great Britain,
but vegetarianism has been around as long as people have created diets. Some of the world's oldest
cultures advocate a vegetarian diet for health and religious purposes. In India, millions of Hindus are
vegetarians because of their religious beliefs. One of the ancient mythological works of Hinduism, the
Mahabharata, states that, "Those who desire to possess good memory, beauty, long life with perfect
health, and physical, moral and spiritual strength, should abstain from animal foods." The yoga system of
living and health is vegetarian, because its dietary practices are based on the belief that healthy food
contains prana. Prana is the universal life energy, which yoga experts believe is abundant in fresh fruits,
grains, nuts and vegetables, but absent in meat because meat has been killed. Yogis also believe that
spiritual health is influenced by the practice of ahimsa, or not harming living beings. The principle of
ahimsa (non-violence) appears in the Upanishads (Vedic literature) from c. 600-300 B.C. Taking of
animal life or human life under any circumstances is sinful and results in rebirth as a lower organism. It
became a fundamental element of Jainism, another religion of India. Some Buddhists in Japan and China
are also vegetarian because of spiritual beliefs. In the Christian tradition, the Trappist Monks of the
Catholic Church are vegetarian, and some vegetarians argue that there is evidence that Jesus and his early
followers were vegetarian. Other traditional cultures, such as those in the Middle East and the
Mediterranean regions, have evolved diets that frequently consist of vegetarian foods. The Mediterranean
diet, which a Harvard study declared to be one of the world's healthiest, is primarily, although not strictly,
vegetarian.
The list of famous vegetarians forms an illustrious group. The ancient Greek philosophers,
including Socrates, Plato, and Pythagoras, advocated vegetarianism. In modern times, the word to
describe someone who likes to feast on food and wine is "epicure," but it is little known that Epicurus, the
ancient philosopher, was himself a diligent vegetarian. Other famous vegetarians include Leonardo da
Vinci, Sir Isaac Newton, Leo Tolstoy, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Henry Thoreau. This century's
celebrated vegetarians include Gandhi, the physician Albert Schweitzer, writer George Bernard Shaw,
musician Paul McCartney, and champion triathlete Dave Scott. Albert Einstein, although not a strict
vegetarian himself, stated that a vegetarian diet would be an evolutionary step for the human race.
Vegetarianism in America received a lot of interest during the last half of the nineteenth century and the
beginning of the twentieth century, during periods of experimentation with diets and health practices.
Vegetarianism has also been a religious practice for some Americans, including the Seventh-day
Adventists, whose lacto-ovo vegetarian diets have been studied for their health benefits. Vegetarianism
has been steadily gaining acceptance as an alternative to the meat-and-potatoes bias of the traditional
American diet. In 1997, Vegetarian Resource Group performed a Roper poll that showed that 13 million
Americans, or 5% of the population, identified themselves as vegetarians.
Several factors contribute to the interest in vegetarianism in America. Outbreaks of food poisoning from
meat products, as well as increased concern over the additives in meat such as hormones and antibiotics,
have led some people and professionals to question meat's safety. There is also an increased awareness of
the questionable treatment of farm animals in factory farming. But the growing health consciousness of
Americans is probably the major reason for the surge in interest in vegetarianism. Nutrition experts have
built up convincing evidence that there are major problems with the conventional American diet, which is
centered around meat products that are high in cholesterol and saturated fat and low in fiber. Heart
disease, cancer, and diabetes, which cause 68% of all deaths in America, are all believed to be influenced
by this diet. Nutritionists have repeatedly shown in studies that a healthy diet consists of plenty of fresh
vegetables and fruits, complex carbohydrates such as whole grains, and foods that are high in fiber and
low in cholesterol and saturated fat. Vegetarianism, a diet that fulfills all these criteria, has become part of
many healthy lifestyles. In alternative medicine, vegetarianism is a cornerstone dietary therapy, used in
Ayurvedic medicine, detoxification treatments, macrobiotics, the Ornish diet for heart disease, and in
therapies for many chronic conditions.
Vegetarianism today can be thought of as part of a "health revolution" that coincides with a
heightened awareness of the numerous medical researches into the impact of a previously innocuous
lifestyle choice such as diet. With the help of the influence of media such as the internet and investigative
journalism with the decentralization of information monopoly as a result, alternate lifestyles that promote
naturalism and co-existence with the environment are slowly gaining favor with the masses. The
promotion of vegetarianism as an alternate diet is set against the backdrop of a number of serious public
health issues that strongly correlate with diet, particularly animal-based, non-vegetarian diets."
Vegetarianism is the practice of following a plant-based diet including fruits, vegetables, cereal
grains, nuts, and seeds, with or without dairy products and eggs. A vegetarian does not eat meat,
including: red meat, game, poultry, fish, crustacean, shellfish, and products of animal slaughter such as
animal-derived gelatin and rennet. There are a number of vegetarian diets. A lacto-vegetarian diet
includes dairy products but excludes eggs, an ovo-vegetarian diet includes eggs but not dairy products,
and a lacto-ovo vegetarian diet includes both eggs and dairy products. A vegan diet excludes all animal
products, including dairy products, eggs, and honey. Vegetarianism may be adopted for ethical, health,
environmental, religious, political, cultural, aesthetic, economic, or other reasons. Semi-vegetarian diets
consist largely of vegetarian foods, but may include fish and sometimes poultry, as well as dairy products
and eggs. With these diets, the word "meat" is often defined as only mammalian flesh. A pescetarian diet,
for example, includes "fish but no meat". The colloquial application of the word "vegetarian" to such diets
has led vegetarian groups, such as the Vegetarian Society, to clarify that such fish or poultry-based diets
are not vegetarian, due to the fact that fish and birds are animals. Vegetarianism is the act of following a
distinct diet that contains only beans and lentils as alternative source of protein, which is otherwise
obtained from red meat, fish, seafood and poultry. The vegetarian diet normally consists of herbs,
vegetables and fruits, which are good sources of essential nutrients.
-Some Facts on Vegetarianism
There are interesting facts about the vegan lifestyle. Becoming a vegetarian can be driven by a
number of reasons including being compassionate towards animals, promoting ethical or religious
standards and for health reasons. Thus, one of the benefits of vegetarianism is the protection of animal
rights. Also contrary to popular belief, a vegan diet is in fact nutritionally adequate. Additionally, it is
easy to become a vegetarian and then reap the many vegetarianism benefits. All you need is to visit
groceries or supermarkets that sell packaged vegan foods like tofu sausages, vegetable burgers, soy milk,
fresh milk and cheeses. You may also dine at vegan restaurants, which are very creative at serving
sumptuous vegetable and fruit dishes like green salads, veggie tacos, and vegan pizza.

