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FM
Former Member
The Vegan Way – not just being a Hindu

October 1 was World Vegetarian Day, which, since 1977, has been annually observed. It is a day of celebration, medically and religiously, which was established by the North American Vegetarian Society in 1977, and endorsed by the International Vegetarian Union in 1978. The noble purpose is: “ To promote the joy, compassion and lifeenhancing possibilities of vegetarianism.” World Vegetarian Day initiates the month of October as Vegetarian Awareness Month, which ends on November 1. This day, and even period, coincides with a special period in the Hindu calendar, Navaratri.

Navaratri is the Hindu festival of worship. In Sanskrit, the word Navaratri literally means nine nights ; nava meaning nine, and ratri, nights. So the celebration literally means “ nine nights”. During this festival, the many forms of Shakti are worshipped, as devotees abstain from eating meat. Thus one has a remarkable opportunity to combine religion with solid scientific facts. As a caveat, one should be cognisant of the fact that many Hindu texts evince amazing scientific realities that are only now being discovered and ratified.

World Vegetarian Day is an encouragement to all for the eating of vegetables and fruits. Countless studies have proven that a diet filled with fruits and vegetables is salubrious to human health. Vegetarians have taken this path either for their health, or from a religious conviction that they should not eat meat. So one has valid reasons to ‘ up the ante’ on vegetarianism. The bottom line is that a vegetarian eats no animal. That includes fish and other forms of seafood. Their diet consists of plants, fruits and vegetables. They usually are also ethically and morally opposed to the killing of animals for food.

World Vegetarian Day, and by extension the period, is used to promote awareness of this diet and health issues, and thus people are encouraged to become vegetarians.

Since fruits and vegetables are very healthy for the human body, World Vegetarian Day is a good day to experiment with a vegetarian diet, irrespective of religious persuasion.

So one has that obvious question – what do vegetarians eat? The options are diverse. The diet may include grains, beans, legumes, vegetables and fruits, and the nearly infinite number of foods made by combining these. And so this prompts the question of validity. The big issue here is to establish whether or not human beings are anatomically more similar to natural herbivores than they are to natural carnivores. A number of striking differences suffice here for proffering a vegan lifestyle.

In terms of the length of the intestinal tract, carnivorous animals have intestinal tracts that are three to six times their body lengths. On the other hand, herbivores have intestinal tracts 10- 12 times the lengths of their bodies. Human beings have the same intestinal tract ratio as herbivores.

When it comes to stomach acidity, carnivores’ stomachs are 20 times more acidic than the stomachs of herbivores.

Human stomach acidity matches that of herbivores. This is related quite closely to the saliva of both groups. The saliva from carnivores is acidic, while that of herbivores is alkaline.


This difference is what helps to digest plant foods; and as expected, human saliva is alkaline, a natural preparatory factor in anticipation of no- meat diets.

Again, staying with the intestines alone, carnivores’ bowels are smooth and pipe- shaped, so rapid meat passing is facilitated. However, herbivorous intestines are bumpy, pouch- like and pocket filled, so plant foods pass through in a strategically slow manner for optimal nutrient absorption.

No surprise again here – human bowels have the same characteristics as those of herbivores.

Carnivores don’t require fibre to help move food through their short and smooth digestive tracts. Herbivores require dietary fibre to move food through their long and bumpy digestive tracts, to prevent the bowels from becoming clogged with rotting food. Here, yet again, human beings manifest similarity with herbivores.

In the all- important category of cholesterol, the factor is negated for carnivores’ digestive systems. Carnivores such as cats can handle a high- cholesterol diet without any negative health consequences. Human beings just cannot do that.

Humans have zero dietary need for cholesterol because their bodies manufacture all that is needed. Cholesterol is only found in animal foods; never in plant foods. A plantbased diet is by definition cholesterol- free. So there is a logical conclusion, and just by looking at the alimentary canal the picture is graphic: human beings are anatomically and dietetically suited to be herbivores. So whatever reason human beings have, religion, specifically Hinduism, or science and biology, there is validity in vegetarianism.

