Vegetarianism

Vegetarianism is the practice of abstaining from the consumption of meat. This includes red meat, poultry, seafood, and freshwater fish. It also covers insects and the flesh of any other animal. Some people also avoid all by-products of animal slaughter. A person who follows this practice is called a vegetarian. People choose this lifestyle for many different reasons. Ethical motivations often stem from respect for sentient animal life. These beliefs are sometimes part of religious doctrines or animal rights advocacy. Other motivations include health, politics, the environment, and culture. Some people also choose it for economic, aesthetic, or taste-related reasons.

There are several distinct types of vegetarian diets. A lacto-vegetarian diet includes dairy products like milk or cheese. An ovo-vegetarian diet includes eggs but no dairy. A lacto-ovo vegetarian diet includes both dairy and eggs. Most of these variations still include honey. The strictest form is the vegan diet. Vegans exclude all animal products from their food. They may also avoid animal-derived materials like leather shoes or silk clothes.

Following these diets can present certain nutritional challenges. Vegetarians must be careful about vitamin B12 levels. Depending on their use of eggs or dairy, they may face a deficiency. They must also watch for animal ingredients in processed foods. Some vegetarians check every label very closely. Others may not be aware of tiny amounts of animal ingredients in packaged goods.

The history of vegetarianism reaches back thousands of years. The earliest records come from the 9th century BCE. In India, Jainism taught the concept of ahimsa, or non-violence. Leaders like Parshwanatha and Mahavira advocated for this strict vegetarianism. The Ācārāṅga Sūtra from the 5th century BCE even forbade monks from walking on grass. They did this to avoid hurting small insects.

In ancient Greece, vegetarianism had ritual or medical purposes. The Orphic religious movement promoted these practices in the 6th century BCE. The famous teacher Pythagoras is often linked to these ideas. While he may have eaten meat, he advocated for altruistic doctrines. For a long time, English speakers called vegetarians "Pythagoreans." Later, in 675 CE, Emperor Tenmu issued meat bans in Japan. These bans occurred during the busy farming months from April to September.

Vegetarianism has influenced many modern foods through culinary innovation. During China's Song dynasty, Buddhist cuisine became very popular. Chefs used beans, mushrooms, and root vegetables to create meat analogues. These are foods that mimic the texture of meat. Many of these substitutes, such as tofu, seitan, and konjac, are still used today.

Today, some specific locations are exclusively vegetarian. In India, the city of Rishikesh banned meat, fish, and eggs in 1956. The city of Pushkar is also a vegetarian center where meat and alcohol are banned. In Israel, the town of Amirim was founded on vegetarian principles in 1958. There are also intentional communities like The Farm in Tennessee.

The term "vegetarian" itself has a specific history. It originated in the early 19th century. Authors originally called it a "vegetable regimen" or "vegetable diet." The word is a compound of "vegetable" and the suffix "-arian." The term became popular after the Vegetarian Society was founded in Manchester in 1847. This helped the practice spread across the United Kingdom and the world.