Vegetarianism - the main pros and cons

In the modern world over the past few decades, a healthy lifestyle, which also includes vegetarianism, has become very common and popular. Every year, the adherents of this movement become more and more, as many consider the refusal to eat food of animal origin very useful for the organism.

People began to refuse animal food a long time ago, there were many famous people in the ranks of vegetarians, one of whom was Pythagoras himself - he was a great philosopher and mathematician. Thanks to the abandonment of animal protein and cholesterol, he managed to maintain a young appearance and good health.

Today, the world is divided into two groups in relation to vegetarianism. One group openly promotes such a food system, and the other way around - it provides many weighty arguments in defense of meat and dairy products.They argue the need for human consumption of animal products.

Vegetarian history

Today, many people believe that vegetarianism has emerged relatively recently and represents the usual fashion trend, but in reality this is far from being the case. Many historical facts confirm that this food culture originated a long time ago, during the times of ancient civilizations. And its followers were many famous historical figures. Scientists have proved that the consumption of exclusively vegetable food began in the time of the first people on earth, and also Buddhists living in ancient India openly propagandized vegetarianism. The basis of their propaganda was the love of living beings and equal rights, both people and animals before the Almighty.

Antique founder of the culture of consumption of plant food, contemporaries recognized Pythagoras. Followers who supported his position of vegetarianism, became a lot of other well-known and influential thinkers, the list of which included well-known medieval activist - Leonardo da Vinci.Besides him, Mahatma Gandhi, Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein, and many other scientists were passionate about vegetarianism. The legendary classic Leo Tolstoy became a famous Russian representative of this movement. Many modern nutritionists explain his incredible vigor and great memory, which few people can boast of, precisely by the fact that he adhered to a healthy diet and did not eat food of animal origin.

The habitual vegetarian food system was founded in England, in the 1940s, in the 1940s, in the city of Manchester. It was there that, with the assistance of the local elite, they founded the first British vegetarian organization leading an active confrontation regarding the consumption of meat in food.

Today, a vegetarian diet is quite popular around the world, and every day the number of supporters of such a diet are replenished. However, not in all states, vegetarianism can be successfully developed due to the mentality of some countries. So, let's say in the same Poland it is very difficult to find at least one cafe or restaurant with a vegetarian menu.Given that this country is a representative of the European Union, where vegetarianism is flourishing and popularized, it looks at least strange and unfair to local vegetarians and foreign tourists. Because of their mentality and prejudices, most Poles perceive people who eat only plant-based foods, as weird people and are very careful about them.

Varieties of vegetarianism

In the modern world, vegetarianism is a fairly developed system of consumption of healthy food, and has a division into four types, which differ in the level of restriction of consumption of animal products and the degree of their processing:

1. Classic style of vegetarianism. It implies the exclusion from the diet of only products made from animal meat, poultry and fish, as well as all seafood. The use of milk, eggs, honey and other products that are produced by animals is quite acceptable. This is justified by the fact that the manufacture of such products does not imply animal abuse.For example, store eggs cannot contain chick embryos, since they use chicken eggs to obtain them.
2. Lactose vegetarianism. This diet excludes the use of products of direct animal origin in the form of meat, poultry, fish, seafood and eggs. Eating products produced by animals, such as honey and milk, is permitted.
3. Vegetable vegetarianism. It is characterized by the exception from the diet of meat and fish products, as well as products from poultry and animal milk. Eating honey and eggs is allowed.
4. Veganism It is the most serious variety of this food culture, as it completely excludes the use of any products whose production belongs to animals, including dairy products, honey and, of course, meat products. Vegans are allowed to eat only plant foods, so this variety has a division into two subgroups, which are called raw foodists and fruitorians. The diet of the first subgroup involves eating raw or dried foods.The strictest diet of all types of vegetarians is fruktoriantsy, because they negatively relate to the killing of animals for food, and the destruction of plants. This subspecies eats only fruits - fruits, berries, vegetables, nuts, seeds.

Vegans or raw foodists do not become immediately, they come to this diet gradually, after going through several stages of vegetarianism. However, not always a vegetarian comes to veganism, many who decide to abandon animal products, stop at less stringent options, observing an optimal diet for themselves.

Reasons for choosing vegetarianism

Every person comes to choosing a diet in the form of vegetarianism consciously, for their specific reasons:

1. Under the influence of philosophical or ethical beliefs. Such beliefs appear in a person either gradually, due to the growing feeling of pity for the entire animal world, or spontaneously, due to psychological stress, for example, obtained during the killing of an animal directly in front of such a person.
2. Based on medical indications.Today in the world there are many diseases that imply the complete exclusion of animal proteins from the diet of the patient.
3. The desire to improve well-being. When switching to plant foods, human digestive activity is improved, which in turn leads to deliverance from various gastric diseases, such as gastritis or an ulcer. Vegetarians have increased levels of lightness and energy.

Benefits of a Vegan Nutrition

A vegetarian diet is characterized by such a positive effect on the human body:

1. Strengthens the immune system of a vegetarian through regular consumption of large amounts of plant food, which contains many beneficial trace elements.
2. The digestive system is getting better. The plant fiber contained in the food consumed helps to improve the intestinal microflora. Due to this, a person loses constipation.
3. Improving the cardiovascular system. This is due to the lack of cholesterol in food, which is rich in vegetable food, and which can lead to heart disease.When switching to vegetarianism, the risk of developing such diseases is reduced to a minimum.
4. Slags and toxins are removed from the body. The reason is that phytoncides, which contain vegetables in large quantities, contribute to the destruction of harmful bacteria and prevent the processes of rotting in the intestines.
5. The body of a vegetarian is enriched with a variety of nutrients, such as regular carbohydrates, natural sugars, proteins, vitamins, macro and trace elements.
6. Reducing the intake of salt in food, as it requires much less plant food.
7. Reducing overweight due to regular consumption of plant fiber, which promotes proper metabolism in the body.

Lack of plant foods

Undoubtedly, the fodder of a large number of pluses exists in vegetarianism and some minuses. However, with the right approach, they are quite removable:

1. Not enough protein. In order for the body to receive protein in sufficient quantities, the proper organization of your diet is necessary. In order to enrich the body with complete proteins containing amino acids,It is recommended to regularly eat legumes, pace, soybeans, tofu, pistachios.
2. Vitamin D deficiency. To maintain a normal level of this vitamin in the body, regular exposure to sunlight is recommended, as the sun is the main source of this vitamin. In addition, to restore the balance, it is recommended to eat vegetable, soybean or cedar oil, beans, oatmeal, and various mushrooms, such as chanterelles, champignons, or white mushrooms.
3. Fatty acids and omega-3. To increase these substances in the body, the use of algae, flax seeds, walnuts, and soy is recommended. As a supplement, you can use special vitamins with the content of these substances.

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