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Researchers have concluded that cancerous cells does not thrive in an alkaline environment. The average healthy baby make their entrance into this world with a blood PH of 7.36, slightly above alkaline with a fresh baby smell. ( Note neonatal / pediatric wards in hospitals are fresh scented , whereas geriatric & old folks facilities wreaks of uric acid) Gradually as the years passed by, primarily due to dietary and environmental factors the PH constantly decreases towards the acidic side, thereby exposing our body to a host of medical complications, diabetes , renal failure, cancer etc.
FM
I was a vegetarian ( eating only milk products as my animal protein source). I stopped using milk and cheese ( giving up cheese is not easy). Since April I dropped almost 40 lbs. I was never able to ideal weight even with a very heavy exercise routine. Now I am almost there. The remarkable thing is I do not get tired. I am doing the covered bridge ride on the 9th. It is 63 miles with close to 4000 feet of climbing. I did most of route on a practice run last week on my mountain bikek and I was barely breaking a sweat. I remember the last time I did it ( 2 years ago) I could not finish. I just got as new street bike (Pinarello Dogma 60.1) street bike this year and know I will make it with ease.

BTW I just cant stand the taste of milk anymore. It feels slimy and tastes rank. I do miss cheese and will reward myself with a pizza after this ride. I dont think I will give up cheese but eat it in moderation.
FM
quote:
Originally posted by Mara:
Researchers have concluded that cancerous cells does not thrive in an alkaline environment. The average healthy baby make their entrance into this world with a blood PH of 7.36, slightly above alkaline with a fresh baby smell. ( Note neonatal / pediatric wards in hospitals are fresh scented , whereas geriatric & old folks facilities wreaks of uric acid) Gradually as the years passed by, primarily due to dietary and environmental factors the PH constantly decreases towards the acidic side, thereby exposing our body to a host of medical complications, diabetes , renal failure, cancer etc.
Researchers already know how to curtail aging ( maintain the length of telomeres over time). They just do not know how to stop the proliferation of cancer cells. It is not merely about PH balance. Some other agent is working to facilitate these cells going rogue. If we discover that today, human lifespan can be some 400 years. A wonderful byproduct of increasing the length of telomeres is rejuvenation as well.
FM
So D2, you said that you were a vegetarian, does this mean you're not now?

I've been a vegetarian for about 10 years and do eat cheese/butter etc but don't miss eating meat. I only stay away from meats with the exception of fish,which I started back eating a couple years ago. I decided on fish because I was taking fish oil,this obviously comes from fish that was killed so why not eat the darn thing.
I never could stand the taste of meats even when I did eat it int the past.
cain
quote:
Originally posted by cain:
So D2, you said that you were a vegetarian, does this mean you're not now?

I've been a vegetarian for about 10 years and do eat cheese/butter etc but don't miss eating meat. I only stay away from meats with the exception of fish,which I started back eating a couple years ago. I decided on fish because I was taking fish oil,this obviously comes from fish that was killed so why not eat the darn thing.
I never could stand the taste of meats even when I did eat it int the past.
I mean vegetarian to Vegan. I am now vegan which means this year I switched totally to non animal protein by giving up milk and cheese. I will go back to vegetarian since I do not think I can give up cheese. I know I will not go back to milk since I cannot drink it now. I will never eat meat because I just cant.
FM
I was discussing with my son my desire to become a vegetarian. He talked me out of it by arguing that vegetarianism is contrary to the laws of nature and evolution. We were not provided with bicuspids to tear lettuce, nor molars to crush celery. Can't argue with the boy!
FM
D2, try almond milk if you can get it there. The regular one tastes plain, but I do love the vanilla flavoured one.
Cow's milk or goat's just doesn't do it for me.

Rice milk and soya ughhhh!

Too much soya can cause allergic reactions to it.
cain
quote:
Originally posted by Errol Arthur:
I was discussing with my son my desire to become a vegetarian. He talked me out of it by arguing that vegetarianism is contrary to the laws of nature and evolution. We were not provided with bicuspids to tear lettuce, nor molars to crush celery. Can't argue with the boy!


I am with your son here...

If you give very young children a choice between meat and grass , nine of 10 would choose meat. The body seems to "inately" recognize higher quality protein and choose it first ( Polar bears ripping out the skin and roe of salmon when they are full and eating this instead off the entire fish).

Having said that, with "our" current knowledge of nutrition - there has never been a better time for a human to be vegetarian. We can supplement what the veggie food lacks and live a "normal" life. In fact, it is preferable to be a vegetarian that to have three big Macs per day - as vegetarians tends to be quite "choosy" with their foods.

But we/humans did not evolve as vegetarians.

P.S. The above is not a professional opinion! Smile
FM
quote:
Originally posted by Errol Arthur:
I was discussing with my son my desire to become a vegetarian. He talked me out of it by arguing that vegetarianism is contrary to the laws of nature and evolution. We were not provided with bicuspids to tear lettuce, nor molars to crush celery. Can't argue with the boy!
He is right. We are designed to be carnivores. We do not have the stomach to digest vegetable matter. I happen to grow up with a father who did not want me eating meat so it is natural for me not to like it. I am lucky my wife is allergic to most meats so she and the dogs are chicken eaters.
FM
quote:
Originally posted by cain:
D2, try almond milk if you can get it there. The regular one tastes plain, but I do love the vanilla flavoured one.
Cow's milk or goat's just doesn't do it for me.

