Famous vegetarians. The stars are vegetarians

On an American talk show featuring Hollywood stars The presenter of the first magnitude offered his guests pizza as an improvisational joke. What happened next shocked not only the presenter, but also the majority of the audience in the hall (and maybe not only in the hall). The actors suddenly began to resist eating pizza in every possible way, but they also didn’t want to look like live too concerned about the situation, so it was obvious that they were faced with a real dilemma. And one is very famous actor I decided to scrape off the cheese with my hands before trying a slice of pizza. Others simply refused to eat it. After what they saw, only two questions were read on the faces of the spectators in the hall: “Are they people or robots? Do they eat anything at all?”

The truth is that actors take their diets extremely seriously, and for good reason. Their health is very important to them because their body is the key to a successful career. If they start to look old very quickly, they will lose out on a lot of potential roles.

Show business is a very cruel industry that requires everyone who appears on the big screen to have an ideal appearance. Therefore, those actors who were offered pizza on a talk show were not pretentious celebrities at all - they were simply concerned about their health.

As it turns out, many actors have made their choice to become strict vegetarians (vegans) for the same reason - they try to take care of their bodies. Many studies show that this type of diet reduces the risk of developing cancer and a huge number of other diseases, and actually prolongs life. So is it any surprise that many actors are vegetarians?

10. Brad Pitt

One of the most famous Hollywood actors, Brad Pitt has been a committed vegan for quite some time. He became a vegetarian because of the health benefits of such a diet, but this is not the only reason his life choice. The actor is also a supporter of vegetarianism because negative impact impact of livestock farming on the environment.

Many people support anti-pollution movements and oppose carbon emissions, but did you know that agriculture is in first place in terms of emissions into the atmosphere carbon dioxide and methane? When raising livestock, a huge amount of organic waste emitting huge amounts of methane into the atmosphere, which experts say is main reason climate change.

Brad Pitt's vegetarian diet is reportedly a source of conflict in the family because neither Angelina Jolie nor their children are vegetarians.

9. Joaquin Phoenix

Of all the famous Hollywood vegetarian actors, Joaquin Phoenix has perhaps the longest experience: he became a vegetarian at the age of 3. The actor can even remember the moment when he decided to change his lifestyle to save animals.

According to Joaquin, he was fishing with his father and siblings when he first encountered cruelty, watching as the fish his father caught twitched and fought for its life until it died. He and his siblings vowed never to eat meat again, and categorically asked their parents why they were doing this. In his words, "...we said, 'Why didn't you tell us where the meat comes from?' And [my mother] didn't know what to say. I can still see the moment when she cried."

Joaquin Phoenix is not only a strict vegetarian, but also an active activist for animal rights. He has participated in several short films and documentaries on animal cruelty, such as the well-known documentary"Earthlings", in which he read the text.

8. Woody Harrelson

This actor is perhaps best known for his role in the American comedy series " Cheerful company"("Cheers"). He has been a vegan for many years. Woody Harrelson recently made it onto animal rights organization PETA's list of "Sexiest Vegetarian Celebrities."

He stopped eating dairy products while still a young actor. One day, Harrelson was walking along the streets of New York when suddenly he was stopped by a passerby. She said his runny nose and acne were due to lactose intolerance, thereby shutting dairy products out of Woody Harrelson's kitchen.

After a few days, his runny nose went away and his acne disappeared. The actor later gave up meat, complaining that after eating hamburgers and steaks he felt energetically drained. In fact, he went further than most vegans in terms of dietary restrictions, also giving up sugar and flour.

In the hit movie Zombieland, Woody plays a character obsessed with Twinkies. However, this too little known fact, the actor actually didn't eat a single biscuit during filming because he replaced them all with vegan "faux Twinkies" made entirely from cornstarch.

He has been involved in numerous projects with PETA, including programs fighting for the release of experimental chimpanzees.

7. Alicia Silverstone

Star Alicia Silverstone of the 1995 classic "Clueless" recently appeared on Oprah Winfrey's talk show to discuss her choice to go vegan. As a teenager, the actress struggled with a number of health problems, including acne, asthma, insomnia and constipation. Since Alicia started following a vegan diet, she has noticed a lot of amazing changes in her body.

Now Alicia Silverstone is 39 years old and claims to be full of energy. Many vegans experience this, contrary to popular belief that a vegetarian diet drains energy and vitality.

According to , there is one thing that stands out most from this: the white spots on her nails disappeared, and her eyes began to turn red much less. And this is extremely important for her acting career.

Like Gwyneth Paltrow, Alicia Silverstone has written her own vegan cookbook called The Kind Diet. According to the actress, she became a vegan after seeing animals being slaughtered as a teenager. Then she looked at her dog and thought: “If I don’t want to eat you, then how can I eat animals that are as cute and amazing as you?”

6. Tobey Maguire

Tobey Maguire has been an extremely strict vegan for many years. During the filming of the film "The Great Gatsby" one incident happened to him. Each of the actors playing the main roles was provided with the most expensive Mercedes Benz cars to move around the city. But whoever organized the gifts clearly wasn't aware of Tobey Maguire's vegan lifestyle, because the car's seats were upholstered in leather. The actor refused a new car because he does not use leather products in his life.

Many people think that being vegan means just changing your diet, but this is not true at all. Following a vegan lifestyle means avoiding all animal products - nothing that comes from or from animals is allowed, including leather.

The leather is made from Indian cows that are kept without food or water for several days so that they themselves die of starvation and exhaustion, since killing cows is illegal in India. When you think about it, you realize that wearing leather clothes is no better than wearing fur. Like Woody Harrelson, Toby also received PETA's Sexiest Vegan award. Tobey Maguire was the one who first convinced our next celebrity to go vegan...

5. Natalie Portman

Natalie Portman has established herself as one of the greatest living actresses and has been featured in some truly amazing projects.

In her early thirties, she looks as beautiful as ever. What's the secret? Vegan diet. When the actress is asked questions about her stunning skin color, she replies that her secret weapon- be a vegan, and claims that as soon as she eats any dairy product, she immediately develops pimples and blackheads.

Natalie Portman first became a vegan in 2009 after reading Jonathan Safran Foer's book Eating Animals. Like Maguire, she not only does not eat animal products, but also does not use or wear products made from them.

She even had her own vegan shoe brand, which unfortunately went out of business. The problem with buying items from "vegan" designers is that they are usually very expensive. This means that many vegans (including Natalie) tend to buy their shoes and clothes at cheap stores like Target or Wal-Mart, because most of the items they sell are made from synthetic materials. materials.

Vegans should constantly check the ingredients of not only the food they buy in supermarkets, but also the clothes they buy. As you might guess, vegans love to wear cotton.

