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Veggies versus non-veggies
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The eternal tug of war between vegetarians and non-vegetarians rages on
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Hard choice To be a vegan or non-veg? Both have positive sides
Are vegetarians more disciplined, efficient and better organised? Do they have an edge over meat eaters? It depends on whom you ask. Arguments in favour of vegetarianism and against it go on and on. They seem pointless and often lack credibility or m
eat. Non-vegetarians justify that human anatomy is structured to eat meat, as man is capable of digesting it. Veggies oppose this theory point blank.
Tongue in cheek they assert man can digest thermacol, but that does not mean he should eat it. Vegetarianism is a matter of personal preference. People turn vegetarian for a combination of reasons like health, religion etc. Undoubtedly it is a choice that is respected. For animal lovers it is a compassionate choice; for die-hard meat and fish cravers a disciplined and rigorous choice and for the health conscious a wise choice.
But things can turn unsavoury at times when a vegetarian diet is imposed or when vegetarians glorifying themselves strut around on their high moral grounds condemning meat eaters. A wise vegetarian knows it’s best not to impose or condemn meat eaters. Yet the vital question still remains. Are veggies cleverer and smarter?
Healthier?
Princy Thomas, nutritionist of PVS Hospital, Kochi says, “You need not be a 100 per cent vegetarian to be healthier, smarter or brighter. A vegetarian diet does not guarantee intelligence or brilliance. But it is always better to avoid red meat due to its high content of saturated fat. Fish is an ideal diet for non-vegetarians as it’s cardio-protective owing to the omega fatty acid content. For vegetarians protein from meat can be supplemented by pulses, soya etc.”
Being a pure vegetarian thus may boost one’s ego but need not make one brainier or more competent. Yet nobody can deny the goodness of fresh vegetables and fruits in one’s diet. If veggies in chauvinistic glee claim
only a vegetarian diet churns out geniuses like mathematician Ramanujan how come most noble prize-winners are pure non-vegetarians? And while anti-veggies endorse only meat gives muscles, strength and stamina the argument does not hold water when we realise that many sports persons like Carl Lewis, Edwin Moses, Martina Navratilova were vegetarians.
It is thus pointless to argue. But it is vital to keep oneself updated on the latest theories and research establishing how our dietary habits affect our well-being. So to sum it up moderation is the key. If you are a vegetarian or have become one, congrats for your determination as it is a challenging and tough choice to make or keep. And if you are a non-vegetarian who can’t down a meal without meat, control your intake especially of red meat and include more fresh fruits and vegetable in your diet.
That is indeed a very smart thing to do.
HEMJIT BHARATHAN
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