Vegetarianism around the World Certain religious groups require or recommend a meatless diet for their members. In Christianity, for example, such groups range from Roman Catholicism's Trappist monks to the Protestant denomination of Seventh Day Adventists. Some religions, particularly such Eastern paths as Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, put such emphasis on vegetarianism that it might almost be considered a tenet of those faiths. Their advocacy of vegetarianism is based on the concept of ahimsa . If we are seeking to follow a potentially arduous spiritual path, we especially need a strong, healthy body.
Physical health is necessary to full emotional, mental, and spiritual health.
We are a whole, all of whose aspects affect one another. There is substantial scientific evidence attesting the healthfulness of a well-chosen vegetarian diet. Lower incidence of atherosclerosis, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and certain types of cancer is consistently noted in vegetarian populations. The use of antibiotics, growth stimulants, and other drugs in the rearing of livestock, the build-up of toxic pesticide residues in animal tissue, and the transmission of diseases from the intensive farming methods of contemporary agribusiness are other reasons for avoiding flesh food. Since vegetarians usually develop at least a moderate interest in nutrition, overall mealtime choices also often improve when flesh is eliminated from the menu.