4. Demi Moore

At 53, Demi Moore still looks gorgeous. She maintained that radiant effect that fueled her successful film career, and many people still wonder how she did it. Maybe she drinks human blood? Or is she an alien disguised as a human? No, the truth is actually much more innocent. She began to lead a vegan lifestyle. Not only vegan - she eats raw food, that is, adheres to a vegan raw food diet.

The philosophy of a raw food diet is that under the influence of heat treatment, all useful minerals and vitamins in foods disappear. Demi Moore also claims that she stays in such great shape because she eats a lot of fruits and vegetables, which contain a wide range of antioxidants that actively fight the aging process.

Now, some may think that the actress follows a vegan diet for health benefits, and not for moral and ethical reasons to save animals. It must be said that in the end, Demi Moore does play a huge role in protecting animals, even if this was not her original goal. It's true - when one person does something as simple as changing the way they eat, it has a huge positive impact on the environment.

3. Alec Baldwin

Alec Baldwin is undoubtedly one of the most popular actors of our time and one of the many who have decided to switch to a vegan diet. But the reason he made this choice may surprise you.

It all started in 2011 when Baldwin was diagnosed with prediabetes. The diagnosis worried the actor, so he immediately tried to find a way to give reverse stroke illness while there was still time. He decided to follow a vegan diet, and as a result, Baldwin became a huge success!

But even before that, Alec Baldwin was a long-time vegetarian. He grew up with cows and other livestock. “They were like pets to me,” says the actor. “Once an incident occurred because of which I forever refused to eat beef.”

Like other vegan actors, Alec Baldwin actively collaborates with PETA, an organization that protects animal rights. He reads the text in the short film "Meet Your Meat", which shows viewers what really happens in large specialized farms (poultry farms, pig farms, etc.).

2. Olivia Wilde

Everyone knows Olivia Wilde for her amazing, beautiful features. She has appeared in numerous films, receiving praise from audiences and critics. She is an outspoken activist on a range of issues, including animal rights. She has been vegan for just over five years, and before that she was a vegetarian since she was 12 years old.

Like Natalie Portman, Olivia switched from veganism to vegetarianism during her pregnancy and began consuming dairy products and eggs to provide her baby with the necessary nutrition. nutrients and vitamins.

She created a website called "Wilde Things" dedicated to the vegan lifestyle. This site features vegan recipes, stories from her vegan life and interesting information for those who are thinking about becoming vegan.

Why are so many becoming vegan? According to one theory, it’s all about the very nature of the act. Actors, by the nature of their profession, must be deeply feeling, empathetic people. In other words, they must be able to put themselves in the shoes of others. But after years of developing their professional skills, many begin to expand their sense of empathy towards all living things - not just people.

Actors like Olivia Wilde have the ability to feel, in a very real sense, what it's like to grow up in terrible living conditions from birth, to be beaten and experience ill-treatment only to be inhumanely destroyed for the sake of consumption.

1. Daryl Hannah

Known for her role as a master of Japanese sword Ellie Driver's katana in Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill, Daryl Hannah is another successful actor who became a vegan.

When she was a little girl, she remembers watching calves on the farm and thinking about what wonderful creatures they were. Then someone told her that the next day they would have veal.

Since then, Daryl Hannah has become a vegan and eventually adopted a completely vegan lifestyle. In her opinion, this decision was based solely on emotions, but the ethical component, beneficial influence health and the environment have also been impacted.

Daryl Hannah, like many other actors, has turned to the Internet to share her journey to veganism, creating online chats and vlogging about all things vegan. She explains how making the decision to switch to a vegan lifestyle can have a huge impact positive influence impact on the environment, even if it's just one person.

Did you know that if we stopped raising livestock for food, milk and other animal products, we could solve the problem of world hunger in just one night? Think about how much food and water it takes to raise an animal before it is slaughtered for food. Farms that raise livestock use five times more land to produce the same amount of food as farms that grow only plant crops.

Vegetarianism has become very fashionable these days. People switch to a vegetarian diet out of curiosity, for health benefits, as a result of adopting new religious beliefs or simply out of compassion for animals. Historical facts show that many communities around the world were built on the basis of vegetarianism or veganism. A vegetarian lifestyle is followed in India. It is from this country that most of the world's vegan celebrities brought their commitment to following a natural green diet. Here are some famous names. All these people adhered and adhere to strict vegetarianism.

Famous vegetarians:

Leonardo da Vinci. The world-famous artist from Italy is famous not only for his paintings, but also for his vegetarian lifestyle. His love for animals was so deep that he bought animals from meat markets. It was he who said: “As long as people slaughter animals, they will kill each other.”

Paul McCartney. One of the participants in the popular music group"Beatles". He decided to follow a vegetarian diet with his wife Linda McCartney, an animal rights activist. In one of his interviews, he expressed the following thought: “If slaughterhouses were built with glass walls, everyone would be vegetarians.”

Thiruvalluvar. A saint whose worship is widespread in the southern part of India. His statement became famous: “How can a person who eats the meat and flesh of living beings show compassion.”

Pamela Anderson. Popular Canadian actress and dancer. Adheres to vegetarianism adolescence. He defends animal rights and is the founder of many charity campaigns.

Tobey Maguire. Hollywood's Spider-Man is a committed vegetarian. He has changed his diet significantly and even abstains from eating eggs and dairy products. In addition, you will not find a single animal leather product in his home.

Mike Tyson. American-born former boxer. He is the undisputed heavyweight champion. He won his first title at the age of 20 and successfully defended it nine times in subsequent years. Follows a completely vegetarian diet.

Amitabh Bachchan. A Bollywood star, his popularity rating is higher than that of Marlon Brando and Robert De Niro. He has been strictly vegetarian for a significant part of his life.

World famous vegetarian actors:

Pamela Anderson (Canada);
Jim Carrey (USA);
Amitabh Bachchan (India);
John Abraham (India);
Casey Affleck (USA);
Gillian Andersen (USA);
Alec Baldwin (USA);
James Cromwell (USA);
Tobey Maguire (USA);
Lisa Edelstein (USA);
Joaquin Phoenix (USA);
Brad Pitt (USA);
Alicia Silverstone (USA);
Billy West (USA);
Christian Bale (Great Britain);
Julie Christie (UK);
Sadie Frost (UK);
Anne Hathaway (USA);
Natalie Portman (USA).

World famous vegetarian athletes:

Adam Myerson (cycling, USA);
Greg Chapel (cricket, Australia);
Martina Navratilova (tennis, Czech Republic);
Sachin Tendulkar (cricket, India);
Mike Tyson (Boxing, USA).

