Famous vegetarians. Sages, actors, athletes. Famous vegetarians in the world

There are thousands, if not tens of thousands of true vegetarians among us. Among them are not the most ordinary people, but also outstanding athletes, famous actors, singers, scientists and writers. Every day, they adhere to the principles of vegetarian nutrition, set new goals, reach incredible heights and at the same time sincerely enjoy life. Looking at them, it's hard to believe that vegetarianism can be dangerous. Is that inspired by their victories and in some way follow their example.

Vegetarian athletes

Some doctors say that sports and vegetarianism are incompatible. Simply because people who deliberately refuse protein will subsequently experience a lack of it, suffer from anemia, feel a lack of energy, and sometimes even not have them in order to get out of bed. However, true vegetarians, whose achievements have gone down in the history of world sports, do not think so. On the contrary, they argue that exercise and a vegetarian diet are complementary things.

Below is a list of some of them:

• Mike Tyson, or Iron Mike, is an American boxer and undisputed world champion, whom he, by the way, became at the age of 21. During his career, Mike managed to set several records, which they cannot break to this day. The athlete switched to strict vegetarianism back in 2010. This decision allowed him not only to lose 45 kg, but also to become much happier, which he told reporters in a recent interview.
• Carl Lewis. 9-time Olympic champion and 8-time world champion in sprint and long jump. He is rightfully called the best in his sport for the fact that he was able to win gold 4 times in a row. To the question "How does he manage to reach such heights?" he replies that it's all about nutrition. Since 1990, he has been following the strict vegetarian principles that allow him to eat only the best that nature has to offer. According to him, he showed his best results precisely in the first year of changing the diet.
• Bill Pearl is a bodybuilder and famous trainer who published the book "Keys to the Inner Universe", which has become a kind of guide for aspiring athletes. Bill has been awarded the Mr. Universe title 4 times.
• Mohammed Ali is an American boxer who won the 1960 Olympic Games. Ali has become the professional heavyweight champion of the world on several occasions. In 1999 he was awarded the title of "Sportsman of the Century".
• Robert Parish is a 4-time champion of the association, a basketball player with a worldwide reputation, which is firmly entrenched in the history of the NBA, thanks to the number of matches. There are no less than 1611 of them. With his vegetarian lifestyle, he proved that even a huge height (216 cm) is not a prerequisite for eating meat.
• Edwin Moses is a track and field athlete, world record holder, two Olympic gold medalists and veteran vegetarian.
• John Sully is a legendary basketball player, actor and a true fan of vegetarianism.
• Tony Gonzalez is a Spanish footballer who has experimented with nutrition for a long time. The fact is that he "tried on" veganism and vegetarianism, but subsequently decided to adhere to the principles of a vegetarian diet, diluted on the advice of his trainer with several servings of fish or chicken a week.
• Martina Navratilova - this tennis player has 18 victories in singles, 10 in mixed doubles and 31 in women's doubles. And she herself is not only a true vegetarian, but also an ardent representative of the PETA organization, which fights for animal rights.
• Prince Fielder is a famous baseball player who gave up meat after learning about the burdens of carrying cattle and poultry on farms.
• Tony La Russa is a baseball coach who works for the National and American Leagues. He became a vegetarian after in one of the programs he saw how veal meat gets on the tables of its consumers.
• Joe Namat is an American football star who was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1985. By his example, he showed that in order to play well at football, it is not at all necessary to eat meat.
• David Zabriskie is a renowned cyclist who has won the American National Racing Championship 5 times, taking an honorable place in the Grand Tour. He is not only an experienced cyclist, but also a passionate vegan.
• Bill Walton is an American basketball player who has won the NBA title twice. He was subsequently named Most Valuable Player. He managed to achieve great victories and recognition without a drop of animal protein.
• Ed Templeton is a skateboarder, artist, and vegan since 1990.
• Scott Jurek is a multiple winner of ultra marathons, or ultra marathon, and became a vegetarian in 1999.
• Amanda Riester is a boxer, bodybuilder, trainer, winner of 4 Golden Gloves of Chicago titles, North American champion in fitness and bodybuilding. Amanda is a passionate vegan who she says she became as a child. She is also engaged in the rehabilitation of stray dogs and at the same time raises 4 pit bulls she saved.
• Alexey Voevoda is one of the most powerful people in the world. He won the World Cup in arm wrestling three times and twice became the Olympic champion (bobsleigh).
• Ekaterina Sadurskaya is a Ukrainian synchronized swimmer who is part of the national team and adheres to the principles of vegetarian nutrition.
• Denis Mikhailov is not only a vegan, but also a raw foodist. As an ultramarathon runner, he has earned a Guinness World Record for his 12-hour treadmill.
• Natasha Badman is a vegetarian and the first woman in the world to win the triathlon world title.

