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The history of vegetarianism: the path to the development of a healthy diet. History of Vegetarianism: Europe

The history of vegetarianism: the path to the development of a healthy diet. History of Vegetarianism: Europe

30.09.2019

Vegetarianism has long crossed the line of seven thousand years of existence. It is a known fact that . Meat entered the human diet during the Ice Age. It was then, according to anthropologists, that people were forced to move away from a plant-based diet and start eating meat.

This habit is firmly rooted and has survived to this day - out of necessity, because of the changed living conditions. But, despite this, the history of mankind provides us with indisputable facts - at all times there have been people,. The path of mass consumption of meat, even in the most developed countries, is no more than a hundred years old. In many ways, such a large-scale meat-eating was provoked by the invention of the refrigerator.

In the most ancient society, gathering initially appeared, which, of course, implies. Only after some time people discovered hunting and fishing. Thus began the human addiction to animal food. It is likely that one of the first vegetarians who did not eat meat according to some of their principles were the Egyptian priests. Most likely, there were religious or magical reasons behind the rejection of food of animal origin. The powerful agricultural structure of Egypt formed the basis for the wide spread of vegetarianism.

In Europe, vegetarianism gained wide popularity first in ancient Greece. The Greeks considered plant foods more useful, even the warriors preferred the rejection of meat. Not for nothing, the porridge known to everyone since childhood is called Hercules, after the name of the famous ancient Greek strongman.

The most famous Greek vegetarian is Pythagoras. This outstanding versatile scientist was fond of not only mathematics, but was also initiated into esoteric knowledge by Egyptian priests (he studied in the capital of Ancient Egypt - Memphis for 22 years). Pythagoras knew all the secrets of the human body, he knew well how to treat the body in order to preserve youth and health. Pythagoras passed on this knowledge to his students in the school he founded. Young Pythagoreans were engaged in music, dancing, gymnastics, running exercises, throwing darts. In a word, physical activity was very significant, but food, by modern standards, was scarce. Their dinner consisted of bread, honey and olives. The evening meal was even more modest. However, the teacher and students looked like real athletes. Pythagoras was about 60 years old when a young girl, the beautiful Theano, conquered by the spiritual and physical beauty of the Teacher, confessed her love to him. She became his wife and gave birth to three children.

But nowhere was vegetarianism as developed as in the East. This is largely due to religious and philosophical factors. In India, every orthodox Hindu is a strict vegetarian, which means that all this numerous people adhere to vegetarianism. The Indian philosophical system - yoga - prescribes a strictly vegetarian way of eating with the permission to use milk and its products, as well as the exclusion from the diet of not only meat and fish, but also eggs. While the physical exercises of yogis (hatha yoga) are widely known and have many followers in the countries of European civilization, the diet of yogis is not of particular interest.

In the modern new form, vegetarianism developed primarily in England already in the first half of the 19th century and was borrowed from India. The first and most famous vegetarian society was founded in 1847 in Manchester - “The vegeterian society”. It has branches throughout the UK and North America. He publishes many books to promote his teachings.

Germany and Switzerland also have their own vegetarian societies. They are less common in more southern countries: in Italy, Spain, where meat food is consumed less than in Northern Europe. In France, where the vegetarian preaching actually began, it began to spread relatively recently.

Leo Tolstoy made a great contribution to the development of vegetarianism at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries in Europe, who brought his high moral authority to this idea. He was born in 1828 and by about the age of 60 he began to gradually switch to vegetarianism and promote this food system, mainly for philosophical and ethical reasons. He persuaded his friend Ludwig Zamenhof, the creator of the Esperanto language, as well as another famous Esperantist Leon Wiener, who created the first vegetarian societies in Germany and the USA, to do this. Therefore, it is not surprising that the links between the vegetarian and Esperanto movements are so strong.

In 1908 under the auspices of Leo Tolstoy, the Esperanto Vegetarian Society arose, which has its own representatives in 33 countries where vegetarianism is promoted.

In some European countries, the vegetarian movement is associated for the most part with the personality of some well-known supporter and propagandist of his idea. In Denmark, for example, vegetarians are made up mostly of students of the philosopher Martinez. However, in the Scandinavian countries, many adhere to vegetarianism simply for health reasons. In Sweden, the first vegetarian society is, first of all, the so-called Danians, followers of Peter Danov, an adherent and preacher of this food system. Often these are entire families of vegetarians who raise their children according to this system from birth.

Although there are vegetarians in Russia, there is no society yet. This teaching, however, is spreading more and more, and the number of its adherents, not counting the masses of the people, who everywhere cling to plant foods, number in the tens of thousands. In England, Germany, Austria and Switzerland there are specially adapted hotels (hotels) for vegetarians, in London alone there are about 30 of them, and in England there are more than 60 restaurants. Similar institutions are found in other Central European countries. The efforts of the vegetarian cuisine are aimed at making plant foods as nutritious and digestible as possible. Attention is also drawn to the deliciousness and variety. In hotels, they try to satisfy other requirements of vegetarians: an abundance of clean air, adaptations for physical exercises, etc.

In 1950, the International Vegetarian Union was founded in the United States, which brings together representatives of different nationalities and organizes international congresses every two years in different countries.

An ardent promoter of vegetarianism on an international scale was the dietitian Max Bircher-Benner, the creator of the raw food (raw plant food) and plant-vegetarian diet. His sanatorium in Zurich became famous for the excellent results obtained in the treatment of various diseases by this method.

Vegetarianism is very unpopular in Poland, many people do not even know the meaning of the word "vegetarianism". There are few supporters of this food system, and unfortunately, life is often difficult for those who have become them, because relatives consider them eccentrics.

At the beginning of the 20th century, vegetarianism was promoted in Poland by V. Lutoslawski, mainly through the religious and philosophical society Eleusis, which he founded. Its members - the Eleuses - were obliged to lead a deeply ethical and hygienic lifestyle, with the goal of the moral rebirth of the people. J. Yastrzhenbovsky, Dr. J. Drzhevetsky and Dr. E. Polyanchik were also preachers of vegetarianism. The latter emphasized that the prehistoric Lechs, the ancestors of the Poles, were mostly vegetarians.

