Lacto-vegetarianism:

A lactovegetarian (sometimes referred to as a lactarian) diet is a vegetarian diet which includes dairy products such as milk, cheese, yogurt, butter, cream, and kefir, but excludes eggs. The origin of "lacto" is the Latin word for milk [lac, lactis]. Cheeses which include animal rennet and yogurts which contain gelatin are also avoided. Lacto-vegetarianism as a concept and practice amongst a significant number of people comes from ancient India ^[1] and was originally based on religious beliefs ^[2]. Within Indian cultures this diet is often what is meant by the term "vegetarian".

The greatest proportion of vegetarians, such as those in India or those in the area of the classical Mediterranean such as the Pythagoreans, are or were lacto-vegetarian. ^[2]

Eggs

Lacto-vegetarians abstain from specifically eating eggs, fish, chickens, cows, sheep, pigs and sea animals. Eggs contain animal hormones including testosterone, which may or may not increase aggressiveness.^[3]^[4]^[5]^[6]. Lacto vegetarianism may be adopted by vegetarians wishing to lower their dietary intake of cholesterol, since egg yolks, as well as dairy products, contain cholesterol. Unfertilized eggs contain a similar amount of cholesterol as fertilized eggs.

Religion

Lacto-vegetarian diets are popular with many followers of Eastern religious traditions such as Sikhism, Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism. The core belief behind a lacto-vegetarian diet is the law of ahimsa, or non-violence ^[7]. According to the Vedas (Hindu holy scriptures), all living beings are equally valued by God ^[8] ^[9]. It takes many more vegetables or plants to produce an equal amount of meat ^[10] many more lives are destroyed and more suffering is caused when meat is used as food. ^[11]. In the case of Jainism, the vegetarian standards are even more strict. It only allows the consumption of fruit and leaves that can be taken from plants without causing their death. This further excludes from the diet vegetables like carrots, potatoes and peanuts. Although some suffering and pain is inevitably caused to other living beings to satisfy the human need for food, according to ahimsa, every effort should be made to minimize suffering.^[11] This is to avoid karmic consequences and show respect for God's creation. In this sense, wastage of food is considered a sin. Because all living beings are equally valued by God ^[12], vegetarian diet rooted in ahimsa is only one aspect of environmentally conscious living, relating to those beings affected by our need for food. ^[11] Environmentalism and vegetarianism are often practiced together.^[13] ^[14]

Indian traditional medicine or Ayurveda is the root of the Indian lacto-vegetarian kitchen.^{[citation needed]}

Lacto-vegetarianism

Contents

Eggs

Religion

See also

References

External links