Vegetarianism, the Meatless Eating Style
Concerned about the health damage that meat consumption can cause to human, more people are now enjoying the benefits of eating more fresh food and healthy recipes. But relative to the size of the general population, the number of vegetarians is still very small. The vegetarian movements have only one way to go – up.
Around the early forties, the number of vegetarians living in the whole of United States was estimated to be between two and a half and three million. Since then, the ranks have swelled to over seven million, and vegetarianism has taken on new meaning. No longer is it strictly a religious or counterculture characteristic. The recent rise in health consciousness has inspired many people to improve their lifestyle by becoming vegetarian.
Vegetarianism has been around a long time. The book of Genesis advocates a diet of fruit, seeds and nuts, which is clearly vegetarian. Some other roots of vegetarianism date to the early history of Eastern nations. Analysis of the intestinal contents of mummies have unearthed Egyptians as yet another race of vegetarians.
Real strides in scientific vegetarianism came out of World War One, when food scarcity prompted scientists in the US to re-evaluate the national diet. Forced to find alternative sources of protein, they discovered healthy benefits of non-meat eating at the same time. The US way of handling meat shortages was adopted by other countries as well. Denmark in 1917 adopted a simple, meatless wartime diet based on whole grains, vegetables, and dairy products. The result was overall improved health and lowered mortality rates.
During World War Two, Norwegians drastically cut their meat consumption, depending on cereals, potatoes and other vegetables. Once again, vegetarianism improved the country’s health and lowered mortality rates. Not surprisingly, these health statistics flipped over when the war ended and normal meat consumption resumed.
For many people, a taste for meat is an acquired one, starting as early as in childhood. For those who choose to skip the steak and hamburgers for healthier option such as salad and juice or smoothie, the taste of meat usually fades fast, with the endless variety of protein rich plant food available these days and the tasty ways they are being combined, seasoned and cooked in these modern vegetarian times.
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