Between the first and second world wars, vegetarianism in Poland was promoted by Dr. A. Tarnowski, who ran a climatic resort in Kosovo. The preacher of this idea was also B. Wlodage, who associated vegetarianism with theosophy. The "Theosophical Society" operating in Poland was the center for promoting vegetarianism. There was, however, the "Society of Vegetarians", it contained canteens and published the magazine "Polish Vegetarianism".

There is not the slightest doubt that a person, eating exclusively products of the vegetable kingdom, can maintain his existence, his strength and health to the same extent as with a mixed diet. Moreover, it has been proven that a phenomenon called expectation, consisting in a decrease in the relative number of livestock, is already spreading in Europe. In Asia, the expectation has already almost taken place, especially in the most cultured and populated countries, namely China and Japan. This is due to the natural increase in population and the gradual expansion of agriculture, as well as factory and factory production. Thus, willingly or unwillingly, mankind is attracted in a more or less distant future to vegetarianism. It turns out that vegetarianism, despite the objections of many doctors and physiologists, has very real grounds, both scientific and cultural-historical.

Experiments have shown that the endurance of vegetarians during muscular work is 1.5 times greater than that of people who eat meat. With a predominantly plant-based diet, resistance to stress increases. At the end of the last century, Professor M. Bircher-Benner successfully treated many diseases that were difficult to treat with raw food. In a relatively recent study by the Kyiv Research Institute of Food Hygiene, it was found that raw vegetables stimulate the metabolism, especially in the elderly. In 1988, the American Dietetic Association announced its position on strict forms of vegetarianism (veganism): if diets are supplemented with vitamins and minerals, veganism is one of the ways to prevent atherosclerosis, hypertension, certain forms of cancer, non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus and other diseases, despite the low biological value of protein in vegetarian diets.

Previously, the vegetarian way of eating was justified either from a philosophical or from a religious point of view. Today, supporters of vegetarianism pursue the following goals: the desire to create and promote health, increase life expectancy, prevent a wide variety of diseases (diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, cardiovascular disorders, metabolic diseases). Traditions in the family, as well as economic considerations, play a certain role.

There are now millions of vegetarians around the world. And this ideology is spreading more and more, without reducing its influence in any way. Many scientists deal with the problems of human nutrition, there are disputes about how meat is necessary for our body. Adherents of plant foods believe that it completely replaces the animal, and also improves health.

Vegetarianism as a special food system migrated to Europe in ancient times, most likely from Asia, from the Brahmins, Yogis, Buddhists and followers of Zoroaster. Already in the 5th-6th millennium BC, the clergy of Ancient Egypt did not eat meat. They divided food into clean and unclean. The carcasses of the animals were unclean, and it was impossible to even touch them. There were also societies or orders in antiquity whose members were forbidden to eat meat.

Some of the ancient philosophers and scientists tell us about countries and tribes that ate in a vegetarian way. So, for example, Hecateus of Miletus, and after him Tacitus, argue that the Hyperborians living in the northern part of Greece, in Tratsia (called the "pure country"), did not eat meat at all (therefore they were called "pure" people) and were famous for their health . However, even in our times, in the 20th century, researchers discover and describe some centers of centenarians, isolated mainly in the highlands, where small peoples or tribes live for thousands of years, eating almost exclusively in a vegetarian way and distinguished by amazingly good health and longevity. You can name, for example, the Happy Valley, or the country of the Hunza, in the Himalayas, the Vilcabamba Valley in the Andes, or the Tubu tribe living in a date oasis in the middle of the Sahara.

Ovid in the XV book of his work "Metamorphoses" introduces the teachings of Pythagoras, putting into his mouth a tirade against eating meat. Pythagoras recalls in it that the "golden age" was happy and did not stain itself with mortification. After all, people have a lot of excellent food, which generous nature gives them without killing and shedding blood.

Many ancient philosophers and founders of religions were vegetarians. Let us name here, for example, Buddha, Zoroaster, Pythagoras, Socrates, Plato, Plutarch, Hippocrates, Ovid, Seneca. Among the church fathers in the first centuries of Christianity, vegetarians were Origen, Tertullian, Chrysostemus, Clement of Alexandria. It must be admitted that a non-meat diet, for reasons primarily of a religious ascetic nature, was common among numerous Christian ascetics, hermits and saints of antiquity and the Middle Ages.

Later vegetarianism was followed by Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Newton, Spinoza, Rousseau, Goethe, Wagner, Schiller, Byron, Shelley, Schopenhauer, Maeterlinck, Lincoln, Nietzsche, Voltaire, Ibsen, Selma Lagerlof, Bernard Shaw, Rabindranath Tagore, Gandhi, Baden, Powell, Leo Tolstoy, Zamenhof, Gorky, and Lester Smith, who discovered vitamin B12. The famous stayer Nurmi belongs to this number.

Of course, not all famous people that vegetarian literature proudly lists were vegetarians all their lives, many came to him in adulthood or in old age, as spiritual development progressed. An example is Leo Tolstoy. It must be emphasized that old age is a favorable period of life for the transition to vegetarianism, and this is mainly for two reasons:

an aging body is less efficient, and meat is a heavier and more harmful food for it, which older people themselves often feel;
usually an older person becomes more sensitive to ethical issues and morality due to great life experience and spiritual development.

Modern history of vegetarianism

In its modern new form, vegetarianism developed primarily in England already in the first half of the 19th century and was borrowed from India. They were mainly interested in Puritan circles. In 1847, the first English Vegetarian Society arose, which, however, now has about 80,000 members, it has periodicals, pamphlets and books, and maintains a restaurant.

Leo Tolstoy made a great contribution to the development of vegetarianism at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries in Europe, putting his high moral authority into his idea. He was born in 1828 and by about the age of 60 he began to gradually switch to vegetarianism and promote this food system, mainly for philosophical and ethical reasons. He persuaded his friend Ludwig Zamenhof, the creator of the Esperanto language, as well as another famous Esperantist Leon Wiener, who created the first vegetarian societies in Germany and the USA, to do this. Therefore, it is not surprising that the links between the vegetarian and Esperanto movements are so strong.

