The word «vegetarian» came into use in 1842, it was firstly used by the members of the «British Vegetarian Society.» The word has Latin origins, and is equivalent to «vegetus,» which means «healthy, fresh, vigorous,» as in the phrase homo vegetus, which means spiritually and physically developed personality. Initially, «Vegetarian» meant a person to be harmonious with the philosophical and moral point of view of lifestyle, not a way of eating.
Vegetarianism it is an important step on the path to a perfect society, and those who will reflect on its advantages, will be on a par with the likes of Pythagoras, Socrates, and Plato, Plutarch, Leonardo da Vinci, Albert Einstein and other.
Each of us may become a witness of the confrontation of meat eaters and vegetarians, for example in the Internet the struggle between vegetarians and meat eaters has no less stress than the eternal struggle between predators and herbivores in nature. Each party brings indisputable arguments in favor of their innocence, attracting support of a variety of researches and facts. One of the main arguments in favor of "traditional" power is that a healthy diet from plant foods is not able to provide a complete saturation of the body with all the necessary nutrients and vitamins. In response vegans refer to long lists of healthy fruits, vegetables and grains that contain, in their opinion, all-necessary for normal human life.
Now there are about 800 million vegetarians all over the world. Vegans consume only foods of plant origin. Such a diet is not able to provide the body with all the necessary materials, and doctors refer to it negatively. But vegetarian diet appears to be more acceptable to health as the diet that includes eggs and dairy products. This system provides the body with food in sufficient quantity with all needed protein and calcium, which is lacking in a purely vegetarian diet, moreover vitamin B12 is absent in plant foods.(Carlson, 2009)
The number one reason to become a vegetarian is our health. Eating meat is very unhealthy for our body as far as the human digestive tract is not adapted to deal with meat. Carnivorous animals appear to have relatively short gut (three times longer than the body), that allows excreting rapidly degradable and producing toxins meat. Intestines of herbivores appears to be to six times bigger than their body, as vegetable food decomposes much more slowly than meat. Man, like herbivores, has a long gut, so when he eats meat, the toxins are getting formed in the body, and that inhibits the functioning of kidneys and contribute to the development of arthritis, rheumatism, gout and even cancer. In addition, the meat is treated with chemicals. Soon as an animal slaughtered, its carcass begins to decompose, and in a few days turns into a gray-green color. At meat processing plants this prevents by nitrites, these are substances, which are highly carcinogenic. Also the food for animals that are intended for slaughter, added a huge amount of chemicals in order to make them grow faster.(Carlson, 2009)
Dr. Paavo Airola, an expert in nutrition and natural biology, claims that twenty years ago it was thought that the daily intake of protein has to be not less than 150 grams, and now it is officially recognized that this rate should be reduced to 45 grams. Because of his research we now know that the organism does not need protein in such big quantities and its daily intake has to be about from 30 to 45 grams. Excessive protein intake is not only useless, but also brings harm to human body, moreover, it can cause diseases such as cancer or cardiovascular illnesses. In order to get 45 grams of protein each day it is not necessary to eat meat. Full vegetarian diet consisting of cereals, fruits, nuts, vegetables and legumes what actually provides a human with necessary amount of protein.(Airola, 1982)
Excessive protein intake reduces the capacity of man. Dr. Irving Fisher of Yale University conducted a series of experiments, which showed that vegetarians have twice the stamina than those who eat meat. When he reduced the amount of protein consumed by non-vegetarians to 20%, their working capacity increased by 33%.(Fisher&Barber, 1997)
In a number of similar studies it was found that properly selected vegetarian foods contain more nutrients than meat. Research by Dr. Dzh.Yoteko and V.Kipani from Brussels University showed that vegetarians are able to work two to three times longer that those who eat meat, and in addition, they are three times more quickly restore their strength.
Mass cruelty to people invariably causes the feeling of empathy. However, this does not prevent us to take at least an indirect participation in the mass torture and killing of other creatures just for fun.(Buttner, 1910)
I agree with the fact that human’s life is not equivalent to the animal's life. But this does not mean that animals do not deserve mercy. This does not mean that they can be treated as if they feel nothing. We do not take into account the fact that makes the animal suffer unspeakable torture only because of his or her own whim.
I am sure that the torture and killing of animals that we grow to eat, have no excuse. Maybe I could kill an animal in self-defense or for the sake of someone else. But now it is not about choosing between killing a man and killing an animal. We may easily say that there is a choice to kill animals or not to do so.
Many people justify their activity by mentioning the fact that we are naturally supposedly kill animals. Perhaps, from a historical point of view, it is true that primitive people hunted for food. However, the way of how much we are to "grow meat" has nothing to do with nature. And the idea of the power of our ancestors, too, is fundamentally not true. I have already pointed out that good health is common to many vegans. Thus, the inherent nature does not always lead to equal health.
Many people think that they cannot stop eating meat, cheese or anything else. It is not true. In fact, they do not want to do it, which is understandable, but it does not mean that they cannot. Many have successfully coped with it. There are those for whom veganism turned into deteriorating of health, but mainly because they have not figured out how to get enough B12, iron and protein even though it is easy.
Some people want to act humanely, but do not want to stop eating meat, and buy meat from animals that were raised in the conditions of free-range. But as for me all of this is a tale. There is no "happy meat". In any case, such an attempt be humane is not an excuse. After you eat meat because you like it, not because it is vital.
References
Buttner, J. (1910). A fleshless diet; vegetarianism as a rational dietary,. New York: F.A. Stokes Company.
Airola, P. (1982). Worldwide secrets for staying young: Proven and effective ways to halt and reverse the aging processes and live a long and healthy life (6th, completely rev. and updated print., May 1982. ed.). Phoenix, Ariz.: Health Plus.
Fisher, I., & Barber, W. (1997). The works of Irving Fisher. London: Pickering & Chatto.
Carlson, P. (2009). The complete vegetarian: The essential guide to good health. Urbana: University of Illinois Press.