Advantages of Vegetarianism
A vegetarian is one who eats no animal products. Some people call themselves vegetarians but
still eat fish and chicken; be assured those two species still belong to the animal kingdom—they have
flesh and blood just like a cow or a human or a deer. Also he or she uses a minimum of leather, only
where necessary.
There are three issues to consider in regard to vegetarianism. They are: nutritional, spiritual, and
moral. Nutritionally, the alkaline-based digestive system of humans will not properly break down
substantial acid substances, the greatest of which is meat. (Also, the amount of cholesterol in meat is
unhealthy.) Colon cancer is rampant! This is caused by the slow evacuation and the putrefaction in the
colon of the remains of meat. Lifelong vegetarians never suffer from such an illness. The type and amount
of oils in meat are unhealthy and they turn rancid upon the death of the animal. The flesh and blood also
began to putrefy as soon as the animal is killed. Many meat eaters believe that meat is the sole source of
protein. However, the quality of this protein is so poor that little of it can ever be utilized by humans
because it is incomplete and lacks the correct combination of amino acids, the building blocks of protein.
Studies show that the average American gets five times the amount of protein needed. It is a common
medical fact that excess protein is dangerous, the prime danger being that uric acid (the waste product
produced in the process of digesting protein) attacks the kidneys, breaking down the kidney cells called
nephrons. This condition is called nephritis; the prime cause of it is overburdening the kidneys. More
usable protein is found in one tablespoon of tofu or soybeans than the average serving of meat.
 The specific advantages of vegetarianism are numerous. Vegetarianism is pro-environment and
pro-animals. It is focused on protecting nature and eliminating inhumane treatment and killing of animals
for food. The pollution and harm caused by animal agriculture and fishery may be reduced or eliminated
through vegetarianism. Other noteworthy advantages of vegetarianism are related to health.
Vegetarianism reduces the risk of heart attacks as vegans normally have lower cholesterol levels.
Consequently, eating fiber-rich foods like oats and apples helps in lowering blood pressure. Indeed, the
health benefits of vegetarianism cannot be overlooked. Eating plant foods high in fiber and complex
carbohydrates helps to control chronic and incurable diseases like diabetes and cancer. Following a
vegetarian diet greatly aids the body in flushing out toxins. It promotes easier digestion because of the
lack of hard-to-digest meat and the presence of fiber-rich foods. Truly the advantages of vegetarianism
revolve around the improvement of overall health and environment condition.

Conclusion
Vegetarianism exerts potent effects on one's body chemistry. For certain people,
at certain times, vegetarianism is the best and possibly the only choice they have
until they improve their health. However, a diet containing animal protein is more
well-rounded and nutritionally complete. In our experience, full recovery of health
for most people requires incorporating some animal protein into the diet, when it
can be handled.
Many vegetarians are truly interested in living a healthier, longer life. It is
heartbreaking to see many spend their life misinformed and fearful of eating certain
foods. The fear itself has a negative effect upon health. Insights provided by modern
biochemistry can help us gain a scientific appreciation of vegetarianism, and to
know when it is an appropriate regimen for optimum health.

^ "The Vegetarian Society - Definitions Information Sheet". The Vegetarian Society.

http://www.vegsoc.org/info/definitions.html. Retrieved 2008-09-03.
 ^ "Vegetarian". Compact Oxford English Dictionary.
http://www.askoxford.com/concise_oed/vegetarian?. Retrieved 2008-06-15. "a person who does not eat
meat for moral, religious, or health reasons. ['meat' is defined as 'the flesh of an animal as
food']"
^ Merriam-Webster, "meat": definition 2b, Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, 2010.
Retrieved 5 January 2010.
 ^ Shorter Oxford English Dictionary. 2 (6th ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. 2007.
p. 3506. defines "vegetarian" (noun) as "A person who on principle abstains from animal food;
esp. one who avoids meat but will consume dairy produce and eggs and sometimes also fish
(cf. VEGAN noun)."
 ^ Merriam-Webster defines "Pescetarian" as one whose diet includes fish but no meat.
"Pescetarian". Merriam-Webster. http://www.merriam-webster.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?
book=Dictionary&va=pescetarian. Retrieved 2008-08-22.
 ^ a b "VEGETARIANS DO NOT EAT FISH!". Vegetarian Society. http://www.vegsoc.org/fish/.
Retrieved 2008-08-22.

Vegetarian Journal. Vegetarian Resource Group (VRG). PO Box 1463, Baltimore, MD 21203.
Vegetarian Nutrition and Health Letter. 1707 Nichol Hall, Loma Linda, CA 92350. (888) 558-
8703.

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