Rice milk and soya ughhhh!

Too much soya can cause allergic reactions to it.
I actually use almond and raw cashew nut milk a lot in cooking. I developed a taste for it over soy in my coffee.
FM
quote:
Originally posted by Errol Arthur:
I was discussing with my son my desire to become a vegetarian. He talked me out of it by arguing that vegetarianism is contrary to the laws of nature and evolution. We were not provided with bicuspids to tear lettuce, nor molars to crush celery. Can't argue with the boy!


Tell the boy Mara says bicuspids, molars & incisors are specific tools for tackling nuts, fruits and vegetables whereas true carnivores are equipped with specialized canine fangs for ripping, slicing & tearing of fleshes. Further, our digestive enzymes are far less acidic than carnivores that can dissolve bone into chalk. Wink Although I have abstained from meat for over 45 years, I do not consider myself a vegetarian since from time to time , I do partake of fish eggs & dairy but sparingly.

Are Humans Omnivores, And What Are True Omnivores?
How do you classify animals as herbivores, carnivores, granivores, fructivores or omnivores?
Human beings are brought up on the notion that they are omnivores but are they really? in nature true omnivore are the pigs, racoons bears and the weasel family. man does not have any kinship to any of these creatures The way biologists distinguish between these is by an animal’s digestive system. Carnivores, herbivores, granivores and fructivores all have distinct biological characteristics.

Carnivores have sharp, pointed teeth and a short digestive tract. A carnivore’s system is biologically suited to quickly eliminate meat before it putrefies and to eliminate dietary cholesterol. Carnivores also secrete the enzyme uricase which breaks down uric acid in meat. By comparison herbivores have long digestive tracts and digestion begins in the mouth. Herbivores secrete an enzyme in the saliva that breaks down the plant cells whereas this not true of carnivores.
Granivores also have a differently designed digestive system. They have a beak and a crop. They have two stomachs, one glandular and one muscular. Their pancreas has three outlet ducts and they have lengthy intestines with tiny follicles or cavities. This kind of digestive system is designed around ingesting grains and seeds. Fructivores digestive systems are meant to derive large amount of energy from fruits and nuts. Most primates, including homo sapiens are fructivores.


The simple fact with humans is that they taught themselves to eat everything. Humans have a digestive system consistent with herbivores. Human beings are not natural meat eaters. This can be easily pointed out by their teeth. Human teeth are not meant for tearing into flesh and bone. The teeth are too close together to comfortably eat meat since meat is easily stuck in between. Humans cannot digest grass and have great difficulty digesting raw vegetables. Wheat cannot be eaten in its raw form and beans are potentially toxic if eaten raw. In fact, after 10,000 years of eating grain many people still have difficulty digesting it. What some call an omnivore others might call a biological garbage disposal and garbage disposals eventually get clogged up, overused and quit working. Perhaps the late John Wayne and Elvis Prosily are two prime examples of e adverse effect of all meat diet (with over 55 lbs & 33 lbs of fecal plaque accumulated in their bowels respectively
FM
We were more grub and soft shoot and fruit eaters rather than prolific vegetable consumers. Cellulose is very difficult to digest and we have no special organ or enzymes to digest that.
FM
quote:
Originally posted by D2:
We were more grub and soft shoot and fruit eaters rather than prolific vegetable consumers. Cellulose is very difficult to digest and we have no special organ or enzymes to digest that.


plus a large brain to think reason and solve complex task and dexterous and sensitive digits to feel, touch, manipulate and gather from nature 's abundance. The hunters' part I am yet to come to terms with.
FM
quote:
Originally posted by Mara:
quote:
Originally posted by D2:
We were more grub and soft shoot and fruit eaters rather than prolific vegetable consumers. Cellulose is very difficult to digest and we have no special organ or enzymes to digest that.


plus a large brain to think reason and solve complex task and dexterous and sensitive digits to feel, touch, manipulate and gather from nature 's abundance. The hunters' part I am yet to come to terms with.
often what we are ( modern humans in this case) comes with the legacy of our evolutionary past. Who we are today is a mere 50 thousand years. Some say less than that since we were two or more sub species competing and modern humans won out (by what means remains a murky). We became hunters more or less because we made friends with dogs.
FM

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