A lacto vegetarian (sometimes referred to as a lactarian; from the Latin lactis, milk) diet is a vegetarian diet that includes dairy products such as milk, cheese, yogurt, butter, cream, and kefir, but excludes eggs. Lacto-vegetarians also abstain from cheeses that include animal rennet and yogurts that contain gelatin. The concept and practice of lacto-vegetarianism among a significant number of people comes from ancient India^[1] and was originally based on religious beliefs.^[2]

The greatest proportion of vegetarians, such as those in India or those in the area of the classical Mediterranean such as the Pythagoreans, are or were lacto-vegetarian.^[2]

Religion[link]

Lacto-vegetarian diets are popular with many followers of the Eastern religious traditions such as Hinduism, Sikhism, Jainism and Buddhism. The cores of their beliefs are behind a lacto-vegetarian diet is the law of ahimsa, or non-violence.^[3] According to the Vedas (Hindu holy scriptures), all living beings are equally valued.^[4][5] Also, Hindus believe that one's personality is affected by the kind of food one consumes, and eating flesh is considered bad for one's spiritual/mental well-being. It takes many more vegetables or plants to produce an equal amount of meat,^[6] many more lives are destroyed, and in this way more suffering is caused when meat is consumed.^[7] In the case of Jainism, the vegetarian standards are even more strict. It allows the consumption of only fruit and leaves that can be taken from plants without causing their death. This further excludes from the diet vegetables like carrots, potatoes, and peanuts. Although some suffering and pain is inevitably caused to other living beings to satisfy the human need for food, according to ahimsa, every effort should be made to minimize suffering.^[7]

This is to avoid karmic consequences and show respect for living things. In this sense, wastage of food is considered a sin. Because all living beings are equally valued in these traditions,^[5] a vegetarian diet rooted in ahimsa is only one aspect of environmentally conscious living, relating to those beings affected by our need for food.^[7] Environmentalism and vegetarianism are often practiced together.^[8][9]

See also[link]

• Sentient foods
• Vegetarianism
• Lacto-ovo vegetarianism
• Ovo vegetarianism
• Veganism
• VeggieBoards, a vegetarian forum

References[link]

External links[link]

• Nutrition Information
• The Vegetarian Resource Group
• Vegetarian Pages
• 20 Questions About Vegetarianism
• International Vegetarian Union
• Online community for Vegetarians
• Lacto-vegetarian menu items and products

Shaun Monson is an animal, human and environmental rights activist. He is best known for writing, directing and producing the 2005 documentary Earthlings, which covers major animal rights issues within industries such as pets, food, fashion, and science.

Monson is a founding partner of Nation Earth, which is the production company responsible for Earthlings. Monson and Nation Earth are currently working on volume two of the Earthlings trilogy, which is entitled Unity. Unity continues the theme established by Monson in Earthlings, of the interrelation of animals, nature, and humankind, while at the same time exploring the unifying force of consciousness found in humans, animals and nature.

Monson became a vegetarian in the mid-90s and vegan shortly thereafter. He lives in Los Angeles.

Filmography[link]

• Bad Actors (2000)
• Holy War, Un-Holy Victory (2001)
• Earthlings (2005)
• Unity (2012)

External links[link]

• Shaun Monson at the Internet Movie Database
• Animal Voices - Interview

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