Vegetarian scientists

Doctors say that a vegetarian diet negatively affects the functioning of the brain. However, the grandiose world discoveries made by true vegetarians make this questionable. It's hard to say how many pundits have actually given up on animal protein. Nevertheless, it is quite possible to name the most prominent admirers of this power system.

• Leonardo da Vinci is a famous mathematician, physicist, naturalist and anatomist, as well as an architect, sculptor, painter, who was rightfully considered an example of the "Universal Man". He treated all living beings with care, often ransoming them and releasing them. Therefore, he simply could not eat meat.
• Pythagoras of Samos is a philosopher and mathematician of ancient Greece. He explained his passion for vegetarianism with a simple phrase: "You cannot eat what has eyes."
• Plutarch is a philosopher, moralist and biographer of ancient Greece, who firmly believed that "the human mind becomes dull from meat."
• Albert Einstein is the scientist who stood at the origins of modern theoretical physics, who won the Nobel Prize in 1921. Being an honorary doctor of the 20 best universities in the world, a member of several Academies of Sciences, including the USSR, he was a true vegetarian. Along with this, he wrote scientific papers, books and articles. A year before his death, he became a vegan.
• Nikolay Drozdov - Doctor of Biological Sciences, professor, host of the program "In the Animal World" and a true vegetarian, which he became back in 1970.
• Benjamin MacLaine Spock is a world-renowned American pediatrician, author of The Child and Child Care (1946), which became one of the largest bestsellers in the history of this country. Since its inception, the book has been translated into 39 languages ​​of the world and published in millions of copies several times. In the latest, seventh edition, its author strongly recommends that children of all ages switch to a vegan diet, of which he is an adherent.
• Benjamin Franklin is a scientist, publisher, politician, freemason, journalist and diplomat who became the first American admitted to the Russian Academy of Sciences. A convinced vegetarian who insisted that it was better to spend money on books than on meat.
• Bernard Shaw is a writer, playwright, novelist and Nobel laureate. In 1938 he won an Academy Award for the screenplay for Pygmalion. A public figure with an active life position, who lived to be 94 years old, until recently he remained a vegetarian with a great sense of humor. At first, he complained about the doctors, who convinced him that he would not last long without meat. And then he summed up that all those who were concerned about his state of health had long since died. He himself adhered to the principles of vegetarianism for 70 years!

Vegetarian stars

Among avid vegetarians there are actors, musicians, models, TV presenters and real stars of world and domestic show business, namely:

