Principles of Vegetarianism

Principles of vegetarianism

Vegetarianism is a food system that excludes animal products from the diet. There are two main directions of vegetarianism: old vegetarian and young vegetarian.

Old vegetarian vegetarianism, also called pure or strict vegetarianism, prohibits the consumption of any foods that are of animal origin, including honey. The diet of an old vegetarian consists of cereals, legumes, nuts, vegetables, fruits, berries and herbs.

Young vegetarianism, or no-kill vegetarianism, is less severe and allows the consumption of honey, milk and dairy products along with plant foods.

When being a vegetarian, a person uses about 300 types of vegetables, roots, tubers, legumes, leaves, stems, buds and grains, as well as about 600 types of fruits and about 200 types of nuts. Based on the chemical composition, plant foods can be called carbohydrate-vitamin-mineral, since they contain all of the listed components, as well as a sufficient amount of fats and proteins.

Nuts are a source of essential amino acids, and legumes, especially soy, lentils, beans and peas, are rich in protein. A sufficient amount of fat is found in vegetable oils, such as olive, sunflower, flaxseed, hemp, mustard, coconut, bean, corn, nut, poppy, almond, cottonseed and others.

In terms of the content of vitamins, mineral salts and aromatic substances, fruits are in first place, which are best consumed raw. They provide ideal food material without poisons or harmful impurities, and do not cause rotting or fermentation in the intestines. Nuts, chestnuts, oranges, tangerines, lemons, pomegranates, watermelons, melons, pumpkins, zucchini and cucumbers are especially perfect due to their protective shells or peels.

Eating raw plant foods is the best remedy against intestinal sluggishness: the raw cellulose (fiber) in plant cells is a natural means of stimulating the intestinal muscles, the digestive system and normalizing metabolism. Raw food, not rich in protein, salt and water, is very useful for heart and kidney diseases, as well as in some cases of obesity to facilitate water metabolism.

Many nutritionists recommend the following ideal diet for vegetarians: 25% raw leafy and root vegetables in season in the form of salads, 25% raw fresh fruits or well-soaked dried ones, 25% greens and root vegetables cooked over fire; 10% proteins - nuts, cottage cheese, fermented milk products, 10% carbohydrates - all types of cereals and bread products, sugar, 5% fats - butter, margarine, vegetable fats. Do not use seasonings or vinegar.

Plant-based vegetarian food is an important factor in restoring vitality and cleansing the body of harmful substances and toxins. It also stimulates and activates internal forces for recovery. Therefore, vegetarianism can be part of a healthy lifestyle and diet.