Maneka makes a pitch for vegetarianism

New Delhi, Sept. 18: Union minister Maneka Gandhi on Monday made a pitch for vegetarianism, saying humans are natural vegetarians and meat consumption harts them.

The women and child development minister was speaking at the launch of a film The Evidence-Meat Kills, directed by Mayank Jain, that scientifically explores the effects of meat consumption on human body. Studies done

Says one will not die of eating meat, but it will certainly weaken body, making it more vulnerable to diseases

over the last three decades have shown, with empirical data, that meat is bad for human body, Ms Gandhi said.

“Everything about every part and organ of the human body is vegetarian. When we put an alien substance like meat into the human body, we become prone to diseases,” she said. “If you do this on a daily basis,” she added, “Your body will weaken. You will not die of eating meat, but it will certainly weaken your body, making it more vulnerable to diseases.”

Ms Gandhi emphasised, more than once, that the purpose of making or promoting the film was not to persuade people to give up eating meat, but to make them aware of its pros and cons and help make an informed choice.

“All in all, first you eat meat, then meat eats you,” she quipped, during the programme at the Press Club here.

She said the movie has been made by the doctors so that people make an informed choice. She also lamented that dietetics was not given due time or attention during medical education.