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'''Vegetarianism''' is the practice of abstaining from [[meat]] consumption. Somebody who practices vegetarianism is referred to as a ''vegetarian''.  

'''Vegetarianism''' is the practice of abstaining from [[meat]] consumption. Somebody who practices vegetarianism is referred to as a ''vegetarian''.  

==Reasons for Vegetarianism==

==Reasons for vegetarianism==

Vegetarianism is a common theme among the [[Dharmic religion]]s, such as [[Hinduism]], [[Buddhism]], [[Sikhism]] and [[Jainism]]. This stems from the belief that all higher animal life is sacred (in Jainism, ''all'' life is considered sacred), one of the core concepts of all of these religions. For more than 130 years Seventh-day Adventists (SDAs) have practiced a vegetarian dietary lifestyle because of their belief in the wholistic nature of people.<ref>[http://www.andrews.edu/NUFS/veggiediet.html Andrews University Nutrition Department]</ref> [[Pythagoras|Pythagoreanism]] also required its followers to abstain from meat, fish, and beans. It was also a central tenet of the [[Essene]] branch of Judaism.

Vegetarianism is a common theme among the [[Dharmic religion]]s, such as [[Hinduism]], [[Buddhism]], [[Sikhism]] and [[Jainism]]. This stems from the belief that all higher animal life is sacred (in Jainism, ''all'' life is considered sacred), one of the core concepts of all of these religions. For more than 130 years Seventh-day Adventists (SDAs) have practiced a vegetarian dietary lifestyle because of their belief in the wholistic nature of people.<ref>[http://www.andrews.edu/NUFS/veggiediet.html Andrews University Nutrition Department]</ref> [[Pythagoras|Pythagoreanism]] also required its followers to abstain from meat, fish, and beans. It was also a central tenet of the [[Essene]] branch of Judaism.

Vegetarianism among teenage girls has troubled many [[dietitian]]s, because in their eagerness to adopt it, teenage girls often underestimate the responsibilities and consequences of a vegetarian lifestyle.<ref>[http://www.todaysdietitian.com/newarchives/feb2006pg58.shtml] "Most dietitians I spoke with who have teenage vegetarian clients agree that teens avoiding meat is becoming a trend or fad and that the vegetarian teenagers (mostly girls aged 14 to 17) they counsel usually come from meat-eating families."</ref><ref>[http://www.annecollins.com/teen-weight-loss-advice.htm] "Quite a few girls turn to vegetarian diets in their mid or late teens. As a way of eating, vegetarianism has a lot to recommend it. Trouble is, most teens don't realise that giving up meat makes it much more difficult to eat a healthy diet. The point is, meat is a very convenient source of important vitamins and minerals, especially iron. So if you stop eating meat, you need to eat a wide range of vegetarian foods to compensate for this deficiency. Unfortunately, vegetarian teenagers are not famous for doing this."</ref>  There is conflicting advice about the health effects of vegetarianism on teenagers <ref>http://www.pamf.org/teen/health/nutrition/veggieteens.html</ref>, however given the ideological underrtones associated with the movement parents might be wise to discourage vegetarianism <ref>http://wn.com/savage_more_mosque_history,_liberalism,_vegetarianism</ref>.

Vegetarianism among teenage girls has troubled many [[dietitian]]s, because in their eagerness to adopt it, teenage girls often underestimate the responsibilities and consequences of a vegetarian lifestyle.<ref>[http://www.todaysdietitian.com/newarchives/feb2006pg58.shtml] "Most dietitians I spoke with who have teenage vegetarian clients agree that teens avoiding meat is becoming a trend or fad and that the vegetarian teenagers (mostly girls aged 14 to 17) they counsel usually come from meat-eating families."</ref><ref>[http://www.annecollins.com/teen-weight-loss-advice.htm] "Quite a few girls turn to vegetarian diets in their mid or late teens. As a way of eating, vegetarianism has a lot to recommend it. Trouble is, most teens don't realise that giving up meat makes it much more difficult to eat a healthy diet. The point is, meat is a very convenient source of important vitamins and minerals, especially iron. So if you stop eating meat, you need to eat a wide range of vegetarian foods to compensate for this deficiency. Unfortunately, vegetarian teenagers are not famous for doing this."</ref>  There is conflicting advice about the health effects of vegetarianism on teenagers <ref>http://www.pamf.org/teen/health/nutrition/veggieteens.html</ref>, however given the ideological underrtones associated with the movement parents might be wise to discourage vegetarianism <ref>http://wn.com/savage_more_mosque_history,_liberalism,_vegetarianism</ref>.