Other famous personalities past and present:

Leonardo da Vinci, artist
Amos Bronson Alcott, transcendentalist
Confucius, Chinese philosopher
Dalai Lama 14th, spiritual leader
Albert Einstein, physicist
Adolf Hitler, Nazi leader
Aristotle, philosopher and thinker
Plato, philosopher and thinker
Pythagoras, mathematician
Socrates, philosopher and thinker
Mahatma Gandhi, Indian leader
Swami Vivekananda, philosopher
George Bernard Shaw, playwright
Isaac Newton, scientist
Leo Tolstoy, writer
Mark Twain, writer
Michael Jackson, singer
Benjamin Franklin, American politician
Henry Ford, entrepreneur
Louisa May Alcott, writer
H.G. Wells, writer
Ringo Starr, singer
George Harrison, singer
Charlotte Brontë, writer
Charles Darwin, naturalist
Bryan Adams, singer
Gulu Lalwani, entrepreneur
Heather Mills, community activist
Mac Danzig, martial arts champion
Prince, singer
Dr. Abdul Kalam, scientist
Rabindranath Tagore, poet and artist
Paul McCartney, singer
Chelsea Clinton.

Of course, this list is not complete and is erroneous in some places. But it is precisely thanks to many of these individuals that the more people become adherents of vegetarianism.

The culture of vegetarianism and the refusal to use any animal products is rapidly developing every year, and famous vegetarians, including celebrities of various kinds, contribute to this by their example.

Like any other phenomenon that has large number followers, vegetarianism did not originate today, or even yesterday, but several thousand years ago. And throughout its existence, it has been ambiguously interpreted by observers, causing heated discussions and polemics about the harm and benefits it brings.

Should you join this movement or not? personal choice each person, but the list of famous and successful people number of people who have made a choice in favor of vegetarianism is steadily growing and expanding.

So who are these famous people who have achieved recognition in Russia and in the world by excluding meat and fish from their diet, and in more radical cases, not wearing leather or fur? The time has come to get to know each other better, and who knows if, looking at their fame and success, you might want to follow the same path.

Examples from the past

Even in ancient times, vegetarianism found thousands of followers in all corners of the world, capturing both entire nations, India as an example, and attracting individuals whose biography has been preserved for centuries, and whose names are well known.

Here are some of them:

Pythagoras of Samos is a great ancient Greek mathematician and philosopher, in addition to excellent scientific treatises, who expressed a simple but brilliant phrase: “You cannot eat something that has eyes”;
Plutarch is also a famous thinker and moralist of ancient Greece, arguing for his refusal of meat by the fact that the human mind weakens from such food;
Leonardo da Vinci is a genius and talented person in many areas of science and art, who lived and worked during the Renaissance, the one who anticipated the inventions of the parachute, telescope, bicycle, flying machine and many other things that one cannot do without modern world. He was considered a universal man, and he, in turn, believed that as long as people slaughter animals, they will continue to kill each other;
Leo Tolstoy is a cult Russian writer whose works are read throughout the world, rightfully classifying them as masterpieces of literature. The classic made the transition to vegetarian culture and thinking at the age of 50, believing that a vegetarian diet would contribute to the perfection of spirit and personal morality. He remained true to these beliefs for another 32 years, until the end of his life.
Albert Einstein - legendary physicist and laureate Nobel Prize, like many of his other great predecessors, said that the development of vegetarianism, best way preserve the life and health of the Earth's population;
Henry Ford, a famous American entrepreneur and founder of the Ford concern, adhered to vegetarian principles, consistent with the concept of reincarnation of life. Firmly believing that a person lives countless times, he prepared for the next life in this way. It is curious that today the owner of the corporation, his great-grandson, adheres to the same beliefs.

The great vegetarians of the past do not end with those listed above, remembering participants in the movement in different centuries, it is worth mentioning Buddha Shakyamuni, Sergius of Radonezh, Mahatma Gandhi, Chesterfield, Arthur Schopenhauer, Franz Kafka, Seraphim of Sarov, Nikola Tesla, and hundreds more people who influenced world development.

Followers of vegetarian culture today

The development of the film industry in particular and show business in general makes its brightest representatives the objects of close attention of millions of people who follow not only their new successes and projects, but also their personal lives. Hollywood actors, singers, top models and fashion designers, showmen, socialites and others whose names are well known. Whose faces flash on TV screens and covers of glossy magazines, among such people there are many famous vegetarians.

The most famous people who refused meat food:

Richard Gere is an American Hollywood actor who has been following a vegetarian diet for 30 years; in addition, he participates in various animal protection activities, including jointly with the Dalai Lama;
Paul McCartney, a member of the legendary Fab Four, is not only a composer and musician, he is also a staunch vegetarian and a famous fighter for the rights of little brothers;
Leo DiCaprio, a charismatic and beloved actor by many, is a long-time and active participant in many social movements in support of animals and the environment, it goes without saying that Leonardo does not eat meat;
Uma Thurman - wonderful actress and a woman of exquisite beauty, took her first steps in the vegetarian movement, at the age of 11, and to this day remains faithful to such convictions;
Pamella Anderson is another one famous woman vegetarian who made successful career fashion models leading a vegetarian lifestyle;
Brad Pitt, a Hollywood sex symbol and a talented actor, does not eat animal meat, and says that he follows vegetarianism not for the sake of fashion, but in accordance with his philosophy;
Jim Carrey joined the list of vegetarian actors relatively recently, namely after leading role in the film “Ace Ventura”, in the filming of which, in addition to the brilliant comedian, many animals took part;
Tobey Maguire - famous actor, who played the role of “Spider-Man”, is a convinced vegan, so much so that, in his words: “he will not allow a man in leather clothes to enter his own house”;
Ozzy Ossbourne - yes, yes, a rebel and leader of a cult hard rock band, also among the famous vegetarians, the same Ozzy who once bit off heads bats right on stage, now adheres to a special diet and even writes a column about a healthy lifestyle in the popular magazine Rolling Stone;
Natalie Portman, an Oscar-winning actress, has perhaps outdone everyone, since she has not eaten meat since she was eight years old, ever since she became a witness. scientific experiments over the chick.

The list of vegetarian stars can be continued for a very long time: Madonna, singer Pink, Bill Clinton, Yoko Ono, Sylvester Stallone, Paris Hilton, musician Moby, writer Chuck Palahniuk and many others have found something important for themselves in the philosophy of vegetarianism.

But not only Hollywood actors and other Western idols can talk about their affiliation with the movement; Russia also has a considerable number of its followers.