In 1908, under the auspices of Tolstoy, the Esperanto Vegetarian Society arose, which has its representatives in 33 countries where vegetarianism is promoted.

In some European countries, the vegetarian movement is associated for the most part with the personality of some well-known supporter and propagandist of his idea. In Denmark, for example, vegetarians are made up mostly of students of the philosopher Martinez. However, in the Scandinavian countries, many adhere to vegetarianism simply for health reasons. In Sweden, the first vegetarian society is primarily the so-called Danians, followers of Peter Danov, an adherent and preacher of this food system. Often these are entire families of vegetarians who raise their children according to this system from birth.

The religion and asceticism of the East are very favorable to vegetarianism. In India, every orthodox Hindu is a strict vegetarian, which means that all this large nation adheres to vegetarianism. The Indian philosophical system of yoga prescribes a strictly vegetarian way of eating with the permission to use milk and its products, as well as the exclusion from the diet of not only meat and fish, but also eggs. While the physical exercises of yogis (hatha yoga) are widely known and have many followers in the countries of European civilization, the diet of yogis is not of particular interest.

An ardent propagandist of vegetarianism on an international scale was the already mentioned nutritionist Max Bircher-Benner, the creator of the method of treatment with a raw food diet (raw plant food) and plant-vegetarian food. His sanatorium in Zurich became famous for the excellent results obtained in the treatment of various diseases by this method.

After the Second World War, as a result of the awakened interest in the ideas of vegetarianism, the "Society of Supporters of Vegetarianism" arose in Warsaw. But not all of its members are strict vegetarians. An ardent propagandist of vegetarianism is M. Seradsky, a teacher by profession, who recovered from a serious heart disease by a vegetarian way of eating and in his very advanced years inspires respect with his health and physical condition.

Vegetarianism is a fashionable food system, which, according to experts, is only gaining popularity. It is followed by stars and their fans, famous athletes and scientists, writers, poets and even doctors. And regardless of their social status and age. But each of them, as well as other people, sooner or later the same question arises: “But how did it all begin?”

When and why did people first give up meat?

Contrary to popular belief that the origins of vegetarianism originate in England, when the term of the same name was introduced, it was known in antiquity. The first confirmed references to people who consciously refused meat fall on the 5th - 4th millennium BC. At that time, this helped them in the process of communicating with the gods, as well as in performing magical rites. Of course, in the first place, it was the priests who turned to vegetarianism. And they lived in ancient Egypt.

Modern scholars suggest that the bestial appearance of most Egyptian gods led them to such thoughts. True, they do not exclude the fact that the Egyptians believed in the spirits of dead animals, which could interfere with conversations with higher powers. But, be that as it may, in fact, vegetarianism existed among at least several peoples, and then successfully inherited by others.

Vegetarianism in ancient India

It is reliably known that in the period from the 6th to the 2nd millennium BC, a special system began to emerge in ancient India, helping a person to improve not only spiritually, but also physically - hatha yoga. And one of her postulates was the rejection of meat. Simply because it transmits to a person all the ailments and sufferings of a killed animal and does not make him happy. It was in eating meat at that time that people saw the cause of human aggression and anger. And the best proof of this was the changes that happened to everyone who switched to plant foods. These people became healthier and stronger in spirit.

The Significance of Buddhism in the Development of Vegetarianism

Scientists consider the birth of Buddhism to be a separate stage in the development of vegetarianism. It happened in the 1st millennium BC, when Buddha, the founder of this religion, together with his followers began to promote the rejection of wine and meat food, while condemning the killing of any living being.

Of course, not all modern Buddhists are vegetarians. This is explained primarily by the harsh climatic conditions in which they are forced to live, for example, if we are talking about Tibet or Mongolia. However, they all believe in the Buddha's precepts that one should not eat unclean meat. This is meat, to the appearance of which a person is most directly related. For example, if the animal was killed especially for him, by his order or by himself.

Vegetarianism in Ancient Greece

It is known that the love for plant foods was born here in antiquity. The best confirmation of this is the works of Socrates, Plato, Plutarch, Diogenes and many other philosophers who willingly reflected on the benefits of such a diet. True, the thoughts of the philosopher and mathematician Pythagoras stood out especially among them. He, along with his numerous students, who came from influential families, switched to plant foods, thus creating the first "Society of Vegetarians". Of course, people from their environment were constantly worried about whether the new food system could harm their health. But in the IV century BC. e. the famous Hippocrates answered all their questions and dispelled their doubts.

The interest in it was fueled by the fact that in those days it was quite difficult to find an extra piece of meat, perhaps only during sacrifices to the gods. Therefore, it was eaten mostly by rich people. The poor, involuntarily, became vegetarians.

True, pundits were well aware of the benefits that vegetarianism brings to people and always talked about it. They focused their attention on the fact that the refusal of meat is a direct path to good health, efficient land use and, most importantly, minimizing the violence that is unwittingly reborn when a person decides to take the life of an animal. Moreover, then people believed in the presence of a soul in them and in the possibility of its resettlement.

By the way, it was in ancient Greece that the first disputes about vegetarianism began to appear. The fact is that Aristotle, a follower of Pythagoras, denied the existence of souls in animals, as a result of which he ate their meat himself and advised others. And his pupil, Theophrastus, constantly argued with him, pointing out that the latter are able to feel pain, and, therefore, have feelings and a soul.

Christianity and Vegetarianism

In the era of its inception, views on this food system were rather controversial. Judge for yourself: according to Christian canons, animals do not have souls, therefore they can be safely eaten. At the same time, people who have dedicated their lives to the church and God are involuntarily drawn to plant foods, because they do not contribute to the manifestation of passions.

True, already in the 3rd century AD, when the popularity of Christianity began to grow, everyone remembered Aristotle with his arguments in favor of meat and began to actively eat it. Finally, it ceased to be the lot of the rich, which was fully supported by the church. Those who did not think so found themselves at the stake of the Inquisition. Needless to say, thousands of true vegetarians were among them. And it went on like this for almost 1000 years - from 400 to 1400 AD. e.