• Brian Adams is a rock musician, guitarist and songwriter who took the stage back in 1976. Being a staunch vegetarian and not wanting to deviate from his principles, he constantly takes food to his concerts, regardless of the country in which they are taking place.
• Pamela Anderson is an actress and fashion model who not only adheres to the principles of vegetarian nutrition, but also defends the rights of animals, and also takes part in many charity events. In 1999, she was awarded the Linda McCartney Prize for her proactive attitude towards this nutritional system.
• Olga Budina is a Russian actress who has long given up meat. According to her, it reminds her of animals that "ran, breathed, fell in love and lived their own lives." That is why it is impossible to eat them.
• Laima Vaikule is a singer and actress with over 20 million CDs sold in the USA, Europe and Russia. He is a vegetarian for ethical reasons, as he does not accept the killing of animals.
• Timur "Kashtan" Batrutdinov is a TV presenter and comedian who admits that being a vegetarian he still wears leather shoes.
• Richard Gere is a famous actor and staunch vegan.
• Bob Dylan is a singer, poet, actor and artist who is also a member of the Vegetarian Society of Australia.
• Kim Basinger is a talented actress who has won Golden Globe and Academy Awards. He is a true vegan and loves animals very much.
• Madonna is a singer, producer, actress, screenwriter, director and, in combination, a vegan with experience and an IQ level of 140 points.
• Paul McCartney is a rock musician, singer and composer, one of the members of the legendary band The Beatles. He won several Grammy awards. For a long time, he defended animal rights with his wife Linda. Subsequently, their daughter Stella, a fashion designer who abandoned fur and leather in her collections, also became a vegetarian.
• Ian McKellen is an actor who starred in the films X-Men and The Lord of the Rings, and the author of the article Why I'm a Vegetarian.
• Bob Marley is a musician and composer who performed reggae songs.
• Moby is a religiously vegan singer and songwriter.
• Brad Pitt is a renowned actor and producer who has been a vegetarian for about 10 years. All this time he is trying to instill love for him and his children, and his wife - Angelina Jolie, but so far to no avail.
• Natalie Portman is an actress and a true vegan since the age of 8.
• Kate Winslet is the star of "Titanic" and an ardent vegetarian who transferred her children to this nutrition system.
• Adriano Celentano is a vegan and animal rights actor, singer and songwriter.
• Orlando Bloom is the star of The Lord of the Rings and Pirates of the Caribbean. Being a vegetarian, he can eat meat, but only in cases when the director requires it during the filming of the next picture.
• Keanu Reeves is an actor and musician who is also a vegetarian.
• Uma Thurman is an actress who became a vegetarian at age 11.
• Steve Jobs - they started talking about him after the appearance on the market of products of the company "Apple", of which he was the founder. Suffering from cancer almost from the age of 20, the famous engineer decided to become a vegan. This allowed him to live much longer than doctors predicted.

Above are listed only the brightest adherents of vegetarianism. This list is incomplete, however, it contains the names of people who have shown by their example that this food system is not only harmless, but also very useful. True, subject to careful planning of your diet.

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

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

It is a personal choice of each person to join this movement or not, but the list of famous and successful people who have made a choice in favor of vegetarianism is steadily growing and replenishing.

So who are these famous people who have achieved recognition in Russia and in the world, have excluded meat and fish from their diet, and in more radical cases do not wear leather and fur? The time has come to get to know each other better, and who knows if later, looking at their fame and success, they would like to follow the same path.

Examples of the past

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

Here is some of them:

• Pythagoras of Samos - the great ancient Greek mathematician and philosopher, in addition to excellent scientific treatises, expressed a simple but ingenious phrase: "You cannot eat what has eyes";
• Plutarch is also a famous thinker and moralist of ancient Greece, arguing his rejection of meat by the fact that the human mind weakens from such food;
• Leonardo da Vinci is a genius and talented person in many spheres of science and art, who lived and worked in the Renaissance, the one who anticipated the invention of the parachute, telescope, bicycle, aircraft and many other things, without which the modern world cannot do. He was considered a universal man, and he, in turn, believed that as long as people were slaughtering animals, they would continue to kill each other;
• Leo Tolstoy is a cult Russian writer, whose works are read by the whole world, rightfully referring them to the masterpieces of literature. The classic made the transition to a 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 faithful to these convictions for another 32 years, until the end of his life.
• Albert Einstein, the legendary physicist and Nobel Prize winner, like many of his other great predecessors, said that the development of vegetarianism is the best way to preserve the life and health of the world's population;
• Henry Ford, a famous American entrepreneur and founder of the "Ford" concern, adhered to vegetarian principles, I agree with the concept of life reincarnation. Firmly believing that a person has lived an uncountable number of 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 convictions.

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

Followers of a vegetarian culture today

The development of the film industry in particular and show business in general makes its brightest representatives, 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, society lions and others, whose name is on hearing. Whose faces flash on TV screens and the covers of glossy magazines, there are many famous vegetarians among such people.