Supporters of vegetarianism among Russian stars:

Pavel Durov - creator social networks“VKontakte” and “Telegram”, gave up meat while still a student, and has repeatedly expressed on the Internet that he is a peaceful being, does not like war and is a vegetarian;
Irena Ponaroshku – TV presenter, became a vegetarian after own husband, which I am immensely happy about, because by switching to such a diet, I gained more energy and became less lazy;
Sati Casanova is a singer and actress who became a vegetarian in the process of becoming interested in yoga; the refusal of meat, fish and chicken, according to the singer, took place gradually and without self-abuse, it was just that at a certain moment the body itself refused to accept such food;
Nikolai Drozdov, a journalist and TV presenter, familiar to more than one generation, gave up eating meat back in 1970, still adheres to these principles and, by the way, is in excellent health. physical fitness;
Timur “Kashtan” Batrutdinov is a showman and TV presenter, considers himself a vegetarian, but allows wearing clothes made of fur and leather;
Laima Vaikule is a singer and actress who has won the love of fans not only with her creativity, but also with her active life position in the fight for animal rights and humane treatment of them.
There are many more famous vegans in our country. These include: writers, politicians, actors, TV presenters, musicians, and, of course, athletes.

Who, if not people who have dedicated their lives to sports, needs to constantly monitor their health and maintain their body in excellent physical shape? Looking at Russian athletes and world champions who have made a choice in favor of vegetarianism, you can’t help but wonder if all the negative statements about this movement are not exaggerated? If, as spiteful critics claim, vegetarianism is not acceptable for the human body and is detrimental to health, then how did all these people who gave up meat manage to reach such athletic heights and continue to conquer new Olympic heights and set world records?

Famous vegetarian athletes:

Mike Tyson - American heavyweight Iron Mike, the absolute world boxing champion, who has set more than one record during his career that still cannot be repeated, also practices vegetarianism. Strict restrictions and prohibitions on eating food of animal origin make the boxer happier, and in addition helped to lose about 50 kg of excess weight;
Mohammed Ali, another boxing legend, a man who was awarded the honorary title “Sportsman of the Century,” does not eat meat;
Alexey Voevoda is “our” heavyweight, one of the the strongest people Earth, a world champion in arm wrestling and a two-time Olympic champion in bobsleigh, does not eat animal bodies;
Martina Navratilova - in addition to numerous awards in tennis, this woman has secured her position as an active member of PETA, sincerely caring for and defending animal rights.

The culture of vegetarianism, having passed through several millennia, has retained its significance to this day. The growing number of vegetarians proves that this is not just a subcultural movement, but an entire philosophy of life, with fundamental principle humanism and compassion for those who are weaker and more defenseless than us.

And these are the criteria that distinguish a person from an animal, and the manifestation of humanity towards an animal is doubly elevating. Everyone we used to call “stars” - talented people who managed to achieve success, but nothing human is alien to them. Agreeing with this, one can understand why they chose vegetarianism

Many books have been written about vegetarianism, but the debate continues. Some prefer a plant-based lunch, while others cannot imagine their dinner without meat. There are also many myths about the dangers of a vegan diet. However, everyone decides for themselves.

And our next unusual selection is dedicated to people who have already made decisions in their lives. Moreover, for the most part, these are personalities known all over the world. True, few people know about their lifestyle and eating habits. Let's lift the veil of secrecy together...

1. Leonardo da Vinci

The great Italian scientist, artist, architect, inventor, writer of the Renaissance. Many of his inventions, which were implemented by modern engineers, changed the world: the bicycle, aircraft, car, parachute, searchlight, catapult, tank, portable bridges, robot, two-lens telescope and others.

According to entries in Leonardo's diaries, he has not eaten meat since childhood: “From a young age I avoided eating meat. And I believe that the time will come when people will treat the killing of an animal the same way they treat the killing of a person.”

2. Henry Ford

The famous founder of the Ford Motor Company and author of 161 US patents believed that the human soul lives an infinite number of lives. He practiced vegetarianism to prepare for his next incarnation.

Having invented the conveyor belt, he compared it with his experiences in past lives: “From life to life we acquire new and new skills, transferring what we have achieved to the next body, which makes it possible to achieve perfection.”

And Henry Ford was confident that his principles of honesty and fairness helped him in the industry. By the way, the current owner of the Ford Corporation, Alfred Ford, also follows the principles of his great-grandfather.

3. Bruce Lee

Legendary martial arts guru, brilliant film actor, director, screenwriter and producer. Bruce Lee was listed in the Guinness Book of Records 12 times!

In one of the British Big Breakfast programs, the daughter of the great martial artist, Shannon Lee, said that her father became 100% vegetarian at a certain stage in his life.

4. Leo Tolstoy

The world-famous writer became a vegetarian at age 50. He consciously took such a step, believing that it would help him in moral and spiritual improvement.

At the same time, he often said: “As long as there are slaughterhouses in the world, there will be battlefields.”

5. Albert Einstein

The brilliant physicist, Nobel Prize winner in 1921, Albert Einstein formulated his point of view on this issue as follows: “Nothing will bring such benefits to human health and increase the chances of preserving life on Earth as the spread of vegetarianism.”

6. Shania Twain

Shanaya, translated from the language of the ancient Indians, means “going your own way.” At one time, the album “Come on Over” was included in the list of best-selling albums. The singer was awarded “diamond” albums three times in a row.

Shania became a vegetarian in 1993, her diet includes legumes, vegetables and fruits. She even taught her beloved dog to eat porridge. The singer is very pleased with her appearance and well-being: “I stopped eating meat, fish and eggs. And at the same time, I now have much more energy than before.”

7. Richard Gere

The impressive Richard Gere sincerely follows the teachings of the Dalai Lama. He loves animals very much and participates in various activities to protect them. According to the actor, he has not eaten meat for more than 30 years.

8. Nikolay Drozdov

Famous Russian scientist, doctor biological sciences and host of the TV show “In the Animal World” since 1977. Nikolay Drozdov is the author of over 200 popular science articles, various teaching aids and books!

The scientist became a vegetarian in the 70s. “Vegetarianism is my life position. I believe that this path is right for man. Our stomach is perfectly adapted to plant foods. I used to eat seafood and fish, but then I realized that I can do without it.

I learned from my guru that many Olympic champions are vegetarians. And I, as a biologist, can note that orangutans and gorillas are absolute vegetarians, but I would not advise anyone to get involved with them.”

9. Uma Thurman

The name of the Hollywood star translated from Sanskrit means “blessing giver.” Uma Thurman has been a committed vegetarian since she was 11 years old. And it is worth noting that the mother of three children has a magnificent figure, and in films she still demonstrates excellent physical fitness.

10. Tobey Maguire

The famous actor who played Spider-Man has been a vegetarian since 1992. Toby has his own rules: he may not even invite people dressed in leather into his house.

11. Paul McCartney

Paul McCartney is a legend musical world. He has been included in the Guinness Book of Records more than once, including as the most successful musician and composer. Among all his other accomplishments, Paul is a vegetarian and a world-renowned animal rights activist.

12. Natalie Portman

This talented actress not only won an Oscar, but also received a bachelor's degree in psychology from Harvard University. Natalie once said in an interview that she hasn't eaten meat since she was 8 years old, after she witnessed scientific experiments over the chicken.