Who else is a vegetarian

The ancient Incas, whose way of life is still of great interest to many.
The ancient Romans in the early period of the republic, who even developed scientific dietology, however, designed for fairly wealthy people.
Taoists of Ancient China.
The Spartans, who lived in conditions of complete asceticism, but at the same time were famous for their strength and endurance.

And this is not a complete list. It is reliably known that one of the first caliphs, after Muhammad, urged his students to give up meat and not turn their stomachs into graves for slaughtered animals. Statements about the need to eat plant foods are also in the Bible, in the book of Genesis.

Renaissance

It can be safely called the era of the revival of vegetarianism. Indeed, in the period of the early Middle Ages, mankind forgot about it. Later, one of its brightest representatives was Leonardo da Vinci. He assumed that in the near future, the killing of innocent animals would be treated the same way as the killing of a person. In turn, Gassendi, a French philosopher, said that the use of meat food is not characteristic of people, and in favor of his theory, he described the structure of the teeth, focusing on the fact that they are not intended for chewing meat.

J. Ray, a scientist from England, wrote that meat food does not bring strength. And the great English writer Thomas Tryon went even further, declaring on the pages of his book "The Way to Health" that meat is the cause of many diseases. Simply because the animals themselves, living in difficult conditions, suffer from them, and then unwittingly pass them on to people. In addition, he insisted that taking the life of any creature for the sake of food is pointless.

True, despite all these arguments, there were not so many who wanted to give up meat in favor of plant foods. But everything changed in the middle of the 19th century.

A new stage in the development of vegetarianism

It was during this period that the fashionable food system began to gain its popularity. The British played an important role in this. They say that they brought it from India, their colony, along with the Vedic religion. Like everything oriental, it quickly began to acquire a mass character. Moreover, other factors contributed to this.

In 1842, the term " vegetarianism thanks to the efforts of the founders of the British Vegetarian Society in Manchester. He was born from the already existing Latin word "vegetus", which in translation meant "fresh, vigorous, healthy." In addition, it was quite symbolic, because in its sound it resembled “vegetable” - “vegetable”. And before that, the well-known food system was simply called "Indian".

From England, it spread throughout Europe and America. In many ways, this was facilitated by the desire to give up killing for the sake of food. However, according to some political analysts, the economic crisis played an important role here, which led to a rise in the price of meat products. At the same time, famous people of their time spoke out in favor of vegetarianism.

Schopenhauer said that people who deliberately switch to plant foods have higher moral standards. And Bernard Shaw believed that he was behaving like a decent person, refusing to eat the meat of innocent animals.

The emergence of vegetarianism in Russia

A huge contribution to the development of this nutrition system was made by Leo Tolstoy at the beginning of the 20th century. He himself gave up meat back in 1885 after meeting with William Frey, who proved to him that the human body was not designed to digest such tough food. It is known that some of his children helped the great writer promote vegetarianism. Thanks to this, a few years later in Russia they began to give lectures on the benefits of vegetarianism and hold conferences of the same name.

Moreover, Tolstoy helped the development of vegetarianism not only in word, but also in deed. He wrote about him in books, opened children's educational institutions and folk canteens with ordinary vegetarian food for people in need.

In 1901, the first vegetarian society appeared in St. Petersburg. During this period, active educational work began, after which the first full-fledged vegetarian canteens appeared. One of them was in Moscow on Nikitsky Boulevard.

After the October Revolution, vegetarianism was banned, but after a few decades it was revived again. It is known that today there are more than 1 billion vegetarians in the world who still declare its benefits publicly, trying to make it popular and, thereby, save the lives of innocent animals.

The process of development and formation of vegetarianism is calculated for thousands of years. There were periods in it when it was at the peak of popularity or, conversely, in oblivion, but despite them, it continues to exist and find its admirers all over the world. Among celebrities and their fans, athletes, scientists, writers, poets and ordinary people.

Brief summary and highlights.

Before the Industrial Revolution.
Meat is eaten little almost everywhere (compared to today's standards).

1900-1960 - Meat consumption has risen strongly in the West as transport and refrigeration have become easier

1971 - The publication of "Diet for a Small Planet" by Francis Moore Lappe launches the vegetarian movement in the US, but unfortunately it presents the myth that vegetarians need to "combine" protein in order to get "complete" protein.

1975 - The publication of Animal Liberation by Australian ethics professor Peter Singer sparks the birth of the animal rights movement in the United States and the founding of PETA, an outspoken supporter of vegetarian diets.

Late 1970s- Vegetarian Times magazine begins publication.

1983 - The first book on veganism is published by a certified Western physician, Dr. John McDougall, The McDougall Plan.

1987 - Diet for a New America by John Robbins inspired the vegan movement in the US. The vegan movement is back.

1990s- Medical evidence of the benefits of a vegetarian diet is becoming ubiquitous. Vegetarianism is officially endorsed by the American Dietetic Association, and books by famous doctors recommend a low-fat vegan or near-vegan diet (eg, The McDougall Program and Dr. Dean Ornish's Heart Disease Program). The US government is finally replacing the obsolete and meat and dairy-sponsored Four Food Groups with a new Food Pyramid that shows that human nutrition should be based on grains, vegetables, beans and fruits.

Before the appearance of written sources.

Vegetarianism is rooted in times far before the appearance of written sources. Many anthropologists believe that ancient people mainly ate plant foods, were more gatherers than hunters. (See articles by David Popovich and Derek Wall.) This view is supported by the fact that the human digestive system is more like that of a herbivore than a carnivore. (Forget fangs—other herbivores have them too, but carnivores don't have chewing teeth, unlike humans and other herbivores.) Another fact that early humans were vegetarians is that people who eat meat are much more likely to suffer from heart disease and cancer than vegetarians.

Of course, people began to eat meat long before the appearance of written references, but only because, unlike animals, they are capable of such experiments. However, this short period of meat-eating is not enough to be of evolutionary significance: for example, animal products increase the level of cholesterol in the human body, while if you feed a stick of butter to a dog, the level of cholesterol in his body will not change.

early vegetarians.

