It is said plant-based vegetarian diet is superior to non-vegetarian diet because that prevents heart diseases, colon cancer, diabetes, gout, osteoporosis, gallstones, kidney stones and kidney related ailments, other different kinds of cancer and finally obesity.

If vegetarian diet is combined with regular exercise then it is not unlikely that blood pressure can also be controlled to a considerable extent. Vegetarianism has been advocated since time immemorial and more or less in all religions. Ancient Hindus were all vegetarians in normal times, if vegetarian foods were available in plenty. Meat diet was recommended only when normal vegetarian foods were not readily available during any natural calamities.

The sole objective to switch over to meat diet temporarily was only to save one&’s life, which was called aapad dharma or emergency duty. Otherwise under normal situation abstention from any meat diet was given absolute importance. Buddhists and Jains wholeheartedly support vegetarianism. In fact, in ancient India non-vegetarian food was always considered a hindrance for mental and spiritual development, because it was thought such food was instrumental in developing negative tendencies in an individual, instead consumption of milk and milk products were highly advised.

Similarly Jains advocate complete non-violence, even some Jains do not consume what is grown underground, because they think when plants are pulled out of ground tiny creatures, which usually cling to the roots and bulbs, are unnecessarily killed. Despite all these precautions, all over the world meat consumption is still on the rise, but gradually people are becoming aware of the negative impacts associated with eating meat. It is also a fact eating non-vegetarian diet makes one haughty in temperament. We can easily observe the difference in the nature of animals those who eat meat and those who don’t.

However, nature has created humans as vegetarian, because our internal structure does not match with the structure of a meat eating animal rather it is very much close to herb eating animal, like cow or goat; again our canines are not that developed like tigers or cats, because we are not supposed to tear any flesh. Any vegetarian diet can be easily healthy, if we are slightly careful in terms of what we eat and how we eat. Cooking process underlines a lot of difference. In fact, our cooking process is not scientific, for which a vegetarian usually suffers from deficiency diseases. Preferring a vegetarian diet but at the same time if we have fascination for processed food items, then it is not a healthy eating habit, because they constitute many chemicals as preservatives and tastemakers and in many cases laced with artificial colouring agents, which are harmful for the body in the long run. Whatever we eat should preferably be self-cooked, there should not be anything, which is artificially prepared or some chemicals added to enhance its flavour.

Moreover, they are not healthy in terms of their food value. These are the basic clues, which invariably should be followed when we opt to be a vegetarian, but it is a fact a vegetarian is comparatively healthy related to his health than a person who eats non-vegetarian diet. Vegans are usually deficient in Vitamin B and calcium, if they do not include in their diet collard greens, leafy greens, pulses, wheat, tofu and more. For a vegetarian, a balanced diet requires to give a little more attention. Food must include fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

Fruits do not mean only costly fruits such as apple or kiwi or grapes, a simple non-de-script banana or guava contains more nutrition than an apple or a kiwi. But fruits should preferably be eaten before main meals otherwise it will cause indigestion in many cases. In fact, ripe tomatoes are better option for diabetes instead of fruits, because they are nutritious as well as do not help in raising blood sugar level. Usually fruit is easily digested and contains sucrose, pre-digested sugar. Therefore, our body easily and quickly assimilate sucrose into our system provided we are not diabetic. But when combined with other foods, they remain in our stomach for a long time and ferment.

Therefore, fruit should be eaten alone and not combined with other food items. As regards fruits, we are suffering from some preconceived ideas that fruits can be our snack but not full meal. This is a mistaken belief, since before grains entered our main menu, for thousands of years our ancestors survived solely on fruit diet.

Therefore, it can easily be our staple food and we can simultaneously earn longevity by remaining disease free. In fact, most of us are not aware that meat contains only around 13 per cent protein and rest water, trace minerals and other poisonous matters, which are harmful for our system in the long run, specially kidneys and heart. Not only that meat usually remains in our stomach for a long time and ferments and releases toxic substances, which are definitely harmful.

For our constipation, we mainly blame our weak digestion, but the fact is otherwise it is chiefly due to our meat diet, because meat neither contains any carbohydrate nor fibre, which is required to tone up our intestines consequently affects our digestion, therefore, intestinal cancer is mainly associated with meat consumption. By preferring to be a vegetarian, we can also easily help conserve fossil fuel and support our nation. Since non-renewable source of energy is fast depleting, by eating plant-based food, we can easily conserve fossil fuel. Now it is for us to decide, which food is better vegetarian or nonvegetarian in the greater interest of mankind.

It is one of the findings of the Nobel Peace Prize winning Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change states that meat consumption would double by 2050, which means the volume of methane emitted by cattle and sheep would also double thereby aggravating the global warming problem further. By consuming livestock animals we expose ourselves to different kinds of steroids and dangerous antibiotics and growth hormone, because animals are being constantly fed these harmful drugs to protect them from any infection.

This is also one of the reasons why the effectiveness of antibiotics in the human body is gradually diminishing. Many dangerous viruses and bacteria are also common to animals, and by eating them we expose ourselves to such organisms. Though microorganisms are also present in plant foods, yet they could in way be compared to the organisms found in the animal food. Further, there is a hidden link between consumption of meat and rise in cholesterol level in our body, because meat contains high level of saturated fats, which is the main causative factor linked with cardiovascular disorders and hypertension.

Heart disease is the greatest killer in the world, which is only followed by cancer. Burning and roasting of flesh indirectly hatches a chemical element known as Methylcholanthrene, which is highly carcinogenic or cancer causing substance. Meat also contains a considerable amount of urokinase protein and urea, which increase the burden on kidneys. Consequently their function is compromised, ultimately triggering kidney failure in course of time.

These days obesity is a great problem, which makes us prone to diabetes, heart ailments and other dangerous diseases. By simply changing our diet schedule to vegetarian food items including fruits and salads, we can easily take care of our obesity and subsequently our other related ailments. We can easily achieve good health and well being throughout our life simply by switching over to vegetarianism and also simultaneously doing some exercise regularly. It is a universal truth one day we will all die because our life is limited and short, but it is not wise to make it further shorter by consuming non-vegetarian food. Tastes only lie on our tongue, if we could control our taste buds, then it can be presumed we have won half of the battle of our life.