Vegetarianism has become a way of living for many people and thereby they enjoy the immense advantages derived from it; it has even provoked a healthy discussion among the people: ‘To be a vegetarian or non-vegetarian’, and driving many people to be vegetarian. Recently, a very high profile personality, former US President Bill Clinton has switched over to vegetarianism.

Factors that prompted people to be vegetarian:-

1) Religious factors:-

People began to be vegetarian from time immemorial days. Vegetarianism had its origin in Hinduism and its offshoots like Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, Saivism and Vaishnavism etc.To be precise, it had its origin as early as sixth century B.C.

Buddhism specifically enjoins you to stop craving which is one of the four fold path; in the noble eight fold path, it is enjoined that one should have a right intension and right livelihood. The right livelihood means that one should earn his living in a righteous way, by avoiding dealing in living beings including raising animals for slaughter and working in meat production and butchery. Here lie the seeds of vegetarianism.

Similarly, Jainism  enjoined non-violence and not to harm any living being, which clearly means not to kill any living being for the purpose of consumption.

Saivism, yet another off shoot of Hinduism specifically insisted people to remain vegetarian and in the common parlance Saivism means  vegetarian and even now vegetarian hotels invariably exhibit the word ‘saivam’ to indicate that only vegetarian foods are served there.

Vaishnavism also enjoined only vegetarian way of living.

Thus, people who are either Hindus or if they belong to these Hindu folds of religion like Buddhism, Jainism, Saivism and Vaishnavism naturally remain vegetarian by birth and practice it as a way of their life.

Thiruvalluvar in his Tamil classic Thirukkural which was said to be written in the second century A.D has devoted a separate chapter with the heading: ‘Not to eat meat’. In a particular poem he had stated as follows:-

‘People and all other living beings will worship those people who do not kill other living beings and who do not eat meat’

Thus vegetarianism has a very strong religious overtone. Naturally, under the influence of their religion, people remain vegetarian.

2) Social factors:-

Though Casteism is the bane of the Hindu society, it has got its own advantages too.

Iyers and Iyyangars, the subsects of Brahmin are vegetarian by birth and they practice vegetarianism.

Similarly, people who belong to Saiva Vellala community remain vegetarian by birth and eschew from eating any kind of non-vegetarian food items.

People hailing from the community of Jains also remain vegetarian.

Thus peoples hailing from a specific community by virtue of their birth remain vegetarian.

In some cases, in the joint Hindu families, when the head of the family (known as Kartha) remain vegetarian, all other family members of the joint Hindu family follow suit and thereby remain vegetarian.

3) Economic Factors:-

Remaining a vegetarian and maintaining your life style as a vegetarian is economical than remaining a non-vegetarian.

i)Varieties of green vegetables, green leaves and fresh fruits which are the mainstay of a vegetarian are comparatively cheaper than the non-vegetarian items like egg, fish, meat, beef and chicken etc.

ii)We can have a variety of vegetables, green leaves and fruits which are available in different seasons. For example, apple, mango, orange, guava, jack fruit, pomegranate, cherry, berry, suppota and banana etc are available in different seasons. While apples are available in a season, mangoes are available in yet another season. Thus vegetarian food items are available in variety throughout a year. Whereas, in the non-vegetarian food items, a consumer’s choices are limited and so they naturally shoot up in their price and becomes dearer to a consumer.

iii)Another major advantage of remaining vegetarian is that he can consume raw vegetables and fruits without cooking them and without losing their taste and flavor with an added advantage of having more nutrients and vitamins. Whereas, a non-vegetarian can not consume any of his food items uncooked. In fact, consuming a non-vegetarian food item like fish, egg, meat, beef etc uncooked is not possible at all besides being unhealthy.

iv) In other words, we can also say that a vegetarian can adjust with any situation where there is no scope for cooking; whereas a non-vegetarian will actually struggle in such difficult situations.

4) Health Factors:-

Many people remain vegetarian and some non-vegetarian is switching over to become vegetarian mainly due to health reasons.

Since a vegetarian has a number of options, choices and variety to choose from in his food items, he can have a balanced diet so easily and cheaply without straining much and without causing any harm to his health; whereas a non-vegetarian being limited in resources and choices, he has to strain much to have a balanced food without spoiling his health.