13. Leonardo DiCaprio

And Leo? Yes, yes, the magnificent Hollywood actor is an active defender of animals and the environment. He constantly organizes events and creates films in support of ecology.

In 1998, DiCaprio founded environmental fund. And on his website you can find a lot of tips on a healthy lifestyle and vegetarianism!

14. Brad Pitt

This Hollywood conqueror of women's hearts is also a vegetarian. Pitt, in his words, is an adherent of “killer-free nutrition”; he is convinced that a vegetarian diet improves brain function and slows down the aging process. At the same time, for Brad, his diet is not a tribute to fashion, but a philosophy.

By the way, a study was recently conducted in Liverpool: two groups of 9-year-old children ate different menu(with and without meat), but they gained equally in height and weight.

15. Kim Basinger

A unique beauty, the most popular actress of the 1980s-1990s, Oscar winner. It's already the 2010s, and Kim is still in in excellent shape, she gives the audience new roles. How does she do this? This wise and charming woman has two little secrets - sports and vegetarianism.

The actress was once asked a question about vegetarianism, and she answered: “If you can feel and understand the suffering of another being, you will think.”

16. Jim Carrey

One of the most highly paid actors Hollywood, an unrivaled master of comedy and drama. Having survived a crisis at a certain stage, the talented actor is again “at the top of the mountain.” As for vegetarianism, his brilliant role in the film “Ace Ventura” led him to this.

Jim says he liked veganism. And at the 2009 MTV awards ceremony, he expressed (with his characteristic expressiveness) the idea that the same swine flu could have happened precisely because of man’s wrong attitude towards animals.

17. Demi Moore

Gorgeous brunette Demi Moore is always on top, despite her ups and downs. Being a mother of three children, she keeps herself in great shape. In the photo above you can see how 52-year-old Demi shone at the 2015 CFDA in New York. The actress does not hide: “Vegetarianism is my path to beauty.”

Here they are interesting facts. Of course, we are not urging you to do anything, but perhaps a month or two of “green nutrition” will benefit any of us. Besides, now is the time favorable time- the season of fresh berries, fruits, herbs and vegetables.

Good everyday life and holidays!

Their motto: “Young and green!” 17 famous vegetarians talk about their choice updated: June 23, 2017 by: mila ognevich

One vegetarian trend has become so popular and discussed relatively recently. Today, this position no longer causes surprise or discussion, because more and more often you can meet those who fundamentally refuse food of animal origin, and in the best restaurants and cafes it is considered bad form not to include special dishes for vegetarians on the menu. However, this does not mean that the very concept of “vegetarianism” is just as young: looking at historical chronicles, one can be convinced that in ancient times there was no fewer people following a similar diet. What is the deep meaning of such a multifaceted and deep concept? Let's figure it out.

Vegetarian educational program: basic concepts

Upon superficial examination, vegetarianism seems to be just a special diet in which animal products are excluded from the diet. However, some use a plant-based menu solely for weight loss and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. This motivation also exists, but most true vegetarians are also guided by religious, ethical and moral beliefs. The choice of plant food for them is a completely logical and justified step, arising from the commandment “thou shalt not kill”, a protest against violence and cruelty in any form, a humane position towards every living creature inhabiting the world around us.

In the process of evolution, true vegetarianism began to be divided into several areas:

Strict vegetarians (vegans) were able to maintain their beliefs by completely abandoning animal products.
Lactovegetarians include milk and dairy products in their menu.
Ovo-vegetarians consume only eggs among all animal products.
Lacto-ovo vegetarians eat dairy products and eggs, but exclude meat and fish.
Pesco-vegetarians allow the consumption of seafood.

Veganism also has a number of varieties:

A raw food diet allows you to include foods in your diet plant origin without heat treatment. Adherents of this trend are convinced that when heated above 46 degrees Celsius, food loses most of its beneficial properties.
Fruitarianism implies that only fruits are used for food, but not the plants themselves. Fruitarians include in their diet only those dishes for the preparation of which it was not necessary to destroy representatives of flora and fauna. For example, they can eat berries, fruits and vegetables, but avoid lettuce and root vegetables (potatoes, carrots, beets, etc.).
The macrobiotic diet takes grains and grains as its basis, while sugar and refined vegetable oils are prohibited.

Why is vegetarianism popular among stars and their fans?

Disputes about vegetarianism have not subsided since its appearance in society. Some are strenuously agitating to preserve the lives of living beings and take care not only of gluttony, but also of environment, others consider the person a “carnivore” who needs meat. A banal example given by the famous vegan Gary Yourofsky can dot the i’s once and for all: “Put a live rabbit and an apple in the crib of a two-year-old child. If a child eats a rabbit and plays with an apple, I will admit that I was wrong and eat the steak.” But the children in to a greater extent listen to their bodies more than adults. Therefore more important issue The question is not whether the human gastrointestinal tract is able to accept food of animal origin, but whether it is necessary?

The meat menu became the main part of the diet after receiving wide application production technologies for killing animals. Such blasphemy could not go unnoticed, so thousands of people began to practice vegetarian habits. “I don’t eat anyone!” - they said, and they were absolutely right. And even those who were least concerned about the moral side of the issue, and who were not disgusted by stories about the unhealthy energy of the food they consumed, wondered whether meat dishes were so healthy. After all, in order to obtain greater profits in production, they began to inject unfortunate animals with appetite stimulants and growth hormones, sedatives and antibiotics. Therefore, eating meat has become not only unjustified, but also very dangerous.

Yes and by chemical composition a piece of meat is more like “slow poison”. Saturated fatty acids accumulate in the body, causing overweight, liver damage, approaching atherosclerosis and many other serious diseases. WHO statistics reflect the real picture: in regions where meat is considered the basis of the diet, the incidence of cardiovascular system, heart attacks and strokes with a fatal outcome, malignant neoplasms occur many times more often than in countries where vegetarian principles are respected.

A little history. Famous vegetarians of the ancient world

A plant-based diet has always been considered a healthy and correct habit. Have you ever wondered why vegetarianism is popular among celebrities? Speaking about their food preferences and beliefs, they have always tried to convey to their fans that there is no and cannot be an excuse for killing a living creature. And if the voice of reason and conscience is not enough for a person, perhaps he will listen to the sound words of scientists and philosophers who supported vegetarianism.

Despite the fact that vegetarianism only became widespread in the 60s, when hippies openly declared their beliefs, there is a lot in history outstanding personalities who adhered to a plant-based diet. Vegetarianism has been promoted by famous people at all times, and there are many examples of this.

Diogenes

The first thing that is associated with this outstanding ancient Greek philosopher, who lived before our era (404-323 BC) is his famous barrel. However, it was not only this that Diogenes of Sinope became famous in his time. He was the brightest of Antisthenes' students, a follower of the Cynic school, who, moreover, adhered to vegan beliefs. Among his many quotes, which have become aphorisms and remain relevant to this day, are words of wisdom about vegetarianism: “We can eat human flesh just as well as we do the meat of animals.”