The Greek mathematician Pythagoras was a vegetarian, and vegetarians were often called Pythagoreans before the invention of the term. (The term "vegetarian" was coined by the British Vegetarian Society in the mid-1800s. The word's Latin root means source of life.) Leonardo da Vinci, Benjamin Franklin, Albert Einstein, and George Bernard Shaw were also vegetarians. (Modern legend says that Hitler was a vegetarian, but this is not true, at least not in the traditional sense of the word.)

Increasing meat consumption in the 1900s.

Before the mid-1900s, Americans ate much less meat than they do now. Meat was very expensive, refrigerators were not common and meat distribution was a problem. A side effect of the Industrial Revolution was that meat became cheaper, easier to store and distribute. When that happened, meat consumption skyrocketed—as did degenerative diseases like cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. As Dean Ornish writes:

“Prior to this century, the typical American diet was low in animal products, fat, cholesterol, salt, and sugar, but rich in carbohydrates, vegetables, and fiber…Earlier in this century, with the advent of refrigerators, a good transportation system, agricultural mechanization, and a flourishing economy, the American diet and lifestyles began to change radically.Now the diet of most people in the United States is rich in animal products, fat, cholesterol, salt, and sugar, and poor in carbohydrates, vegetables, and fiber.” (“Eat More and Lose Weight”; 1993; reissue 2001; p. .22)

The origins of vegetarianism in the United States.

Vegetarianism was not particularly common in the US until 1971, when Frances Moore Lappé's bestseller Diet for a Small Planet came out.

A Fort Worth native, Lappe dropped out of graduate school at UC Berkeley to start her own research on world hunger. Lappe was amazed to learn that the animal consumes 14 times more grain than it produces meat - a huge waste of resources. (Cattle eat over 80% of all grain in the US. If Americans cut their meat consumption by 10%, there would be enough grain to feed all the hungry in the world.) At the age of 26, Lappe wrote Diet for a Small Planet to inspire people do not eat meat, thereby stopping food waste.

Even though the 60s were associated with hippies and hippies with vegetarianism, in fact, vegetarianism was not very common in the 60s. The starting point was Diet for a Small Planet in 1971.

The idea of combining protein.

But America perceived vegetarianism in a very different way than it does today. Today, there are many doctors who advocate reducing or eliminating meat consumption, as well as the results of successful athletes and celebrities who confirm the benefits of vegetarianism. In 1971 things were different. The popular belief was that vegetarianism was not only unhealthy, that it was impossible to survive on a vegetarian diet.
Lappe knew her book would get mixed reviews, so she did a nutritional study on a vegetarian diet, and in doing so, she made a major mistake that changed the course of vegetarian history. Lappe found studies done early in the century on rats that showed that rats grew faster when they were fed a combination of plant foods that resembled animal foods in amino acids. Lappe had a marvelous tool for convincing people that they could make plant foods "as good" as meat.

Lappe devoted half of her book to the idea of “combining protein” or “completing protein”—like how to serve beans with rice to get a “complete” protein. The idea of pairing was contagious, appearing in every book published by every vegetarian author since, and infiltrating academia, encyclopedias, and the American mindset. Unfortunately, this idea was wrong.

The first problem: the theory of protein combination was only a theory. Human studies have never been done. It was more of a prejudice than science. No wonder rats grew differently than humans, since rats need ten times more protein per calorie than humans (rat's milk contains 50% protein, while human milk has only 5%.) Then, if plant protein is so deficient, then how do cows, pigs and chickens, which eat only grains and plant foods, get protein? Isn't it weird that we eat animals for protein and they only eat plants? Finally, plant foods are not as "deficient" in amino acids as Lappe thought.

As Dr. McDougall wrote, “Fortunately, scientific research has debunked this tangled myth. Nature created our foods with a complete set of nutrients long before they hit the dinner table. All essential and essential amino acids are found in unrefined carbohydrates such as rice, corn, wheat, and potatoes, in quantities far exceeding the human need, even if we are talking about athletes or weightlifters.Common sense says that this is true, since the human race has survived on this planet.Throughout history, family breadwinners have been in search of rice and potatoes for their family Mixing rice and beans was not their concern Satisfying hunger is important to us, no need to tell us to mix protein sources to achieve a more complete amino acid profile This is not necessary because it is impossible to create a more perfect protein and amino acid profile than in natural carbohydrates.” (McDougall Program; 1990; Dr. John A. McDougall; p. 45. -- More details: McDougall Plan; 1983; Dr. John A. MacDougall; ss. 96-100)

Diet for a Small Planet quickly became a bestseller, making Lappe famous. So it was surprising—and respectable—that she admitted to the error in what made her famous. In the 1981 edition of Diets for a Small Planet, Lappe publicly acknowledged the error and explained:

"In 1971, I emphasized protein supplementation because I thought the only way to get enough protein was to make protein that digested like animal protein. Battling the myth that meat is the only source of high quality protein, "I created another myth. I presented it as that to get enough protein without meat, you need to carefully choose food. In fact, everything is much simpler."

“Given three important exceptions, the risk of protein deficiency on a plant-based diet is very small. The exceptions are diets that are very dependent on fruits, tubers such as sweet potatoes or cassava, and junk foods (refined flour, sugar and fat). Fortunately "Few people live on diets in which these foods are practically the only source of calories. In all other diets, if people get enough calories, they get enough protein." (Diet for a Small Planet; 10th Anniversary Edition; Francis Moore Lappe ; p. 162)

Late 70s

Although Lappe didn't solve world hunger alone, and aside from protein-combining ideas, Diet for a Small Planet was an unqualified success, selling millions of copies. It served as an impetus for the development of the vegetarian movement in the United States. Vegetarian cookbooks, restaurants, cooperatives and communes began to appear out of nowhere. We usually associate the 60s with hippies, and hippies with vegetarians, but in fact, vegetarianism was not very common until the release of Diet for a Small Planet in 1971.

