Vegetarianism as a Way of Life

Let’s imagine that tomorrow, all meat would disappear from the world around us—it would be gone, whether raw or processed—no more sausages, ham, or hot dogs…

What would we eat then? Only plant-based foods? And would we all become vegetarians? Oh, how happy Albert Einstein would be—he believed that “a vegetarian diet, if only because of its purely physical effect on the human temperament, must have an extremely beneficial impact on the fate of humanity.” Of course, Einstein’s dream still has a long way to go before it becomes a reality, but there’s no doubt that vegetarianism is already becoming almost mainstream, and a trend toward giving up meat is steadily taking shape.

Throughout world history, including Russian history, the most progressive people have become vegetarians. Famous vegetarians from the past include Leonardo da Vinci, Isaac Newton, Plato, Pythagoras, Thomas Edison, Leo Tolstoy, and many, many others. Each of them came to vegetarianism in their own way—whether due to philosophical and religious beliefs, health reasons, or even economic circumstances. Many became committed vegetarians after a long journey, sometimes late in life, as was the case with Leo Tolstoy. And virtually all of them, without exception, came to the conclusion that vegetarianism is not just a diet, but a way of life as a whole.

So what, then, is the essence and what are the main benefits of the vegetarian lifestyle? Why did Einstein assert that “nothing will benefit human health and increase the chances of preserving life on Earth as much as the spread of vegetarianism”?

A vegetarian lifestyle involves more than just eating plant-based foods and avoiding animal products as part of a specific diet. This lifestyle is based, first and foremost, on a respectful attitude toward the living world around us, and as a result, it leads to personal growth and spiritual development, as well as contributing to environmental conservation.

The main question in this discussion is: Can humans really do without meat altogether? Would the absence of meat have a negative impact on one’s health? Opponents of vegetarianism argue that the transition from a higher herbivorous mammal with a well-developed brain to Homo sapiens would have been impossible without the shift to a meat-based diet; however, this is not the case. While remaining herbivorous, early humans—depending on natural conditions—initially gathered plant-based food, and only as they migrated into inhospitable climatic zones and faced food shortages did they begin to hunt. Based on the structure of their teeth (the incisors and molars are more developed than the canines), the presence of the enzyme amylase in their saliva rather than hydrochloric acid (for the preliminary breakdown of starch, rather than bones, in the oral cavity) and the long, segmented intestine, humans clearly belong to the herbivorous mammals rather than to predators. Furthermore, the centuries-old experience of the people of India (where the foundations of vegetarian cuisine originated in ancient times) suggests that a diet consisting of grains, legumes, vegetables, and fruits, as well as dairy products, is nutritionally complete, as it contains all the substances necessary for life.

Elements of a vegetarian diet can be found in every national cuisine, and a vast number of cookbooks are devoted to them; however, anyone interested in this topic must understand the key point: plant-based foods, when consumed in the necessary variety and combined with additional sources of vitamins B and D, can provide a completely balanced diet. Sources of vitamins B and D can include dairy products and eggs for ovo-lacto vegetarians, while vegans can rely on brewer’s yeast or other sources. At the same time, a vegetarian diet has a surprisingly beneficial effect on human health, as proven by numerous medical studies:

* Vegetarians are much less likely to develop hypertension, cancer, diabetes, and cataracts—the leading diseases of modern society.

* Vegetarians rarely suffer from obesity.

* Vegetarians live longer, look better, and age more slowly.

Thus, despite the ongoing endless debates among scientists, doctors, and ordinary consumers, a vegetarian diet holds enormous potential for human health.

Another, equally important aspect of the vegetarian lifestyle is the idea of compassion for all living things, which stems from the rejection of meat derived from slaughter. This idea has captivated enlightened minds throughout history, yet it has always been persecuted, as humanity has sought to live amid war and violence. Many philosophers, scientists, and visionaries, reflecting on the philosophical and spiritual meaning of human life, inevitably came to the conclusion that true cultural greatness cannot be achieved by killing animals for food. The ideals of goodness, love, and harmony—these are the very foundations of vegetarianism. And of course, for many religious denominations, full or periodic vegetarianism is the most just and reasonable practical expression of love for life. The idea of love is the cornerstone of all religions, and Leo Tolstoy once put it beautifully: “The first condition for putting religion into practice is love and compassion for all living things.” And the killing of animals—at least domestic and large animals—is contrary to the spiritual, loving nature of human beings.

In addition to its benefits for health and spiritual development, a vegetarian lifestyle for humanity can play a key role in preserving our planet’s ecology and in solving the problem of hunger. To produce meat products, it is first necessary to raise livestock, care for them, and feed them protein-rich plant-based food (especially for a long time in the case of cattle). An excessively long food chain (first feeding plants to animals, and only then consuming animal protein) results in the loss of 90% of high-quality plant protein (primarily soy), which is in no way inferior to animal protein in any respect. Furthermore, this causes environmental pollution and the irrational use of natural resources. In terms of water, land, and other resource consumption, meat is the most expensive product imaginable. With the Earth’s population constantly growing, a shortage of animal-based food is becoming an inevitable impending catastrophe. Therefore, the transition to a plant-based diet—where the main component of the diet, protein, is consumed directly from plant foods—appears to be the only alternative for humanity’s survival. Experts believe that by 2020, the problem of food shortages will become one of the most acute and vital issues, and environmental problems are already weighing heavily on humanity today.