Ovid

Central Italy was not spared the principles of animal protection. The famous Roman poet Publius Ovid Naso belonged to a noble family of horsemen, and therefore received an excellent education by those standards. It was he who introduced general public a unique verse that quickly spread around the world:

“Oh, mortals! Be afraid to defile
Their bodies with this wicked food,
Look - your fields are full of grains,
And the branches of the trees bowed under the weight of the fruit,
Vegetables and herbs that are tasty are given to you,
When prepared by a skilled hand,
The vine is rich in bunches,
And fragrant clover gives honey,
Truly, Mother Nature is generous,
Giving us an abundance of these delicacies,
She has everything for your table,
Everything to avoid murder and bloodshed.”

Plutarch

Famous people supported vegetarianism Ancient Greece, among whom was Plutarch, an encyclopedic scientist, writer and philosopher who lived at the junction of two eras in the small Greek town of Chaeronea. However, Plutarch’s fame was not limited to the walls of his native city - he received an excellent education from Ammonius in Athens, and traveled for a long time throughout Greece, Asia Minor and Italy. Once in Rome, he was honored to visit the emperors Trajan and Hadrian.

In his homeland, Plutarch was also very respected: he proudly bore the title of priest of the Delphic sanctuary, and worked as consular and procurator of the province of Achaea. Plutarch devoted an entire treatise to the problems of meat-eating, which has survived to this day in almost unchanged form:

“I, for my part, am perplexed, what must have been the feelings, state of mind or state of mind of the first man when, having killed an animal, he brought the bloody flesh of the victim to his lips? How can he, having placed treats of eerie corpses and carrion on the table in front of the guests, give the names of “meat” and “edible” to something that only yesterday was walking, mooing, bleating, and looking around? How can his vision bear the sight of the shed blood of innocent victims, the flayed and mutilated bodies? How his sense of smell endures this terrible smell of death and how all these horrors do not spoil his appetite when he chews flesh filled with pain, savoring the blood of a mortal wound.

But how to explain the fact that this madness of gluttony and greed pushes you to the sin of bloodshed, when there is an abundance of resources all around to ensure our comfortable existence? What makes you slander the Earth as unable to provide us with everything we need?.. Aren’t you ashamed to put an agricultural product on the same level as a torn victim of a massacre? Truly it is common among you.”

Seneca

Lucius Annaeus Seneca did not come to vegetarianism right away. His father, who valued practice more than his son’s passion for philosophy, moved with his family to Rome from Cordub (a small spanish city, where Seneca was born), where the young scientist learned the basics of the sciences of Sextius, Sotion, and Attalus. Thanks to this, he became not only a philosopher (yes, Seneca did not give up his hobby, but was able to combine it with a career), but also a world-famous playwright and politician. Among his speeches, many are devoted to vegetarianism as the basis of purity, kindness and humanism:

“The principles of avoidance of meat food, formulated by Pythagoras, if true, teach purity and innocence; if they are false, then at least they teach us frugality, and how great will your loss be if you lose your cruelty? I'm just trying to deprive you of the food of lions and vultures. We are able to find our common sense only by separating ourselves from the crowd - for often the very fact of being supported by the majority can serve as a sure sign of the depravity of a particular view or course of action. Ask yourself: “What is moral?”, not “What is accepted among people?” Be moderate and restrained, kind and fair, forever renounce bloodshed.”

Leonardo da Vinci

A famous Italian scientist, artist, architect, sculptor and inventor of the 15th century, whose word and brushstroke are now worth their weight in gold, the one whose biography formed the basis of the plot of a modern TV series and deserved a Golden Globe... All this is about Leonardo da Vinci. His biting statements about meat-eating still cause a storm of discussion, because Leonardo himself adhered to strict vegetarianism and called on others to save the lives of innocent animals:

“Truly man is the king of beasts, for what other beast can compare with him in cruelty.”
“We live by killing others: we are walking graves!”
"WITH early years I avoided eating meat and I believe that the time will come when people like me will look at the killing of an animal the same way they now look at the killing of a person.”
“As long as people slaughter animals, they will kill each other.”

How do famous people in the music world support vegetarianism?

Pop and show business stars, whose musical compositions are heard by an audience of millions, are trying with all their might to promote the vegetarian position to the masses. It’s hard to blame them for the fact that the fight for the environment is just a PR stunt, because most of them not only openly express their views, but also sacrifice multimillion-dollar concerts, defending the right to life for our little brothers. Vegetarianism is promoted by stars all over the world, many of whom are legends in the musical community.

Stephen Patrick Morrissey

The lead singer of the English rock band The Smiths has become a true legend among vegetarians. According to a BBC2 poll, he was recognized as a silver medalist in the Living Idols category. It was Morrissey who released the album “Meat Is Murder” (“Meat is Murder”) with a track of the same name, which is considered an unspoken anthem for vegetarians. The singer himself gave up eating meat at the age of 11 and only regrets that he did not do this earlier: “Becoming a vegetarian is an absolutely rational decision. There is not a single reasonable argument for killing animals."

The legendary Beatles singer has not eaten animal foods since the early eighties, as has his late wife Linda, who even launched a line of plant-based products. Sir Paul McCartney supports the British organization for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and has more than once been an ardent opponent of killing living creatures for food.

McCartney did not come to vegetarianism right away - he had previously used meat products and was fond of fishing: “Many years ago I was fishing and, when I pulled it out, I realized that I was killing it - simply for the fleeting pleasure that I received. Then something inside me clicked. I realized when I looked at her struggling for air that life was just as important for this fish as it was for me.”

After this, the singer spoke out more than once in defense of animal rights. Let's listen to what world celebrities say about vegetarianism:

“There are a lot of problems on our planet today. We hear a lot of words from businessmen, from the government, but it seems they are not going to do anything about it. But you yourself can change something! You can help the environment, you can help stop animal cruelty, and you can improve your health. All you have to do is become a vegetarian. So think about it, this great idea!»
"If slaughterhouses had glass walls, everyone would become vegetarians"

Jared Leto

A favorite of the female audience, the lead singer of the rock band 30 Seconds to Mars and actor Jared Leto, in his early forties, looks young and well-groomed. As the singer himself claims, to maintain excellent appearance helps him healthy image life and a plant-based diet: “I still have many vices, but alcohol is not one of them. I think it's all about getting enough sleep and diet. If you travel a lot and don’t sleep, you won’t last long, that’s for sure. I lead a pretty healthy lifestyle and I think that helps me a lot. I've been on this path for a long time: I was first a vegetarian for 20 years, then became a vegan, and in general I take care of myself. All this probably helps me maintain my youth.”