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 activities for the protection of animals, including together with the Dalai Lama;
• Paul McCartney is a member of the legendary Liverpool Four, not only a composer and musician, he is also a staunch vegetarian and a famous fighter for the rights of lesser brothers;
• Leo DiCaprio is a charismatic and beloved actor, is a long-term and active participant in many social movements in support of animals and the environment, of course, Leonardo does not eat meat either;
• Uma Thurman is a wonderful actress and a woman of exquisite beauty, who took her first steps in the vegetarian movement at the age of 11, and to this day remains true to such beliefs;
• Pamela Anderson is another famous vegetarian woman who has made a successful modeling career with a vegetarian lifestyle;
• Brad Pitt is 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 - added to the list of vegetarian actors relatively recently, namely after the main role in the film "Ace Ventura", in the filming of which, in addition to the brilliant comedian, many animals took part;
• Tobey Maguire - a famous actor who played the role of "Spider-Man", a convinced vegan, and such that, in his words: "will not allow a man in leather clothes to enter his own house";
• Ozzy Ossbourne - yes, the rebel and leader of the cult hard rock group, also in the ranks of famous vegetarians, the same Ozzy who once bit off the heads of bats right on stage, now adheres to a special diet and even maintains a column about a healthy lifestyle in the popular Rolling Stone magazine;
• Natalie Portman - an Oscar-winning actress, perhaps surpassed everyone, because she has not eaten meat since the age of eight, since she witnessed scientific experiments on a chick.

The list of vegetarian stars can go on 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 belonging to the movement, Russia also has a considerable number of its followers.

Proponents of vegetarianism among Russian stars:

• Pavel Durov - the creator of the social networks VKontakte and Telegram, gave up meat while still a student, and repeatedly spoke on the Internet that he was a peaceful creature who did not like war and was a vegetarian;
• Irena Ponaroshku - TV presenter, became a vegetarian after her husband, which is immensely glad, because having switched to such a diet, she gained more energy and became less lazy;
• Sati Casanova is a singer and actress who became a vegetarian in the course of her passion for yoga, the refusal of meat, fish and chicken, according to the singer, passed gradually and without violence against itself, just 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 physical shape;
• Timur "Kashtan" Batrutdinov - showman and TV presenter, considers himself a vegetarian, but allows wearing fur and leather clothes;
• Laima Vaikule is a singer and actress who won the love of fans, not only with her creativity, but also with her active life position in the fight for animal rights and a humane attitude towards them.
  There are many more famous vegans in our country. These include: writers, politicians, actors, TV presenters, musicians, and, of course, athletes.

Who, no matter how people who have devoted their lives to sports, need 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, one involuntarily wonders if all the negative statements about this movement are exaggerated? If, as spiteful critics say, vegetarianism is not acceptable for the human body and damages health, then how did all these people who gave up meat manage to reach such sports heights and continue to conquer all new Olympic peaks 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 in his career, which they still cannot repeat, also practices vegetarianism. Strict restrictions and prohibitions in the intake of 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 of "Sportsman of the Century", does not eat meat;
• Alexey Voevoda - "our" heavyweight, is one of the strongest people on Earth, world armwrestling champion and twice Olympic champion in bobsled, does not eat animal bodies;
• Martina Navratilova - in addition to numerous awards in tennis, this woman has secured the position of an active PETA participant, sincerely caring for and defending animal rights.

The culture of vegetarianism, having passed several millennia, has retained its importance today. The growing number of vegetarians proves that this is not just a subcultural movement, but a whole philosophy of life, with the fundamental principle of 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 in relation to an animal is doubly elevated. All whom we used to call "stars" are talented people who have managed to achieve success, but nothing human is alien to them. Agreeing with this, you can understand why they made a choice in favor of vegetarianism.

Throughout history, many of the world's greatest philosophers, writers, scientists, artists, spiritual leaders have been adherents and ardent propagandists of vegetarianism. This food system became close to them precisely for ethical reasons. Therefore, they spread the idea that killing animals is inhuman and cruel.

Famous vegetarians and vegans of humanity

Vegetarianism has a long history and is deeply rooted in religious teachings and practices. Famous followers of vegetarian food have lived in all corners of the world from the United States to Russia, from Australia to Canada.

Charles Darwin, biologist

Charles Darwin is best known for his theory of evolution. Long before the invention of this theory, the scientist traveled for many years exploring wildlife all over the world. Numerous studies led Darwin to conclude that animals also have a well-developed state of feelings, intuition and emotions. According to the famous researcher, love for all living beings is the noblest attribute of a person.

