The word vegetarian, coined by the founders of the British Vegetarian Society in 1842, comes from the Latin word vegetus, meaning “whole, sound, fresh, or lively,” as in homo vegetus-a mentally and physically vigorous person. The original meaning of the word implies a balanced philosophical and moral sense of life, a lot more than just a diet of vegetables and fruits.
“There are Indians who’ve grew up in totally vegetarian families who’ve never even tasted meat; not even once,” says Vinda Balbir, owner of Mrs. Balbir’s, the Indian restaurant on Sukhumvit Soi 11. “India has always had a lot of vegetarians. Many of us believe that [domestic] animals are fed on unclean food and that it is a sin to kill any living creature.”
While religious/ethical beliefs and economic factors have a lot to do with the profusion of “veggies” in the sub-continent more and more people, particularly in the so called developed countries have given up meat and other animal products for health reasons. Heart disease, once largely a western phenomenon, has now become one of the major causes of death in the over-50 age bracket in this region too. And although some medical reports have challenged the accepted wisdom, there is still a large body of evidence that indicates a strong link between high blood cholesterol levels and diseases of the heart.
High cholesterol have been attributed (among other reasons) to an excessive intake of saturated fats and since meat and dairy produce contain a high proportion of these bad fats, a growing number of people are beginning to realize the benefits of a low-fat, meatless diet. ”
And the advantages don’t stop there,” says Balbir. “We Indians believe that vegetarians tend not to have such strong body odors, and that they are much calmer in general.”
The word “vegetable” is thought to have originated in England sometime in the 17th century (“My vegetable love would grow” – Andrew Marvell, 17th century English poet). It probably came from the Latin stem, vig/veg, meaning “dynamic” and the veg variant early had plant associations (presumably meaning “quietly gaining strength”). The London based, Irish playwright, George Bernard Shaw, is usually credited with coining the term “vegetarian” in the late 19th century. ”
The word ‘vegetarian’,” says Balbir comes from the Latin word vegetus, meaning ‘whole, sound, fresh or lively.’ But vegetarianism means much more than just vegetables, fruit and a certain kind of diet. It’s got a lot to do with one’s mental attitude too.”
Tags: ethical beliefs, India vegetarians, low cholesterol, vegetarian diet, vegetarianism
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