The celebrity publicly condemns meat-eaters and does not hesitate to point out that clothing made of leather and fur is essentially the same as murder. At the men's collection show at Fashion Week, Leto wore fur collar, however, despite the caustic comments of spiteful critics, the fur turned out to be artificial, and Jared himself was very annoyed by the assumption that he could wear something made from an animal. He had to deviate from his principles only twice since 1993, when the vocalist adopted vegetarianism: during the filming of the video for “A Beautiful Lie” and the film “Alexander,” where, according to his role, he had to consume animal products.

Extravagant singer Alisha Bethe Moore, better known as Pink, is not just a supporter of a vegetarian diet - she actively defends animal rights, being a member of PETA, she speaks sharply negatively about Prince William, Queen Elizabeth II and Beyoncé, who destroy animals for fun and dubious beauty clothes. The singer’s rating is off the charts: for a whole decade (from 2000 to 2010) she held the leading position in the TOP of the American Billboard magazine. However, Pink turned down a multimillion-dollar contract with the royal family: “I turned down an invitation from Prince William to sing at his birthday because he was hunting animals in Africa, and I think that’s disgusting. I also advise you to avoid fur and leather clothing. You can get dressed without killing anyone."

Ozzy Osbourne

Hard rock star Ozzy Osbourne for a long time I fought with myself to become a true vegan. One of the founders of the “golden lineup” of Black Sabbath has released more than 100 million records, and since 2010 he also began writing a column about a healthy lifestyle and a plant-based diet in Rolling Stone magazine. Ozzy Osbourne had no doubt why vegetarianism is popular among stars and their admirers: “Anyone who ordered a steak should be given a knife and brought a cow. Kill yourself and eat!”

Nelly Furtado

The popular Canadian singer supports vegetarianism for several reasons. First, the star admits the harm meat dishes and tries to take care of his health. And secondly, she is alien to cruelty and abuse towards animals. That is why Nellie’s diet consists exclusively of plant foods: “Vegetarianism is best choice if you want to be healthy." Moreover, the singer’s entourage, knowing about her beliefs, does not risk eating meat and fish in her presence - Furtado simply cannot stand the sight of these products.

Famous actors are vegetarians

There is no doubt that acting is a public profession. Therefore, celebrities in the film industry declare their vegetarian beliefs openly and invitingly: in this way they try to convey to their fans the idea of a healthy lifestyle and the eradication of evil towards animals. Moreover, many of them note that a plant-based diet allows them to look younger and feel much better. Among them are Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Pamela Anderson, Richard Gere, Natalie Portman, Gwyneth Paltrow, Olivia Wilde and many other world famous stars.

American-Israeli actress Natalie Portman, known to millions of film fans for the films “Leon”, “Closer”, “V for Vendetta” and “Black Swan”, winner of an Oscar and Golden Globe, has been a vegetarian since the age of eight. Natalie’s father involuntarily pushed her to give up meat: “When I was eight years old, my father took me to a medical conference where the achievements of laser surgery were demonstrated. As visual aid We used live chicken. Since then I haven’t eaten meat.”

At a conscious age, Natalie Portman became an animal rights activist - she does not wear items made of fur, leather or natural suede, avoids clothes decorated with feathers, and even released her own line of artificial shoes. The actress explains the lacto-ovo-vegetarian diet as follows: “I listened to my body, so I ate eggs and butter. I felt like I wanted these products and I needed them.”

The famous Hollywood actor and sex symbol of the last century, Richard Gere, took the side of vegetarianism after turning to Buddhism. However, he never regretted his decision - according to the celebrity, now he feels more cheerful and stronger every year. And indeed, despite the fact that Richard is over 50, his charm and natural charm are beyond doubt, and his young and blooming appearance pleases numerous fans of his work. “The fact that animals suffer from human cruelty is beyond comprehension. Help stop this madness!” - Gere calls. “People are offended by animal rights campaigns. This is funny. It's not as bad as mass animal deaths in a factory."

Richard Gere's healthy lifestyle is not limited to vegetarianism - the actor meditates daily in the lap of nature, travels quite often around Tibet, certainly visiting the Dalai Lama: “This is my home, my family,” says the actor, “here I feel at ease.”

Olivia Wilde

The Hollywood beauty, as if straight from the pages of a glossy magazine, is convinced that her chic appearance is primarily due to her active lifestyle and plant-based diet. Olivia Wilde has been a vegetarian for years. many years and practically does not allow himself any indulgences. The only exception for the actress was severe depression after her divorce from her husband, film director Tao Ruspoli Wild. The difficult breakup became a mental trauma for Olivia, and she allowed herself some slack: “I really really like healthy food. I was a vegan for many years. But when my life got hectic, when I was going through a divorce, I thought, “I need some damn cheese.” That’s how cheese came into my life.”

Oscar winner Gwyneth Paltrow is known as an ardent advocate of the green diet. She has published several books that explain why vegetarianism is popular among celebrities - her collections of macrobiotic recipes have allowed millions of readers to immerse themselves in the world of a celebrity and understand how she manages to look so good.

Such a diet hinders the actress a little on the set, because scenes of family lunches and dinners with the presence of meat dishes should look natural, and Gwyneth literally turns away from the sight of a freshly prepared animal: “Filming scenes of dinners and lunches is bad because you are forced to eat the same thing over and over again.” many takes, sometimes all day. Many actors don’t like this and therefore don’t specifically eat on camera; this approach seems unnatural to me. True, most of what I put in my mouth after the “stop” command I spit out. Otherwise, I risk getting an upset stomach.”

True, Gwyneth Paltrow did not come to such convictions on her own - the basic principles of vegetarianism were put into the actress’s beautiful head by the famous champion of animal rights, colleague Leonardo DiCaprio: “Leo constantly talked about how bad it is to eat meat, and how cattle breeding is terrible. I haven't eaten red meat for 20 years. I can’t say that this is entirely the merit of DiCaprio, but he was definitely the first who gave me this idea and nurtured it in me. I became interested in macrobiotics when my father was diagnosed with cancer. Then it seemed to me that a special connection had been established between us and that I could help him by eating right.”

The principles of Hollywood handsome and incredible talented actor Brad Pitt is the epitome of how celebrities promote vegetarianism. He is confident that only products of plant origin can ensure the normal functioning of the body. And he has something to compare with: since childhood, little Brad ate food that was traditional by American standards, including meat, smoked meats and fast food. And only after his wedding with Angelina Jolie, the actor reconsidered his views on life - he began to lead a healthy lifestyle, play sports, eat right and help those in need. For him, vegetarianism became not a fashion statement, but a vital position: “I must be a vegetarian... I don’t want any animal put on my plate.”

By adopting a healthy lifestyle, Brad Pitt began to look and feel much better. As the actor notes, eliminating animal products helped him improve blood circulation and brain activity.