Leonardo da Vinci, Italian scientist, painter, sculptor

Da Vinci became famous for his many achievements, but few people know that the scientist became the first vegetarian of modern Western civilization. He felt that even if not a single year or even a century would pass, the killing of animals would look the same as killing a person,

Albert Einstein, scientist, philosopher

Living in Germany, Switzerland and the United States, Albert Einstein is a great scientist who became a vegetarian. Among his greatest achievements is his theory of relativity. Einstein believed that if everyone switched to plant foods, it would be of great benefit to humanity. He argued that even the pursuit of such achievement is itself part of liberation and the basis of internal security.

Mahatma Gandhi, Indian national leader

Mahatma Gandhi was the greatest leader in Indian history. Gandhi viewed vegetarianism as the moral foundation of human existence, stating that he would not eat meat even on the recommendation of doctors. For him, the life of a lamb was no less valuable than a human life. For Gandhi, vegetarian food was not just a religious principle, but an obsession, on which he spent a lot of time and energy. He wrote 5 volumes of works on this issue.

Lewis Gompertz, English inventor

Lewis Gompertz was the founder of the British Society against Cruelty to Animals in 1824. He fought against the hunt for many years, for it was inhuman to pursue a poor, defenseless creature for mere amusement until it was exhausted from terror and fatigue.

Franz Kafka, Austrian-Czech writer

A famous Czech novelist, whose work has had a huge impact on Western literature and art. Kafka was attracted to a vegetarian diet for health and ethical reasons. He did not believe in medicine, believing that the foundations of health were laid in a raw food diet.

Plutarch, ancient Greek historian and biographer

The scientist, thanks to whom modern society knows a lot about the existence of Ancient Greece, was an ardent supporter of vegetarianism. He said that it should be a shame to mix murder and blood with beneficial fruits.

Pythagoras, Greek philosopher and mathematician

Pythagoras was an influential Greek author of the famous theorem. Although many consider Pythagoras to be the father of vegetarianism. We know about his commitment to a vegetarian diet thanks to his notes that have come down to us. Pythagoras argued that as long as people kill animals, they will kill each other.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau, French philosopher

This man is dedicated to the exploration of the human personality, personal freedom and emotional participation in life. Rousseau himself was a meat-eater, but in his textbook "Emile or on Education" stated that children have an innate preference for vegetarian foods, which is evidence that meat is not natural food for the human body.

George Bernard Shaw, British playwright and critic

Shaw was one of the most famous vegetarians and adhered to this dietary system for most of his life. Prior to that, he considered himself a cannibal, calling meat "the scorched corpses of innocent creatures." Shaw was known for his witty and often harsh statements. So, he owns the words: "Animals are my friends, and I do not eat my friends."

Lev Tolstoy, Russian critic and writer

The great writer, author of immortal works, became a vegetarian after visiting a slaughterhouse. His conversion to a vegetarian diet was gradual, and he hesitated for several years. He expressed his moral reasons in the introduction to a book called The Ethics of Non-Violence. He said that a person who eats meat food ruthlessly suppresses the highest spiritual potential in himself - sympathy and pity for such living beings as himself.

Vegetarian culture among modern celebrities

If we can judge about the vegetarianism of the past only by the recollections of contemporaries and by the written testimony of opponents of meat food, then among modern famous people you can find many popular vegetarians who, from their pages on social networks, from TV screens, urge us to abandon meat products. These are world celebrities.

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 find 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 in the menu. However, this does not mean that the very concept of "vegetarianism" is as young: looking at the historical chronicles, one can be convinced that in ancient times there were no fewer people adhering to such a diet. What is the deep meaning of such a multifaceted and deep concept? Let's figure it out.

Vegetarian educational program: basic concepts

On the surface, vegetarianism seems to be just a special diet in which animal products are excluded from the diet. However, some people use a plant-based menu exclusively for losing weight and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Such motivation also exists, but most true vegetarians are also guided by religious, ethical and moral convictions. The choice of plant food for them is a completely logical and reasonable step arising from the commandment "Thou shalt not kill", a protest against violence and cruelty in any form, a humane attitude towards every living creature inhabiting the world around them.