==Forms of Vegetarianism==

==Forms of vegetarianism==

*'''[[Vegan]]''' - A vegan diet excludes all food and ingredients that comes from animals.  This excludes animal meat, animal products such as milk, cheese, eggs or honey, and byproducts such as gelatin.  Effort is needed to make a vegan diet healthy.<ref>http://www.vegan.org/going_vegan/eating_vegan/index.html Vegan regimen</ref> "Vegan" can refer both to the diet and the dieter.

*'''[[Vegan]]''' - A vegan diet excludes all food and ingredients that comes from animals.  This excludes animal meat, animal products such as milk, cheese, eggs or honey, and byproducts such as gelatin.  Effort is needed to make a vegan diet healthy.<ref>http://www.vegan.org/going_vegan/eating_vegan/index.html Vegan regimen</ref> "Vegan" can refer both to the diet and the dieter.

*'''Lactovegetarian''' - Someone who eats a plant-based diet but also eats animal produced foods (that do not result in the death of the animal) such as milk and cheese. Lacto vegetarians can relatively easily remain healthy.

*'''Lactovegetarian''' - Someone who eats a plant-based diet but also eats animal produced foods (that do not result in the death of the animal) such as milk and cheese. Lacto vegetarians can relatively easily remain healthy.

*'''Pescatarian''' - This form of vegetarianism includes the consumption of [[fish]], but no other varieties of meat. [[Egg]]s and dairy may be part of this diet. Since fish are still living animals, stricter vegetarians (especially those who are vegetarians for moral reasons) are likely to feel that pescatarians are not true vegetarians.

*'''Pescatarian''' - This form of vegetarianism includes the consumption of [[fish]], but no other varieties of meat. [[Egg]]s and dairy may be part of this diet. Since fish are still living animals, stricter vegetarians (especially those who are vegetarians for moral reasons) are likely to feel that pescatarians are not true vegetarians.

==Nutritional Issues==

==Nutritional issues==

The American Dietetic Association and the Dietitians of Canada have taken the position that properly planned vegetarian diets can be nutritious, healthy, and provide benefits in helping prevent and treat some diseases, possibly with the help of nutritional supplements.<ref>[http://www.eatright.org/cps/rde/xchg/ada/hs.xsl/advocacy_933_ENU_HTML.htm Vegetarian Diets]</ref>  Indeed, because a proper vegetarian diet is low in cholesterol and saturated fats, many vegetarians are healthier than some meat-eaters.

The American Dietetic Association and the Dietitians of Canada have taken the position that properly planned vegetarian diets can be nutritious, healthy, and provide benefits in helping prevent and treat some diseases, possibly with the help of nutritional supplements.<ref>[http://www.eatright.org/cps/rde/xchg/ada/hs.xsl/advocacy_933_ENU_HTML.htm Vegetarian Diets]</ref>  Indeed, because a proper vegetarian diet is low in cholesterol and saturated fats, many vegetarians are healthier than some meat-eaters.

Another danger of the vegetarian diet is an over reliance on highly processed soy products.  Some critics have alleged that because soy contains phytoestrogens (plant estrogens), it can impair proper thyroid functions and contains compounds that inhibit absorption of minerals and protein. Many people mistake the historic use of soy in Asian countries (with high life expectancies) as evidence that soy is healthy, however these cultures use different methods of preparing their soy foods, and consume far less than the average vegetarian. <ref>http://www.foodrenegade.com/dangers-of-soy/</ref>