Famous vegetarians are sports stars

Many successful athletes have proven by their example that a plant-based diet is the only possible option maintain health and good spirits, keep the body in good shape and always be at the peak of your capabilities. Olympic champions and celebrities talk about vegetarianism as a “panacea” for all diseases, because such a diet contributed to their achievements. Among them are multiple gold medalists of international competitions, sports stars who do not lose their popularity even after they “left the race”: Carl Lewis, Paavo Nurmi, Edwin Moses, Bode Miller, Christopher Campbell, Mike Tyson and others.

Federick Carlton Lewis retired from professional sports a long time ago - the famous track and field athlete was well over 50. However, his popularity did not end there: the US basketball club Chicago Bulls, as a sign of respect for the athlete’s merits, reserved number 208 for him, although he did not even play basketball. In addition, Karl’s portrait adorns one of the postage stamps of Azerbaijan - isn’t this a sign of true honor?

The Olympic champion-record holder, whose biography includes 9 medals, did not immediately become a vegetarian: at the beginning of his career, Carl Lewis did not attach importance to what he ate. However, the transition to plant foods helped strengthen the athlete’s position in the athletics arena. He defended his beliefs by personal example and numerous comments about vegetarianism: “I have discovered that in order to be a successful athlete, a person does not need animal protein.”

Bruce Lee

This outstanding man is better known as a popular film actor and director, but he was also a master of martial arts. Bruce Lee was included in the Guinness Book of Records 12 times for his services. His physical characteristics were amazing: the athlete could hold a weight weighing 34 kg on an outstretched arm, punch a Coca-Cola can with his fingers, do push-ups using only 2 fingers, and do pull-ups with his little fingers. His reactions were so sharp that standard 24 frames per second filming technology could not always capture the actor's passages. Bruce Lee himself did not advertise his diet, but his daughter Shannon Lee said in an interview with Big Breakfast that the athlete was a strict vegan for 8 years.

Mike Tyson

The absolute world champion in the heavy weight category, the notorious boxer Mike Tyson also took the “path of correction” and adopted a vegetarian diet. He was pushed to take this serious step by his love for pigeons, for the sake of which he got involved in the first fight in his life. According to the boxer, these birds “have the biggest hearts,” so protecting all living things became the meaning of life for Mike. He even developed his own animal protection project on Animal Planet.

“You must be very surprised to hear that I am a vegetarian?” - Tyson says laughing. Indeed, now his opponents do not have to worry about their ears, because the boxer is no longer interested in them.

Famous vegetarians in Russia

Speaking about famous vegans, it would be biased to mention only foreign stars - domestic athletes, actors, writers and musicians support vegetarianism no less actively. Moreover, the “green diet” in Russia has been popular for many years - not only our contemporaries, but also historical figures Soviet culture promoted the idea of giving up meat and other forms of cruelty to animals.

Leo Tolstoy

The novel “War and Peace” is not the only achievement of the outstanding Russian writer Leo Tolstoy. Leading the lifestyle of a hermit, the enlightener did not forget to instruct his compatriots “on the true path” - his ideas of non-violent resistance included vegetarianism as the first step towards the spiritual and moral purification of man. Leo Tolstoy’s essays “On the unreasonableness of meat-eating” and “The Way of Life” became a real standard for many Russian humanists: “As long as there are slaughterhouses, there will be battlefields,” said Leo Tolstoy. And this is not his only statement in defense of animals:

“How can we hope for peace and prosperity on earth if our bodies are living graves in which slaughtered animals are buried?”
“If a person is serious and sincere in the search for morality, then the first thing he should turn away from is meat-eating... Vegetarianism is considered a criterion by which one can recognize how serious and true a person’s desire for moral perfection is.”

Valeria Gai Germanika

A woman who became a famous director at the age of 18. Valeria remains the most discussed personality among film critics, colleagues on the set and ordinary people.

Vegetarianism became part of the life of Valeria Gai Germanika after the birth of her daughter Octavia. Only after becoming a mother did the director realize the horror of meat-eating: “When it comes to food, I prefer something Ayurvedic. The basic principle of nutrition according to Ayurveda is that you should eat little, but very good, wholesome foods. I don't eat meat, fish or eggs. My diet is dominated by healthy foods: brown rice, lentils. I gave up meat after the birth of my daughter: I realized how living things are born. And we then kill this living thing and push it into ourselves. It’s hard for me to accept the karma of an animal that died a violent death. So I’ve been a vegetarian for two years now.”

Perky and charming - this is how everyone is used to seeing Olga Shelest on the TV screen. Her lively and ringing voice broadcasts not only from the television screen - the star is also popular on the radio waves. As a child, an event happened to her that forever changed the diva’s worldview: “When I was nine or ten years old, we were visiting my grandmother in the village. I remember the neighbors were planning a wedding. Numerous relatives arrived. And it was decided to slaughter the ram. The following pictures come to mind: they bring a ram and tie it in the yard. And the next episode - he is already hanging dead upside down in a barn, and they are skinning him. Catastrophe! This event made a tremendous impression on me. And I refused to eat the pilaf that was prepared from the meat of this sheep. Moreover, she persuaded all her brothers and sisters to do the same. We then boycotted the grand dinner. And my grandmother later complained to my mother when she came to pick us up: they say, Olenka made such a fuss - she refused to eat. And it’s her fault that the kids are completely thin.”

Parents did not take their daughter’s passion for vegetarianism seriously, considering it a whim and a whim. And, as it turned out, it was in vain - the girl retained her beliefs into adulthood: “I am not a meat eater by nature. Even as a child I didn’t eat that much meat. Sweets are a different matter. I am very biased towards meat, and by the age of twenty I gave it up altogether.”

Conclusion

Vegetarianism causes a lot of controversy and disagreement. Despite the fact that the need to eat meat and fish is highly questionable, and the cruelty and heartlessness of such views makes one involuntarily shudder, one has only to think about what killing an animal looks like, not everyone has been able to recognize the rationality and humanity of a vegetarian diet. Even WHO classified a plant-based diet as a mental disorder - right next to love, which is also one of them. Well, if opposition to cruelty is not considered the norm, then so be it: it is better to be considered abnormal than to eat living beings for the sake of the public.

Before you order a steak in a restaurant, remember Yesenin’s lines, and perhaps you will have time to save at least one living soul!

Decrepit, teeth have fallen out,
Scroll of years on horns.
The rude driver beat her
On distilling fields.
The heart is not kind to noise,
The mice are scratching in the corner.
Thinks a sad thought
About the white-footed heifer.
They didn't give the mother a son,
The first joy is no good.
And on a stake under the aspen
The breeze ruffled the skin.
Soon on the buckwheat road,
With the same filial fate,
They'll tie a noose around her neck
And they will lead you to slaughter.
Pathetic, sad and skinny
Horns will dig into the ground...
She dreams of a white grove
And grassy meadows.