A vegetarian in his post 40s, if he is under strict diet control, can avoid diabetes and cholesterol and even keep them under check and within manageable limits. In other words he can control his body mass index proportionate to his height and weight; whereas, a non-vegetarian has to struggle much to keep his cholesterol level within manageable limits if he still remains a non-vegetarian.

A non-vegetarian is more prone to heart attack than a vegetarian because of his food habits.

Generally, a non-vegetarian has to take strenuous efforts to keep fit, whereas, a vegetarian because of his easy and simple food habits, has to remain just systematic in his food habits, sleep and exercise etc without worrying much about his health.

Therefore a vegetarian being care free and risk free in his life naturally makes it as his way of life for the reasons stated above.

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Why is it that some people become non-vegetarian while others remain vegetarian?

One line is not sufficient to answer this question. It needs space for its explanation. There is not one reason but several reasons behind it.

Henceforth, I am mentioning the reasons, which are responsible for making of vegetarians. They are as follows:

• First and the foremost reason is that vegetarians do not dehumanize the animals. They think that animals are like us who need love and affection. Although, they might become aggressive and dehumanize animals, the period is very short for which they show aggression.
• It also depends on the religious beliefs of the person. For example, Hinduism and Jainism forbid meat consumption.

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• The surroundings in which they grow up also affect them. It is because if they grow in a vegetarian environment they will have a lesser tendency to become non-vegetarian.
• It also depends on the open mindedness of person. It is important because more open a person is to the different food habits more chances are there that he/she will alter his/her food habits.
• They are generally non-violent in nature.
• They generally love nature. They believe in preserving the biodiversity.
• It depends on the scientific approach of the person. It is because many scientific papers and articles claims that vegetarian diet is good.
• Health consciousness of the person also determines the food habit it takes. For example, to loose weight quickly a person might become vegetarian.
• It also depends on physical condition of the person. For example, a person with the danger of heart attack advised to avoid meat.
• Finally, they are sensitive to blood.

So, above mentioned are the main reasons why a person can become vegetarian. However, for the person to remain vegetarian forever, he/she has to stop dehumanizing animals. Otherwise, somewhere down the line a person will become non-vegetarian.

Becoming vegetarian has many advantages, which I have mentioned in many of my previous articles. These articles are as follows:

• Vegetarianism: an Elixir for Life 1: This article tells about the ways of saving greenhouse gases.
• Vegetarianism: An Elixir for Life 2: Proof that a non-vegetarian diet is posing a risk to the whole world.
• Vegetarianism: Elixir of Life 3: Enter to know how the world is getting into the grip of violence, hatred and negativity.
• Vegetarian Diet Can Only Solve Food Problem: With, increasing food prices and population the danger of worldwide food war is increasing. However, I feel that the solution of problem is very simple.

For more articles that are similar, refer:

1. Non Violence vs. Terrorism: Which is the best way to voice your views?
2. Why People Fight?: A question whose real reason takes different forms in different conditions.
3. 10 Reasons Why a Person Become Vegetarian: A real concept behind the making of vegetarian is given.
4. Why Good People Always Suffer: Why is it that all of God’s havoc is borne by good people? A mentality which is normally seen among good people need to be changed for good. Here, I give some very strong reasons of why to change this attitude.
5. Corporal Punishment: Good or Bad: Societal changes have occurred.

Articles on vegetarian diet advantages written by other authors are:

1)      Five Good Reasons to Be Vegetarian by Lucy Lockett

2)      Advantage Vegetarianism by dolli

3)      Global Warming and Vegetarianism by Rakshana Das

4)      People’s Knowledge and Acceptance of the Vegetarian Lifestyle by Jennifer Kirkwood

5)      The Ethics of Vegetarianism by Sarah Afshar

6)      Veggies Rule, Meat Eaters Drool by Benjamin Hartzfeld

7)      The Benefits of Vegetarianism by fornls

8)      Vegetarian Diet by Sugar Cane

9)      Why Many People Become Vegetarian by Tere

10)  Why Should Someone Become a Vegan? by Adam Sugden

11)  Meat Eaters Vs. Vegetarians by mrbliss1977

12)  Being a Vegetarian by Katien

13)  Vegetarianism: Change Your Plate, Change the World! by Holly Miles