In the process of evolution, true vegetarianism began to be subdivided into several directions:

1. Strict vegetarians (vegans) have been able to maintain their beliefs by completely avoiding animal products.
2. Lacto-vegetarians include milk and dairy products on the menu.
3. Ovo vegetarians consume only eggs of all animal products.
4. Lacto-ovegetarians use dairy products and eggs for their food, but exclude meat and fish.
5. Sandy vegetarians allow seafood to be consumed.

Veganism also comes in a number of varieties:

1. A raw food diet allows you to include in the diet foods of 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.
2. Fruitorianism means that only the fruits are used for food, but not the plants themselves. The Frutorians include in the diet only those dishes, for the preparation of which it was not necessary to destroy the representatives of flora and fauna. For example, they can eat berries, fruits and vegetables, but avoid lettuce, root vegetables (potatoes, carrots, beets, etc.).
3. The macrobiotic diet is based on cereals and cereals, while sugar and refined vegetable oils are banned.

Why is vegetarianism popular with celebrities and fans?

The controversy about vegetarianism has not subsided since its inception in society. Some are strenuously agitating to preserve the life of living beings and to take care not only of gluttony, but also of the environment, while others consider a person a "predator" who needs meat. A banal example, given by the famous vegan Gary Yurofsky, can dot the i's once and for all: “Put a live rabbit and an apple in the bed of a two-year-old child. If a child eats a rabbit and plays with an apple, I'll admit I was wrong and eat a steak. " But children listen to their bodies to a greater extent than adults. Therefore, a more important question is not whether the human gastrointestinal tract is able to perceive food of animal origin, but whether it is needed?

The meat menu became the main part of the diet after production technologies for the killing of animals were widely used. Such blasphemy could not go unnoticed, because thousands of people began to practice vegetarian habits. "I don't eat anyone!" - they said, and they were absolutely right. And even those who worried about the moral side of the issue least of all, and the stories about the unhealthy energy of the food consumed did not arouse disgust, wondered whether meat dishes are so useful. Indeed, for the sake of obtaining greater profits in production, they began to inject the unfortunate animals with appetite stimulants and growth hormones, sedatives and antibiotics. Therefore, eating meat has become not only unjustified, but also very dangerous.

And in terms of chemical composition, a piece of meat looks more like a "slow poison". Saturated fatty acids accumulate in the body, causing excess weight, liver damage, 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 the cardiovascular system, heart attacks and fatal strokes, malignant neoplasms are many times more common than in countries where vegetarian foundations are respected.

A bit of history. Famous vegetarians of the ancient world

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

Despite the fact that vegetarianism became widespread only in the 60s, when hippies openly declared their beliefs, there are many prominent individuals in history who adhere to a plant-based diet. Famous people have promoted vegetarianism 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 even before our era (404-323 BC) is his famous barrel. However, Diogenes of Sinop became famous not only for this. He was the brightest of the students of Antisthenes, a follower of the Cynic school, who, moreover, adhered to the vegan beliefs. Among his many quotes, which became aphorisms and have retained their relevance to this day, there are wise words about vegetarianism: "We can just as well eat human flesh as we do with animal meat."

Ovid

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

“Oh, mortals! Fear to desecrate
Their bodies are unholy food,
Take a look - your fields are full of cereals,
And the branches of the trees bowed under the weight of the fruit,
Given to you vegetables and herbs that are delicious,
When skillfully prepared by hand,
The vine is rich in bunch,
And sweet clover gives honey,
Indeed, 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 of Ancient Greece supported vegetarianism, among whom was Plutarch, an encyclopedically educated 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, traveled for a long time in Greece, Asia Minor and Italy. Once in Rome, he was honored to visit the emperors Trajan and Hadrian.

At home, Plutarch was also very respected: he bore the title of priest of the Delphic sanctuary with dignity, worked as consul and procurator of the province of Achaia. Plutarch devoted a whole treatise to the problems of meat-eating, which has survived to this day in an almost unchanged form:

“For my part, I am perplexed, what should be the feelings, state of mind or state of mind of the first person when, having committed the murder of an animal, he raised the bloody flesh of the victim to his lips? How can he, having placed the treats of eerie corpses and carrion on the table in front of the guests, give the names of "meat" and "edible" to that which walked around yesterday, bellowed, bleated, looked around? How can his vision bear a picture of the spilled blood of innocent murdered, stripped and mutilated bodies? How his sense of smell carries away this terrible smell of death and how all these horrors will not spoil his appetite when he chews on 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 around to provide us with a comfortable existence? What makes you slander the Earth as incapable of providing us with everything we need? .. Aren't you ashamed to put the product of agriculture on the same level with the torn victim of the slaughter? Truly, it is established among you. "

