Bhopal, Apr 28: The world is now turning towards vegetarian food. More and more people are discarding the habit of eating non-veg delicacies and prefer the safe vegetarian foodstuffs in Europe, USA and other continents. Some scientists, doctors and those advocating vegetarian food explain that like the carnivorous animals our stomach is not adapted to digesting of non-vegetarian food and vice versa. Hence they say that it is always better to take vegetarian food which has every ingredient needed by our body growth. The vegetarian food is tasty, easy to digest and can be eaten in all seasons, with no side effect. Then why take the foul smelling and hard-to-eat and hard-to-digest non-vegetarian food?

Knowing the good qualities of vegetarian food, Hindu tradition had forbidden eating of non-vegetarian food. Another reason is to maintain the natural balance. If animals are killed for food, our forefathers felt it would affect the nature adversely and lead to change in climate, thereby inviting disaster to mankind.

Advantages of veg food

* Lessen stomach diseases, cleans digestive tract.

* Healthy and shining skin.

* Sufficient quantity of nutrients.

* Vitamins, minerals, proteins are in plenty.

* Ensures longer life span.

Be vegetarian

Eating is a must for our survival. People do take two types of food - Vegetarian and non-vegetarian. Our scriptures advocate for vegetarian food only. To understand the importance of vegetarian food at a tender age, several chapters on the quality and goodness of vegetarian food are taught in schools. The students are taught as to what type of food is preferred by our body and the nutrient value of vegetables and fruits.

In this era of busy life, it is very difficult to maintain our health. But apparently youths are giving special importance to their health just like they care for their career. They are now maintaining their health through exercise in the morning and are more conscious about what they should eat.

The youths today are well aware of what should be eaten and what should be avoided. To spread awareness about keeping fit and vegetarian food, the celebrities have performed catwalk at different places in the country.

It has been observed that even when eating out, these days people prefer to take vegetarian food. Bhopal Today Team met people to know about their viewpoints on vegetarian food and eating habits.

What they say

Shadab Shammi prefers vegetarian food, as it is the best. Vegetarian food gives us more energy than any other food, he felt.

Parul Thuval is a pure vegetarian. She is of the opinion that when it comes to taste, non-vegetarian food is a poor cousin of vegetarian food.

Faiz Ahmed is a student of hotel management. We are taught about the qualities of vegetarian and non-vegetarian food. More and more use of non-vegetarian food will lead to imbalance the nature, he felt.

Dr. Puneet Tandon said that non-vegetarian food gives more problem to our body comparing to vegetarian food. We advise the patients with stomach upset to take light vegetarian food only. Moreover, vegetarian food gives more nutrition to the body comparing to non-veg.

Krishna Soni is technical assistant in food and nutrition department. She thinks that maintaining of body could be done better through taking of vegetarian food only. Vegetarian food gives us all necessary vitamins, minerals and protein, she said. Seasonal vegetables and fruits are the best to eat for all round development of the body and mind, she added.

According to Rajiv Nigam, administrative officer in Bhopal Municipal Corporation, said 'our body structure is for taking of vegetarian food only. The non-veg food available in the market has no nutritious value. The organic concept is spreading in the developed countries. This concept says that chemical fertilizers are harmful to the body as well as the soil. 'Jain Vegetarian' is the new word spreading these days. It means pure vegetarian. Nigam said he is a 'Jain Vegetarian'.