New Delhi: The number of people choosing to be vegetarians is increasing around the world. They are becoming vegetarians for different reasons, like protecting animals, preserving the environment, or leading a healthier life. This choice can have a big impact on health and the environment. But there is a day for vegetarians around the world, which is observed every year on October 1 globally.
In this article, we will learn why and when the day started and some interesting facts about vegetarianism.
World Vegetarian Day 2024: When and why was the day started?
October 1 is World Vegetarian Day. It aims to raise awareness about the benefits of vegetarianism and its positive impact on the environment. Studies show that plant-based diets can have many health benefits, such as reducing the risk of heart disease, certain cancers, obesity, and type 2 diabetes.
The day was established in 1977 by the North American Vegetarian Society and endorsed by the International Vegetarian Union in 1978 to promote vegetarianism’s joy, compassion, and life-enhancing possibilities. Vegetarianism has been around for a long time, with its roots in the Renaissance era and the Age of Enlightenment.
The first vegetarian society was established in England in 1847, and the International Vegetarian Society was founded in 1908. The first vegan society was started in 1944.
Benefits of Vegetarianism
Vegetarianism has many benefits for both people and animals. These benefits include:
– Helping to reduce climate change by eating less meat, which will challenge food systems and discourage the use of factory farming.
– Improving health by eating more plant-based proteins, which can reduce cancer rates and heart disease and help you live longer.
– Raising awareness about animals living in poor conditions and being abused on factory farms.
– Helping the environment, as plant-based diets have a smaller impact than animal agriculture.
– Addressing world hunger by promoting vegetarian diets, which can lead to more efficient use of produce and grain crops.
Do You Know?
Most vegetarians don’t eat meat, but there are different types of vegetarian diets:
Here are different types of diets:
– Lacto-ovo vegetarian: doesn’t eat meat but eats eggs and dairy products.
– Vegan: doesn’t eat meat or any food from animals.
– Raw vegan: doesn’t eat foods cooked above 115 degrees F.
– Macrobiotic: occasionally eats unprocessed vegan foods, including whole grains and fish.
– Pescatarian: eats only fish as meat.
– Flexitarian: mostly eats a vegetarian diet but includes meat on occasion.
Vegetarianism: Facts
Many people choose to become vegetarians for different reasons. Some think it’s not right to eat meat from animals because they believe it’s cruel. Others become vegetarians for health reasons. Vegetarian diets are believed to reduce heart disease. Some people also believe that this type of diet helps to protect the Earth.
There are about 355 million vegetarians worldwide. India has the most vegetarians of all the countries. Nearly 40 per cent of India’s population doesn’t eat meat. Other countries with high numbers of vegetarians include Taiwan, Israel, Italy, Germany and Austria.
On the other hand, vegetarianism is also slowly growing in some countries, like Europe and the United States.
In India, though, vegetarian diets are declining as they are being replaced with omnivore diets.
According to the Statista Global Consumer Survey, the number of urban Indians identifying as vegetarians dropped from one-third to one-quarter between 2018-19 and 2021-22.
Vegetarian diets have become more prevalent in the last three years, but some countries still prefer meat.
In Mexico and Spain, the rate of vegetarians has remained below 3 per cent.
In South Korea, the rate of vegetarians rose from a deficient 0.9 per cent in 2018-19.
World Vegetarian Day is celebrated every year on October 1. It was created by the North American Vegetarian Society in 1977 to encourage the advantages of a vegetarian lifestyle. This day marks the beginning of Vegetarian Awareness Month, which concludes with World Vegan Day on November 1. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