That same year, San Francisco hippies founded a vegetarian commune in Tennessee, which they simply called "The Farm." The Farm was large and successful and helped define a clear image of the "commune". "Farm" also made a great contribution to the culture. They popularized soy products in the US, especially tofu, which was virtually unknown in America until the Farm Cookbook, which contained soy recipes and a recipe for making tofu. This book was published by The Farm's own publishing house called The Farm Publishing Company. (They also have a mailing catalog whose name you can guess.) The Farm also talked about home births in America, and raised a new generation of midwives. Finally, the people of The Farm have perfected methods of natural birth control (and, of course, written books about it).

In 1975, Australian ethics professor Peter Singer wrote Animal Liberation, which was the first scholarly work to present ethical arguments in favor of meat aversion and animal experimentation. This inspiring book was the perfect complement to Diet for a Small Planet, which was specifically about not eating animals. What Diet for a Small Planet did for vegetarianism, Animal Liberation did for animal rights, launching animal rights movements overnight in the US. In the early 1980s, animal rights groups began popping up everywhere, including PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals). (PETA paid for an extra edition of Animal Liberation and distributed it to new members.)

Late 80s: The Diet for a New America and the Rise of Veganism.

Diet for a Small Planet started the vegetarianism snowball in the 70s, but by the mid-80s some myths about vegetarianism were still circulating. One of them is the idea presented in the book itself, the protein-combining myth. Many people considering going vegan have given up on it because they would have to carefully plan their meals. Another myth is that dairy and eggs are healthy foods and that vegetarians need to eat enough of them to keep from dying. Another myth: It is possible to be healthy as a vegetarian, but there are no special health benefits (and, of course, eating meat has not been associated with any problems). Finally, most people did not know anything about factory farming and the environmental impacts of livestock farming.

All these myths were debunked in the 1987 book Diet for a New America by John Robbins. Robbins' work, in fact, contained little new and original information - most of the ideas had already been published somewhere, but in scattered form. The merit of Robbins is that he took a huge amount of information and compiled it into one large, carefully crafted volume, adding his own analysis, which is presented in a very accessible and impartial way. The first part of Diet for a New America dealt with the horrors of factory farming. The second part convincingly demonstrated the deadly harmfulness of a meat diet and the obvious benefits of vegetarianism (and even veganism) - along the way, debunking the myth of combining proteins. The third part talked about the incredible consequences of animal husbandry, which even many vegetarians did not know about before the publication of the book.

Diet for a New America "restarted" the vegetarian movement in the US by launching the vegan movement, it was this book that helped introduce the term "vegan" into the American lexicon. Within two years of the publication of Robbins' book, about ten vegetarian societies were formed in Texas.

1990s: Amazing medical evidence.

Dr. John McDougall began publishing a series of books promoting a vegan diet for the treatment of serious illnesses, and achieved his greatest success in 1990 with The McDougall Program. That same year saw the release of Dr. Dean Ornish's Heart Disease Program, in which Ornish proved for the first time that cardiovascular disease could be reversed. Naturally, the bulk of Ornish's program is a low-fat, almost entirely vegan diet.

In the early 1990s, the American Dietetic Association published a position paper on the vegetarian diet, and support for veganism began to emerge in the medical community. The US government has finally replaced the obsolete and meat and dairy-sponsored Four Food Groups with the new Food Pyramid, which shows that human nutrition should be based on grains, vegetables, beans and fruits.

Today, representatives of medicine and ordinary people like vegetarianism more than ever. The myths still exist, but the general shift in attitudes towards vegetarianism since the 80s is amazing! Having been a vegetarian since 1985 and a vegan since 1989, this is a very welcome change!

Bibliography:
McDougall Program, Dr. John A. McDougall, 1990
McDougall Plan, Dr. John A. McDougall, 1983
Diet for a New America, John Robbins, 1987
Diet for a Small Planet, Francis Moore Lappe, various editions 1971-1991

Additional Information:
The founder of modern veganism and the author of the word "vegan", Donald Watson, died in December 2005 at the age of 95.

Vegetarianism has many supporters and opponents. This way of eating involves the rejection of the consumption of meat food, fish, poultry and seafood of meat origin. Is Vegetarianism Good or Bad? What is it all about? The diet of vegetarians includes plant and dairy foods. The reasons for switching to such a diet can be different: medical, ethical, religious, economic.

A bit of history

Vegetarianism, the trend of which is the use of plant foods and the rejection of full or partial products of animal origin, does not apply to the modern type of diet, which ultimately leads to weight loss and a possible improvement of the body. Vegetarianism can be called a human nutrition system, created over several millennia.

The term, called vegetarianism, first appeared in the everyday life of the inhabitants of England. It probably originates from the word " vegetus", which in Latin is interpreted as energetic, vivacious, strong. In the forties of the nineteenth century, members of the organization of vegetarians, active in Britain, made sure that the diet of plant products, common among the people of India, is certainly beneficial to the human body.

The Vegetarian Society began to promote such principles of nutrition in its territory. He created the concept of Homo Vegetus, which means a comprehensively developed (harmonious) person. At first, the word "vegetarian" was given a philosophical meaning. But over time, the adherent of plant foods began to be called that.

Basic information about vegetarianism

This system has more to do with people's life beliefs than with a specific dietary composition. For example, animal advocates feel their involvement in the environment of the living world. So, vegetarians are Buddhists, for whom even the destruction of insects is the negative side of their karma.

Compassion, mercy and love, which are the basis of Vedic culture, call for life in complete harmony with the surrounding flora and fauna and reject their destruction. The sacred literature of different peoples contains information about the preference for a plant-based way of eating.

The Bible book of Genesis indicates that at the very beginning of existence, man had to eat plant foods. The Qur'an used by Muslims says that one should not turn the stomach of people into a grave tomb for animals. Vegetarianism was common in ancient Greece and Egypt.

Different types of vegetarian food

Among vegetarians there are various groups with their own characteristics regarding food. The common thing is that all supporters of a vegetarian diet do not eat products obtained from animals. But different groups of the common system have their own list of products that are prohibited for use. According to their preferences, vegetarianism is divided into the following groups:

Veganism;
Fruitarians;
lacto-vegetarianism;
Lacto-ovo vegetarianism;
Young Vegetarianism.