Another danger of the vegetarian diet is an over reliance on highly processed soy products.  Some critics have alleged that because soy contains phytoestrogens (plant estrogens), it can impair proper thyroid functions and contains compounds that inhibit absorption of minerals and protein. Many people mistake the historic use of soy in Asian countries (with high life expectancies) as evidence that soy is healthy, however these cultures use different methods of preparing their soy foods, and consume far less than the average vegetarian. <ref>http://www.foodrenegade.com/dangers-of-soy/</ref>

==Biblical Issues==

==Biblical issues==

Nearly all of the Bible operates on the premise that meat is a normal part of the human diet. Beginning with Genesis 1:26, God gives dominion of the animals to man, where specific reference is made to cattle (in the King James Version) or livestock (in the English Standard Version and others). Genesis 1:29 indicates that the human diet was originally limited to plants, but sin entered the world as part of a vegetarian diet.

Nearly all of the Bible operates on the premise that meat is a normal part of the human diet. Beginning with Genesis 1:26, God gives dominion of the animals to man, where specific reference is made to cattle (in the King James Version) or livestock (in the English Standard Version and others). Genesis 1:29 indicates that the human diet was originally limited to plants, but sin entered the world as part of a vegetarian diet.

Although meat eating is acceptable under the Bible, cruelty is not. Thereby eating a chicken that was free-range raised and led a healthy and cared for life, is not sin. By contrast, eating an animal that was factory farmed and treated as an object for human profit, rather than a gift and creation of God, is blasphemy. In Matthew 6:26 Jesus tells His followers that God looks after the animals. It is clear from this verse that God The Father cares after His creation. How could we be living Christian lives if we were to show less respect to God's creatures than God Himself does, especially since God gave us that responsibility for dominion in Genesis 1:28?

Although meat eating is acceptable under the Bible, cruelty is not. Thereby eating a chicken that was free-range raised and led a healthy and cared for life, is not sin. By contrast, eating an animal that was factory farmed and treated as an object for human profit, rather than a gift and creation of God, is blasphemy. In Matthew 6:26 Jesus tells His followers that God looks after the animals. It is clear from this verse that God The Father cares after His creation. How could we be living Christian lives if we were to show less respect to God's creatures than God Himself does, especially since God gave us that responsibility for dominion in Genesis 1:28?

==Famous Vegetarians==

==Famous vegetarians==

[[Image:H G Wells 2.jpg|right|H G Wells, science fiction writer and vegetarian]]

[[Image:H G Wells 2.jpg|right|H G Wells, science fiction writer and vegetarian]]

*[[Adam and Eve]], at least while in Eden <ref>(Genesis 1:29)</ref>

*[[Adam and Eve]], at least while in Eden <ref>(Genesis 1:29)</ref>

*[[H. G. Wells]] - Famous Science Fiction author, works include [[The War of Worlds]]

*[[H. G. Wells]] - Famous Science Fiction author, works include [[The War of Worlds]]

*[[John Wesley]] - Founder of [[Methodism]].

*[[John Wesley]] - Founder of [[Methodism]].

 

 

 

== See also ==

== See also ==

*[[Naturopathy]]

*[[Naturopathy]]

*[[Adrian Vander]]

*[[Adrian Vander]]

==External Links==

==External links==

*[http://www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines/dga2005/document/html/appendixC.htm USDA Dietary Guidelines]

*[http://www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines/dga2005/document/html/appendixC.htm USDA Dietary Guidelines]

* [http://www.vegsoc.org/ The Vegetarian Society ]

* [http://www.vegsoc.org/ The Vegetarian Society ]

* [http://www.britishmeat.com/49.htm 49 good reasons to be a vegetarian]

* [http://www.britishmeat.com/49.htm 49 good reasons to be a vegetarian]

* [http://www.westonaprice.org/mythstruths/mtvegetarianism.html The Myths of Vegetarianism by Stephen Byrnes]

* [http://www.westonaprice.org/mythstruths/mtvegetarianism.html The Myths of Vegetarianism by Stephen Byrnes]

[[Category:Health]]

[[Category:Health]]

[[Category:Vegetarianism]]

[[Category:Vegetarianism]]

[[Category:Nutrition]]

[[Category:Nutrition]]