The lifestyle of a true vegan involves not only abstaining from certain types of food but also adhering to specific rules regarding everything related to animals. In this regard, even the consumption and use of items such as honey, silk, and refined sugar are called into question. Gelatin and whey are not recommended for consumption, and animal wool, suede, and leather should not be part of a vegan’s wardrobe. At home, vegans strive to live in harmony and cause no harm to the environment.

If you’re seriously interested in a vegetarian lifestyle, you’ll need to learn a lot about how it differs from the life of an average person and how to avoid harming yourself by suddenly giving up animal products. Switching to a vegetarian diet isn’t just about taking the sausage off your sandwich. What foods can replace meat, milk, and other products rich in nutrients essential for the body? For example, to live a long life, it’s recommended to include soy products, tofu, and soy milk in your diet. Beans and lentils, combined with grains such as rice, are also good sources of protein. In any case, you should carefully plan your diet to ensure it is nutritionally complete across all major nutrient groups (proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals), paying special attention to getting enough protein. Nowadays, this is not difficult to achieve, as there is a vast selection of vegetarian products available, ranging from plant-based milk, vegetarian sausages, and soy-based meat substitutes to all kinds of grains and legumes.

A vegetarian lifestyle is a matter of personal choice. Depending on the knowledge you’ve gained, the ideas you’ve picked up, your level of determination, advice from family and friends, your health, and so on, you may choose to transition to a fully vegan lifestyle, simply follow a vegetarian diet, or, to start with, at least partially eliminate meat from your diet. In any case, you’ll be on the right track. For example, the famous physiologist and Nobel Prize laureate, Ivan Pavlov, who founded the science of higher nervous activity, became a vegetarian after proving that the end product of animal protein breakdown (urea) leads to increased irritability and nervousness. And yet, according to the recollections of his contemporaries, he sometimes allowed himself to “lose his temper”—that is, he was not a strict vegetarian.

Here is an example of another vegetarian—Ivan Poddubny, a marvel of a strongman and a legendary figure who, at the age of 67, defeated America’s strongest wrestlers and weighed over 120 kilograms. The Poddubny phenomenon, if it does not prove the superiority of vegetarianism in a sports diet, at least confirms that a strong person is not necessarily someone who eats a leg of lamb for lunch and washes it down with lard. He drew his strength from a different kind of food. Incidentally, the largest and strongest animals on Earth—elephants—are herbivorous mammals, meaning they, too, are vegetarians.

According to Google Trends, the volume of search queries for information on the vegan diet has increased by 60% over the past five years. And it’s not just that people are simply interested in vegetarianism—they’re actually giving up meat and even dairy products. The reason is not only a reluctance to cause animals pain or negative information about animal products, but also an attempt to achieve harmony with the world and a desire to lead a healthy lifestyle.

From 2009 to 2012, the number of vegans in the U.S. tripled and now accounts for 3% of the country’s total population. Here, of course, the statistics are certainly not as impressive, but a clear trend of growing demand for vegetarian food is evident. This is undoubtedly fueled by constant scandals involving meat that is poisoned, contaminated, or simply adulterated with horse meat, as well as meat import bans, tariff wars, and prices rising at an incredible rate. And a vegetarian lifestyle not only saves the planet but also makes us healthier, more active, and more attractive, while contributing to humanity’s spiritual growth. All of this encourages those who have not yet embraced vegetarianism to rethink their outlook on life.

Let’s recall *The Hour of the Bull* by the Soviet science fiction writer and cosmist philosopher Ivan Efremov, who was also a vegetarian. The reason for Efremov’s decision to give up meat was his ideological conviction that the development of human culture is impossible without renouncing the meat of animals with a developed central nervous system:

“When the need to kill for food ceased to exist, humanity took the final step from necessity to true human freedom. This could not be achieved until we learned to create animals from plant proteins. ‘Instead of cows—a factory for artificial milk and meat,’ explained Griff Rift.

“Why don’t we have this yet?” the Tormansians would usually ask.

“Your biology was evidently preoccupied with something else, or was deficient; it was sidelined by other sciences less important to human prosperity. A situation familiar from Earth’s history as well…”

“And you’ve come to the conclusion that true cultural greatness cannot be achieved by killing animals for food?”

— Yes!

— But animals are also needed for scientific experiments.

— No! Find a workaround, but don’t resort to torture. The world is unimaginably complex, and you’re bound to find many other paths to uncovering the truth.”