Adherents veganism (vegans) do not eat meat and fish products, caviar. In addition, they do not eat dairy products, eggs. That is, in strict vegetarianism, everyone with eyes is rejected, and food produced by all owners of eyes. If the diet of strict vegetarians contains mainly grains, then we are talking about proponents of macrobiotics.

Those who eat more vegetables, berries, fruits, nuts - Fruitarians . In addition to supporters of strict vegetarianism, there are also lacto-vegetarians , whose diet includes dairy products and their derivatives, providing the body with calcium. Lacto-ovo vegetarians they also use honey, eggs, with which, in addition to the useful calcium contained in dairy products, the body is supplied with B12. At young vegetarianism sometimes it is allowed to eat white meat of birds, fish.

The motives leading to vegetarianism are as follows:

- energy motive when it is believed that all the necessary energy comes into the body with vegetables;

- vitamin and mineral motif . The main importance is given to health, since many useful substances and vitamins enter the body. With such a diet, there is no place for cholesterol. This means that vegetarians are less likely to experience heart disease and blood vessels or atherosclerosis;

- ethical when the refusal of meat is caused by the inhuman treatment of animals in slaughterhouses;

- physiological motive - it is justified by the fact that, in terms of physiology, a person is further from carnivores and closer to herbivorous representatives of animals. It is believed that a person does not have a mechanism adapted to the eating and assimilation of the meat component of food. In addition, the intestines of meat-eating animals are 3 times their length, and in herbivores and humans - more than 6 times. This means that the meat leaves the body of a carnivore faster and at the same time, toxins are not formed that interfere with the efficiency of the kidneys.

Benefits of Vegetarianism

In the event that a vegetarian food system is provided for by the ethical or religious preferences of a person, then in most cases there is not even a discussion about the benefits and harms of this type of food. In this case, the main emphasis is placed precisely on life principles and prejudices. But when a person comes to the decision to become a vegetarian for economic or medical reasons, then he should adequately assess all the pros and cons of such nutrition, because it’s completely easy to change your daily diet. This can be done at any time. But in some cases it can be very difficult to restore health after an incorrectly chosen diet. Therefore, you will first need to weigh the pros and cons.

The direction of vegetarians, which allows the use of dairy products, eggs and seafood in their diet, does not cause any concerns at all among nutritionists and many doctors. Such nutrition can be called healthy, balanced and correct for many people.

Vegetarian nutrition is based on products with plant properties, rich in vitamin components of the “P”, “C” class, essential elements: magnesium, potassium, and other substances that increase the human immune resistance. Plant components help to remove from the body substances that are harmful to it, including toxins.

Phytoncides contained in most plants contribute to the death of putrefactive microbes. The benefits of vegetarianism have been talked about for a long time. Its benefits are seen in a decrease in the number of diseases of diabetes, cancer, hypertension, blood vessels and the heart, atherosclerosis, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Vegetarianism contributes to the extension of the life cycle.

Harm of vegetarianism

In addition to the positive aspects, one should never forget that a vegetarian type of diet can lead to some negative consequences. Those people who for a long time and rather strictly adhere to vegetarianism do not at all receive such vitamins necessary for the body, as well as - this can harm the body. Vitamin B12 is vital for our body, because it is directly involved in the processes of cell division.

But if its deficiency is detected, then this can even lead to the complete destruction of nerve fibers. B12 is found in seafood, meat and kidneys. And everyone knows that vegetarians impose a ban on the use of these products. Only a few of them can afford to consume low-fat milk and cheeses, which somehow replenishes the body's need for essential vitamin B12. With a lack of vitamin D, problems with hair appear, they begin to fall out quite actively. Nails also deteriorate.

The condition and strength of the bones of our body is deteriorating. Children with a lack of vitamin D can develop such a serious disease as rickets. This vitamin can be obtained in the greatest amount from fish oil or cod liver oil. Vitamin D is also found in eggs, whole-fat milk, and regular butter. However, our body has the ability to independently synthesize a small amount of vitamin D. It is formed in the skin under the direct influence of direct sunlight. Thus, even if the food is inadequate, our body will be able to make up for the lack of this vitamin.

Vegetables and fruits consumed in vegetarianism contain a very small amount of vitamin B2 or the so-called riboflavin. Its direct deficiency can lead to weakness, dizziness and even damage to the mucous membranes. This vitamin is found in the greatest amount in milk, eggs and liver, which are prohibited with a vegetarian type of diet. A very small amount in plant foods and calcium, iron and iodine, which are very necessary for our body. You can fill their deficiency only with the help of special vitamin complexes.

Iron from vegetables and fruits is absorbed much worse than from animal products. Therefore, the diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia is often common among vegetarians. In addition, many vegetarians have a shortage of such important elements and substances as: omega-3 polyunsaturated acids, calcium, zinc, iodine.

Excess fiber (vegetarian foods are very rich in it) is also not good. It reduces the digestibility of proteins, which are already not rich in the menu in their diet.

Vegetarianism for pregnant women: benefits and harms

There are many myths about a vegetarian diet during pregnancy. Vegetarianism among pregnant women or children constantly causes, as a rule, a negative reaction. Some doctors are practically forcing expectant mothers to return to meat products. It turns out that a vegetarian diet shouldn't hurt either mom or baby—but only when it's well planned.

Scientists note that there are no studies indicating that the problem of miscarriages is more common in vegetarian women. Women who don't eat well but eat meat may have more problems conceiving than a vegetarian mom. In both cases, the main thing is common sense, health care and a varied menu. It cannot be argued that vegetarianism is the cause of infertility. However, a well-balanced vegetarian diet, which is carried out under the supervision of a doctor or nutritionist, can provide the body with as many nutrients as meat.

Women who do not eat meat consciously buy the highest quality products, make the menu so as to provide the body with everything it needs, eat a lot of fruits and vegetables. Expectant mothers, for the most part, often do not care about their menu at all, they eat irregularly, it happens that they do not pay attention to the quality and origin of products. But every woman, wishing to give birth to a healthy child, should first of all think about her diet, part with bad habits of malnutrition, provide the body with all the necessary minerals and nutrients.

