Vegetarianism Facts

'We are what we eat', this is not to say that when we eat meat or poultry, we become goats and chickens, I basically mean that whatever we eat, it is responsible for our health and overall wellness. A diet that sustains the body purely on all plant-based or derived foods like fruits, vegetables, cereal, nuts, etc., is known as a vegetarian diet.

Facts about Vegetarianism

There are types or levels of being a vegetarian, meaning that what is excluded and/or included in our diet is more or less dependent on our personal, cultural or religious belief, economic reasons and/or to derive medical/health benefits.

• Veganism Diet: A Vegan diet excludes all animal products, including eggs, honey and all dairy products
• Ovo-vegetarian Diet: Includes eggs but not a single dairy product
• Lacto-vegetarian Diet: Includes all dairy products, but excludes eggs
• Lacto-ovo Vegetarian Diet: Includes both; dairy products and eggs

The concept of vegetarianism is primarily an Asian, more specifically an Indian one. Though records show that this practice was quite prevalent in ancient Greece. Before compounding on the benefits of vegetarianism, let us understand who is a vegetarian. The concept of vegetarianism is based on the premise that all life is precious and cannot be taken for the purpose of consumption. This concept was widely promoted by Indian religious groups and philosophers. This practice hardly saw light beyond Indian shores until the 19th and 20th centuries, when it become fashionable to be a 'vegetarian'. This practice became such a rage, that more and more people wanted to try it out. But there was absolute confusion as the concepts of semi-vegetarianism (some meats were included), pescetarianism (inclusion of fish) and others started taking root. To address the needs and these particular confusions, the first Vegetarian Society was founded in England in 1847, and the International Vegetarian Union, a union of the national societies, in 1908. According to these societies, meat, fish, or any other form of meat and products derived from them were not considered as vegetarian and/ or its form.

Pros and Cons of Vegetarianism

The human physiology is best suited to an omnivore diet that needs to be well-balanced with a diet that includes both; plant and animal derived foods. Whether one is born in this concept or has switched to a vegetarian lifestyle at some point in their life, it must be based on an educative manner of doing so. While there is no denying, even studies indicate that a vegetarian diet is beneficial and results in a healthier life, there are a few gray areas like inadequate intake of proteins and B12. Pro meat eaters have a fine point here, as most meats are high on protein and a few servings a day is generally enough to meet the RDA, whereas, a veggie needs to get it from a whole lot of different sources and in large quantities.

B12 on the other hand cannot be sourced from plants, only from animals, hence a vegetarian needs to eat foods that have been fortified with B12 vitamins, this is especially recommended for vegetarian children. A vegetarian diet lowers the risk of heart attacks as most vegetables help lower cholesterol levels as compared to meat eaters. Nutrients found in certain plants also help lower the incidence of certain types of cancer. One of the trouble areas for meat eaters is the animal to human disease transmissions that occurs upon the consumption of meat, but then meat eaters have a valid point that suggest that the number of genetically modified plants also pose a high health risk. And I guess the battle just never ends...

A vegetarian meal promotes goodness, however, good health is not about the type of diet itself, but about the inclusion of foods that are good for us, and exclusion of foods that harm us. Ultimately, it is your health, hence, your choice!