Food & Recipes
Why being vegetarian or vegan is good?
On July 6, 2022 by marghevivianiFirst of all, I would like to say that nobody can say is “good” or “bad” to be vegetarian or vegan. We don’t divide people on good or bad only by their diet or lifestyle. Anyone is free to live the life he or she desires. And in this post, I simply explain why to consider a vegetarian or vegan diet. From the point of health and environment and yoga. Take this post as informational, but not as convincing. I am not here to change the mind of anybody, I am here to share and serve you on the path you chose. Alrighty? Let’s begin then 😉 The Yogic diet is based on Sattvic foods, which means is Lacto-vegetarian. I add “Lacto-” as Ayurveda says that dairy product produced from the milk of happy animals has only a good impact on our health. Here is up to you, whether to eat diaries or not. In my family, we drink only plant milk, but we do love cheeses. When there is a question about which cheese to buy, we choose the one made from sheep’s milk. As we know, that sheep can produce milk only if they stay free and happy. And in this post, I want to explain why is good to choose a vegetarian or vegan diet. Why be a vegetarian? Maintaining a happy and healthy mind and body relies on eating fresh, nourishing food. A well-balanced vegetarian diet consisting of grains, vegetables, fruit, herbs, milk, ghee, and vegetable oils provides all the nourishment required. Vegetarianism has a positive impact on both the health of the individual and the world. To increase Sattva To increase Sattva and enhance spiritual growth. Meat, poultry, fish, and egg are considered rajstic and tamastic (read this post about Sattva, Rajas and Tamas). For nourishment The further away from original source of energy – the sun – you food is, the less nourishing it is. Plant-based foods are lighter and easier to digest than meat, which is a burden on the digestive tract. Through compassion Compassion, or non-violence, towards all living beings is an important part of Ayurveda. This includes animals (see this post about Yoga Paths). For good health According to scientific evidence, those with a balanced vegetarian diet have fewer chronic diseases – most notably, they have lower cholesterol, are less obese, and have lower risk of heart diseases. But also, eating meat increases risk of cancer, and one cup of legumes per day decreases this risk. To feed the world The growing human population is putting pressure on the planet’s resources. The Earth can provide enough food for everyone – if we all eat a vegetarian diet. Just think of this, 71% of land in EU is used to grow the food for animal which will be killed – according to the report of Greenpeace of 12 February 2019. To protect the Earth A vegetarian diet reduces the negative environmental impact of meat production, such as greenhouse gas emissions, water wastage, and water pollution. I won’t go far, in place where I live in Tuscany, we have house in the country side. Not far from us there is a pig factory. So few years ago people in this area could drink tap water. Now you can’t do it anymore. Guess why? These are six reasons why being vegetarian or vegan is good. Choose wisely Fresh, ripe fruits are the best choices for sattvic diet. Try to avoid tinned food and frozen food. Meals should be freshly prepared, not processed. Wherever is possible, aim to: Modern food production Milk and butter contain the impressions of the animals they come from: the quality of their feed and their living conditions, invest in the best you can afford. Hight-quality products come from animals that enjoy the following living conditions: May you all attain perfect health, longevity, and peace by living on a vegetarian diet, which is helpful for meditation and healthy living. Swami Sivananda If you would like to learn more about plant-based diet, I have written a guide exactly for this occasion. It called Plant-based Eating: A beginners guide to optimal health, sustainable weight loss and increased energy. With the help of this guide, you will be ready to step into the world of plant-based eating in no time and set yourself up for success. The cost of the book is only $7. You can buy it here. Enjoy! Feel free to share your questions or thoughts in comments below or contact me here. Stay healthy and happy! Lets also stay in touch in Instagram. Yours, Marghe