We explain what vegetarianism is, how it is classified and its advantages and disadvantages. In addition, we explain what its characteristics and veganism are.
What is vegetarianism?
Vegetarianism or vegetarianism is a diet that rejects the consumption of meat of all kindsfish and animal products, depending on their degree of strictness.
Thus, vegetarianism can range from milder to moderate formsand the total vegetarianism either veganism. Often this also involves a form of life philosophy of rejection of animal exploitation and the mistreatment of other species.
For this reason, a vegetarian is often opposed to the consumption of non-food products that come from abusive activities, such as cosmetics tested on animals, leather, fur and other consumer items. This may also be accompanied by attitudes of ecological and/or anti-capitalist commitment.
However, the vegetarian diet is often Accepts flours, sugars and other processed or colored productswhich distinguishes it from other dietary models such as macrobiotic or natural food.
See also: Sugars
Origin of vegetarianism
Vegetarianism is a very old dietary trend in the history of mankind.
Ancestral religious practices such as Brahman or Hindu contemplated it among their dharmas or philosophies of life.
The ancient Greek philosopher is also said to have Pythagoras imposed it on his followerswhich is why the vegetarian diet was formerly known as the “Pythagorean diet.”
However, the first mention of vegetarianism as such In the Western world it appears in 1847, in Englanddue to the appearance of the Vegetarian Society in Manchester, the first vegetarian association in history.
Types of vegetarianism
Depending on how strict your diet is or what foods from the animal world you accept, we can talk about several vegetarian diets:
- Apiovolactovegetarian. He does not consume any type of meat or fish, but he does consume eggs, dairy products and honey.
- Ovolactovegetarian. He does not consume any type of meat or fish, but he does consume eggs and dairy products.
- Lactovegetarian. He does not consume any type of meat or fish, but he does consume dairy and honey.
- Ovovegetarian. He does not eat any type of meat or fish, but he does eat eggs and honey.
- Apivegearianism. He does not eat any type of meat or fish, dairy products or eggs, but he does eat honey.
- Pescatarianism. He does not consume any type of meat, except fish and seafood, eggs, dairy products and honey.
- Semi-vegetarian. Just eat as little meat as possible.
- Veganism. Does not consume any type of animal products.
History of vegetarianism
The first news we have of openly vegetarian attitudes (actually lactovegetarians) They come from Ancient India and Greecearound the 6th century BC.
In both cases They are linked to attitudes of non-violence or rejection of murder for food, due to philosophical or religious motivations.
This type of attitude, which They were associated with the pagan worlddisappeared completely from the West when the Middle Ages imposed Christianity as the prevailing moral and religious doctrine.
It’s known that Many monastic orders restricted the consumption of red meat.but not fish, as a way of promoting asceticism.
Vegetarianism It re-emerged with the Renaissance and has been cultivated ever since.But its acceptance and popularization is rather recent: the International Vegetarian Union, in fact, was created in 1906.
Advantages of vegetarianism
The advantages of a vegetarian diet They have to do with reducing fat in the bodylower incidences of type 2 diabetes and much healthier levels of blood pressure, cholesterol and lower risk of heart disease.
This, of course, assuming that other vital conditions such as exercise are met, consumption of missing nutrients as a supplementand alcohol and tobacco are avoided.
The vegetarian diet It is not a cure for any disease.
Disadvantages of vegetarianism
Eliminating meat from the diet has a negative consequence the eradication of sources of vitamin B12.
This vitamin is impossible to synthesize in the human body, it is vital for correct brain function, and It exists in very low proportions in the plant world.
Eggs and dairy products are not a viable substitute, so these nutrients, as well as omega-3, vitamin D and calcium, They must often be consumed in supplementation.
The vegetarian diet does not protect against osteoporosisnor against various types of cancer, such as breast, colon or prostate cancer.
In fact, semi-vegetarian diets that allow for flexible but restricted consumption of animal meats (fish, chicken) are often much healthier in that sense than a pure vegetarian diet.
What do vegetarians eat?
The vegetarians follow a diet devoid of meat: neither beef, nor pork, nor chicken.
Depending on your orientation, as we saw before, They can also do without eggs, fish and seafood.and dairy derivatives (milk, butter, etc.).
These products They are replaced in the vegetarian diet by vegetablesvegetables, fruits, grains, nuts, tubers and all types of foods of plant origin.
Motivations for vegetarianism
Adopting a vegetarian diet is usually due to three possible motivations:
- Health. It is no secret that red meat, especially beef and pork, poses health risks. Its fat content is enormous and it has been linked to the incidence of cancer and diabetes. A vegetarian diet could avoid these risks.
- Ecology. Extensive livestock farming is, in many cases, an important source of pollution: not only because of the amount of waste it represents, but because livestock are treated with antibiotics, additives, hormones and other synthetic products that, in the long run, cause damage to animals. the species, consumers and the environment.
- Ethics. Given the horrendous conditions in which many farmed animals are treated in intensive farms and slaughterhouses, many people prefer to exercise passive opposition to the system by not consuming its products, mostly red meat and chicken.
- Religion. Some religions stipulate vegetarianism as a commandment for their followers, such as the Hindu, Jain, Buddhist or Adventist religion.
Vegetarians in the world
The India is the country with the highest proportion of vegetarians of the world (40%), undoubtedly due to the religious motivations implied by Hinduism, if not to the poverty levels of the underprivileged classes. Let us remember that in that country the cow is a sacred animal.
In Western countries the percentage is much lower.although in recent growth.
The United Kingdom, for example, is one of the Western countries with the largest number of vegetarians, amounting to 7% of the population (about four million people), surpassed only by Germany with 8 to 9%figures well above the Spanish figure, for example, with barely 0.5% (no more than 200,000 people).
It is estimated that 6.7% of the world’s population is vegetarianaccording to Vegetarian Resource Group in 2006.
Vegetarianism and veganism
The term “vegan” arose to distinguish simple vegetarianismwhich chooses a diet free of meat of any kind, although it may eat dairy products, eggs, and in some cases fish and shellfish, in its most extreme variant, which rejects all food from animal sources.
Until that moment They were known as “total vegetarians.”.
More in: Veganism
Is it healthy to be vegetarian?
Any diet model has its benefits and disadvantages.if we take into consideration the tendency of our species to be omnivores, that is, to consume foods of both plant and animal origin.
However, The WHO has been warning about the risks for years health risks inherent to diets rich in fat, especially red meat, so a vegetarian option could be an alternative to the risk of arteriosclerosis, cancer and diabetes that animal meats entail.
Nevertheless, It is necessary to undertake a vegetarian diet seriously and information, to be able to appropriately supply the basic nutrients that meats provide.
Similarly, one can undertake a vegetarian diet that excludes red meat but not fish and dairy products. It is particularly important to include dairy products as a source of vitamin B12 and other protein nutrients that are not abundant in the plant world.