The root of vegetarianism is vested in the principle of ahimsa: not causing any pain to any living being at any time through one’s mind, speech, or actions. Bhagwan Swaminarayan has also set strict rules against ahimsa in his Shikshapatri. A vegetarian diet is not only good for the body but also for the environment.
Environmental Benefits:
- The meat industry produces 37% of all methane, which is 23 times more harmful than carbon dioxide, and 65% of all nitrous oxide, which is 296 times more harmful than carbon dioxide. – UN Food and Agricultural Association 2006
- 1 kg of beef is responsible for more greenhouse gas emissions and other pollution than driving for 3 hours while leaving all the lights on at home. – New Scientist – July 18, 2007; National Institute of Livestock and Grassland Science, Japan
- A typical 6oz beef steak requires 16 times more energy to produce and emits 25 times more carbon dioxide than a similar vegetarian meal. – Bard Center or Environmental Policy, NY (University of Chicago)
- It takes almost 7kg of vegetable protein to produce 1kg of animal protein .
- A third of the world’s land suitable for growing crops is used to produce feed for farm animals. – Vegetarian Society
- An acre of land can produce: 250 lbs of beef, 10,000 lbs of runner beans, 30,000 lbs of carrots, 50,000 lbs of tomatoes. – Vegetarian Society
Health Benefits:
According to the ADA, vegetarians are at lower risk for developing:
- Heart disease
- Colorectal, Ovarian, and Breast cancers
- Diabetes
- Obesity
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
A vegetarian diet is low in fat and high in fiber. Hence, it is effective in lowering the risk for various diseases.
I hope you got to learn something from this post. Feel free to comment, and have a great day! :)
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