Is Non -Vegetarian Food Permitted Or 
Prohibited For A Human Being?  

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The Question of consuming meat and non-vegetarian foods has been object if much criticism since past several centuries. Even today though quite a large number of Hindus along with Muslims and Christians consume meat, there are large numbers of people who prefer to be strictly vegetarian throughout their life. For some it is a religious injunction to abstain from non-vegetarian food. Whereas some make it a political issue saying ^“Garv se kaho hum shakahari hain! (i.e. say proudly we are vegetarian). Those who insist on being pure vegetarian, feel that it is ruthless to kill the animals for feeding ourselves.  

The topic of this article is "Is Non - Vegetarian food permitted or prohibited for a human being?" It is not "Is Vegetarian food better than Non-Vegetarian food?"

If I prove that mango is a better fruit than the apple, it does not mean that apple is prohibited for a human being.

Let us first understand the meanings of certain terms

DEFINITION OF 'VEGETARIAN'

(a) The word 'Vegetarian' does not come from the word vegetable but from the Greek word "Vegetas" which means 'Full of the Breath of Life'. It also means 'whole, sound, fresh, lively'. On the basis of this root word alone, many  food from animals' flesh can also be included.

(b)      Definition according to the Oxford Dictionary: The common understanding of the word 'Vegetarian' is defined in the Oxford Dictionary as a person who abstains from animal food.

CLASSIFICATION OF VEGETARIANS

Depending upon the type of food included in the diet, vegetarian diets can be classified broadly into three categories:

(a)      Pure Vegetarian or 100 % Vegetarian: This diet does not include animal flesh or animal products.

They may be further classified into two types:

I.      Fructarian : This diet is confined to fruits, nuts and certain vegetables, where harvesting allows the parent plant to flourish.

II.      Vegan : This diet excludes the consumption of all foods of animal origin.

(b)       Vegetarian diets which include certain animal products: Most of the vegetarians in the world including in India falls in this category. This maybe further classified into:-

I.      Lacto-Vegetarian: This diet includes milk and dairy foods, but no animal flesh or egg.

II.      Ovo-Vegetarian: Diets that include eggs but no milk, dairy food, or animal flesh.

Ill.      Lacto-Ovo-Vegetarian:  Diets that include milk, dairy foods, and egg but no animal flesh.

(c)      Vegetarians who have certain animal flesh:

I.      pesco-Vegetarian: Diet which includes milk, dairy products, egg and fish but no other animal flesh.

II.      Semi-Vegetarian: (also known as Demi-vegetarian / Quasi-Vegetarian): Diet includes milk, dairy products, eggs, fish and chicken but no other animal flesh.

Definition Of Non-Vegetarian:

Non-Vegetarian is a person who has food of animal origin. It does not mean a person who does not have vegetable or fruit.

Definition Of Omnivorous

A more appropriate and scientific terminology would be omnivorous, which means a person who has many kinds of food, especially of plant and animal origin.

Dr. William T. Jarvi's Classification of a Vegetarian:

Dr. William T. Jarvis is the advisor to the American council on Science and Health

(ACSH).He is a professor of public health and preventive medicine at Loma Linda University, and the Founder and President of National Council Against Health Fraud. He is also the Co-editor of "The Health Robbers: A Close look at Quackery in America."

Dr. William T. Jarvis categorises vegetarians into two categories based on their behavioral standpoint: -

      Pragmatic vegetarians and Ideological Vegetarians.

       (a)       Pragmatic Vegetarian

A pragmatic vegetarian is one whose dietary behavior stems from objective health consideration. He is rational rather than an emotional in his approach.

      (b)      Ideological Vegetarianism

An Ideological Vegetarian is one whose dietary behavior is a matter of principle based on an ideology. He is more emotional than rational.

According to Dr. William T. Jarvis: "One can spot ideological vegetarian by the exaggeration of the benefits of the vegetarianism, their lack of skepticism, and their failure to recognize (or their glossing over of) the potential risks even of extreme vegetarian diets. Ideologic Vegetarian makes a pretense of being scientific, but they approach the subject of vegetarianism more like lawyers than scientists. Promoters of vegetarianism gather data selectively and gear their arguments toward discrediting information that is contrary to their dogma. This approach to defending a position is suitable for a debate, but it cannot engender scientific understanding."

Dr. William T. Jarvis further states "Vegetarianism is riddled with delusional thinking from which even scientists and medical professionals are not immune".

Reasons for Choice of Diet

A Human being chooses a particular type of diet due to considerations. Various reasons and considerations

i     Religious

ii     Geographical Location

iii     Personal choice e.g. taste, look, etc.

iv     Humane Considerations

v     Anatomical and physiological considerations

vi     Behavioural considerations

vii.     Ecological and Economical considerations

viii.     Nutritional Value

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