What should be the menu

Of course, it may happen that a vegetarian woman will wait a little longer for a pregnancy than a woman on a meat diet. A diet rich in plant-derived proteins affects the lengthening of the menstrual cycle, which leads to an increase in ovulation intervals. Therefore, vegetarians who want to conceive a child should be aware of this. A child developing in the mother's womb is in great need of protein (although not necessarily of animal origin), and the need for protein doubles during pregnancy. Animal proteins can be successfully replaced with vegetable ones. To do this, it is recommended to include legumes (soybeans, beans) and cereals (buckwheat, millet) in the diet.

Of course, a vegetarian diet is quite difficult to maintain during pregnancy and lactation. On the other hand, it is difficult to expect rapid changes from someone who has not eaten meat for several decades. Therefore, it is always worth contacting a nutritionist before a planned pregnancy, who, based on a thorough diagnosis, will create a balanced vegetarian diet menu so that it is safe for the woman and her unborn child. The diet should include foods containing iron, calcium, folic acid and vitamin B12.

A good source of iron for vegetarians is green leafy vegetables, grain products, mashed lentils and beans. It is worth introducing fish into your menu at this time. It contains healthy fatty acids and vitamins that dissolve in fats. Meat can be replaced with milk and eggs - so that there is no deficiency of calcium and vitamins. The richest source of easily digestible calcium are: milk, cheese, egg yolks. The absorption of calcium also depends on sufficient amounts of protein, magnesium, zinc and vitamins D and C. Fruits contain fiber, minerals (calcium, sodium, potassium, phosphorus, iron, magnesium) and vitamins (B1, B2, C, E, A, folic acid). Easily digested and absorbed by the body. It is worth eating them instead of sweets.

How to avoid risks?

According to supporters of a vegetarian diet, the health of the expectant mother and child is not only safe, but entails a number of additional benefits. Vegetarians tend to have low cholesterol levels and their digestive systems are less burdened (meat stays in the intestines much longer than plant-based foods). There are many products on the market that are fortified with iron, folic acid and vitamins - it is good to consume them, both before and during pregnancy.

However, this does not mean that all women in the early stages of pregnancy should switch to vegetarianism. On the contrary - the body needs time to reorient itself to a new type of diet, and pregnancy, of course, is not the best period for any experiments with your own body.

First of all, it is necessary to systematically monitor the state of health and do all gynecological examinations. If a vegetarian is under the constant supervision of a specialist, her pregnancy should not be in danger. Thus, a woman who follows a vegetarian diet will not be afraid for her health and the safety of her child.

Vegetarian diet: menu, pros and cons

For those who do not want to completely give up animal products, there is a vegetarian diet. With the help of which you can not only lose extra pounds, but also recharge your health, strength, energy.

This diet will help get rid of toxins, unnecessary salts and water in the body. It will cleanse the skin of sores and rashes, and the nails and hair will be much stronger. The diet is quite inexpensive, but very effective.

Sample food menu

First day of the diet

Breakfast: Two glasses of water, vegetable salad dressed with olive oil, any two fruits, tea or coffee without sugar, with milk.

Snack: Any fruit.

Dinner: Stewed vegetables, eighty grams of buckwheat and bean cutlets. As well as tea or coffee to taste, without sugar.

Snack: Any vegetable.

Dinner: Smoothie with banana, strawberry, honey and milk.

Second day of the diet

Breakfast: Two glasses of water, oatmeal, any fruit or vegetable, and tea or coffee.

Snack: Apple with cinnamon.

Dinner: Boiled pasta with stewed vegetables and a piece of baked red fish, tea / coffee.

Snack: A glass of coffee without sugar, with milk and two toasts.

Dinner: Soup - carrot puree (three hundred grams), tea / coffee.

Third day of the diet

Breakfast: Two glasses of water, buckwheat porridge with milk plus an apple, tea / coffee.

Snack: Fruit.

Dinner: Rice with vegetables, pea cutlets and tea.

Snack: Vegetable.

Dinner: Vegetable soup with mushrooms.

Vegetarian diet- one of the most effective diets, because vegetarians are more resilient, healthier and slimmer than meat-eaters. Also, studies have shown that vegetarians make love much longer and more often than game lovers.

Pros of a vegetarian diet:

Animal proteins do not bring as much benefit to the bones as vegetable proteins, because animal proteins, as it were, “wash out” calcium.
Proteins in a vegetarian diet do not put a heavy burden on the kidneys and liver.
With a vegetarian diet, vitamins and minerals are replenished.
Meat contains a large amount of hormones, which leads to cancer.
Thanks to this type of food, the immune system is strengthened.
The physical condition improves, the person becomes more enduring, shortness of breath disappears.
Vegans lose weight much faster than meat eaters. After all, the rate of kilocalories is reduced by one and a half times (due to the abundant amount of vegetables).
People who eat mostly vegetables go to the toilet more easily, because the work of the intestinal tract is stimulated.
The metabolism and vitamins are normalized.
Vegetarians live longer than people who eat meat.

Over the past year, about twenty-nine percent of Americans have gone vegan, nine of whom have cut meat entirely.

People think that you need to completely give up meat. But this is not necessary, it can be eaten, but not often. For example, eat chicken fillet twice a week or stewed fish three times a week.

The main thing is to balance your diet correctly and varied.

Cons of a vegetarian diet:

Meat contains essential amino acids, the failure of which can lead to visual impairment (but this is only a small percentage of vegans).
Vegetable protein is less digestible in the human body. For example, buckwheat porridge is digested by sixty-five percent, millet - by seventy, potatoes - by sixty-seven. But meat, fish and poultry - from eighty-nine to ninety-eight.
With prolonged and strict vegetarianism, immunity decreases after six to seven years.
Children are contraindicated in the rejection of animal proteins because it slows down the growth of the child.
If you do not calculate the budget correctly, then you can spend more on this diet than on meat-eating.

Thus, becoming a vegetarian or not is a personal matter for everyone. In fact, there is absolutely nothing critically bad for our body in vegetarianism. It can be considered, most likely, just a decisive life position. But, before making any final decision, you need to weigh all its pros and cons very well for yourself (evaluate all the benefits and harms of vegetarianism). After all, no one can take care of your health better than you. Always keep this in mind and make the right choice.