Veg It
Out
In today’s socially and
environmentally conscious world, we remind ourselves of the case
for vegetarianism. By Belinda Wan and
Sarah Fung
Environmental awareness has never
been more prevalent. People everywhere are displaying green
credentials by offsetting carbon footprints and toting reusable
bags. But have you considered the effect your dining choices might
have on the globe? The chairman of the United Nations Panel on
Climate Change stated a few months back that to “To reduce climate
change, people should start giving up meat once a week.” Rearing
animals for human consumption puts a strain on the earth’s
resources, and according to the economics of the food chain, the
number of crops it takes to feed the animals we eat could feed 10
times as many humans.
This is one of the reasons many
environmentalists are shunning meat altogether. George Jacobs, the
president of the website Vegetarian Society (Singapore)
(www.vegetarian-society.org) says, “I gave up meat in 1980 when I
was 28. I had read a book called Diet for a Small Planet,
which explains that the inefficiency of meat-eating means less food
available to the millions of people without enough food. Eating
meat is inefficient because to produce just one kilogram of meat,
many kilograms of plant food need to be fed to the animals whom we
kill for our food.” Stella Yfantidis Chen, the director of Whatever
Yoga and Healing Space (49 Club St., 6221-0300), a Western
vegetarian café that serves organic and vegetarian delights,
agrees. “People, turn to vegetarianism for health, environmental
and religious reasons, she says. For me it was a natural
inclination, there was no conscious reason. I just didn’t feel like
eating animal products once I found out how by eating meat, humans
were interfering with food groups. I was not comfortable with
knowing that the natural food chain was being altered. I have given
up meat for 15 years now.”
But Chen adds that the correct
mindset is important when converting to vegetarianism, failing
which, one’s health is impacted. She says, “I don’t avoid animal
products and animal food completely, although if I do eat them it
is not by choice. One shouldn’t put oneself under stress to avoid
animal products because the stress will ultimately cause you more
damage.”
But while it is certain that
vegetarianism is good for the environment, is it really beneficial
to our health? Jacobs feels it is. He says, “Diet is just one of
many factors that affect health. The main difference I felt after
going vegetarian was when I also gave up dairy products. The sinus
problems I had experienced for years disappeared and have not
returned since.” But Chen feels that vegetarianism is by no means
the only ticket to good health—many other factors come into play as
well. She says, “Going vegetarian can lead to good health if one
has a well-balanced vegetarian diet consisting of fruits,
vegetables, legumes, nuts and seeds that will give all the vitamins
and minerals one needs. But vegetarianism depends not just on the
food one ingests, but also the mind and body. It requires a
holistic approach. There is still a great majority of people who
avoid eating animal products but still succumb to illnesses
anyway.”
But can vegetarianism really fight
ailments and diseases—and does vegetarianism result in a lower
incidence of certain cancers and higher energy levels? Chen thinks
so, although there is a caveat attached. She elaborates,
“Vegetarianism helps with all diseases if it’s a well-balanced
diet. Disease occurs when the body is not in harmony—for instance
when one is not in good mental health. So along with vegetarianism,
one needs a holistic approach to health to maintain one’s
well-being. Vegetarianism is only one aspect of health and
wellness.”
So what do you do if you’ve
already decided to embark on vegetarianism, or at least cut down on
your meat intake? What is the best way to start? And most
importantly, how can one ensure a relatively smooth transition from
a meat-filled diet to a decidedly greener diet? It is recommended
that you do not immediately plunge into a solely-vegetable diet and
suddenly avoid meat altogether. Vegetarianism is best achieved
slowly and gradually. As Jacobs says, “Some people go vegetarian
all at once, but most people (myself included) do it gradually,
reducing meat consumption meal by meal, day by day. This allows us
to find alternatives. After a while, it becomes easy. When I first
went vegetarian, I saw it as a temporary change; but after 30
years, I don’t see myself ever going back to eating our fellow
animals. The more I learn about why one should be vegetarian—for
kindness, the environment, more food for hungry people—the more
determined I am.” Chen also agrees, “If you’re interested in
vegetarianism, start off by taking baby steps. Exchange one item at
a time from the food groups you eat. Don’t give yourself too much
stress by starting off too suddenly. Educate yourself, have a
well-balanced approach, attend macrobiotic and vegetarian cooking
classes and modify your vegetarian diet according to your likes,
dislikes and lifestyle.”
If you feel your resolve weakening
just think: A couple of vegetarian meals a week is a small
sacrifice for our own health and that of the planet,
too.