Seneca

Lucius Annei Seneca did not immediately come to vegetarianism. His father, who appreciated practice more than his son's passion for philosophy, moved with his family to Rome from Corduba (a small Spanish city where Seneca was born), where the young scientist comprehended the basics of Sextius, Sotion, 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 his career), but also a world famous playwright and politician. Among his speeches, a lot is devoted to vegetarianism as the basis of purity, kindness and humanism:

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

Leonardo da Vinci

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

1. "Truly, man is the king of beasts, for what other beast can compare with him in cruelty."
2. "We live by killing others: we are walking graves!"
3. "From an early age, I avoided eating meat and I believe that the time will come when people like me will look at killing an animal the way they now look at killing a person."
4. "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 a million audience, are trying with all their might to promote the vegetarian position to the masses. It is difficult to accuse them that the fight for the environment is just a PR move, because most of them not only speak frankly about their views, but also donate multimillion-dollar concerts, defending the right to life for our smaller brothers. Stars all over the world are promoting vegetarianism, many of whom are legends in the musical environment.

Stephen Patrick Morrissey

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

The legendary Beatles lead singer hasn't eaten animal food since the early eighties, and neither has his late wife Linda, who even launched a line of herbal products on the market. Sir Paul McCartney supports the British organization "For the Ethical Treatment of Animals" and has repeatedly spoken out as an ardent opponent of the killing of living things for food.

McCartney did not come to vegetarianism right away - he previously consumed 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 - just for the fleeting pleasure that I get. Then something inside me clicked. I realized when I looked at her, fighting for air, that life for this fish is as important as it is for me. "

After that, the singer has repeatedly spoken out in defense of animal rights. Let's listen to what the world's celebrities have to say about vegetarianism:

1. “There are a lot of problems on our planet today. We hear a lot of words from businessmen, from the government, but it seems that they are not going to do anything about it. But you yourself can change something! You can help the environment, you can help end animal cruelty, and you can improve your health. All you have to do is become a vegetarian. So think about it, it's a great idea! "
2. "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 "slightly over forty" looks young and well-groomed. According to the singer himself, a healthy lifestyle and a plant-based diet help him maintain an excellent appearance: “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 fairly healthy lifestyle and I think it helps me a lot. I have been on this path for a long time: for 20 years I was first a vegetarian, then became a vegan, and in general I take care of myself. All this probably helps me to keep my youth. "

The celebrity publicly condemns meat-eaters and does not hesitate to point out that clothing made of leather and fur is, in fact, the same murder. At the men's fashion show at Fashion Week, Leto wore a fur collar, however, despite the caustic comments of the spiteful critics, the fur turned out to be fake, and Jared himself was very annoyed at the suggestion that he could wear a thing 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 "A Beautiful Lie" and the film "Alexander", where, according to his role, he had to eat 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, sharply speaks out against Prince William, Queen Elizabeth II and Bionce, who destroy animals for fun and dubious beauty clothes. The singer's rating is off scale: for a whole decade (from 2000 to 2010) she held the leading positions in the TOP of the American Billboard magazine. Nevertheless, Pink turned down a multimillion-dollar contract with a royal family: “I turned down Prince William's invitation to sing on his birthday because he was hunting animals in Africa, and I think it's disgusting. I also advise you to give up fur and leather clothing. You can dress without killing anyone. "

Ozzy Osbourne

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

Nelly Furtado

The popular Canadian singer supports vegetarianism for several reasons. Firstly, the star admits the harm of meat dishes and tries to take care of her health. And secondly, cruelty and abuse towards animals is alien to her. That is why Nelly's diet consists exclusively of plant foods: "Vegetarianism is the 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 - Vegetarians

There is no doubt that acting is a public profession. Therefore, the celebrities of 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 elimination of evil towards animals. What's more, many of them report that plant-based diets make them look and feel much better youthful. 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 moviegoers for her films Leon, Intimacy, V for Vendetta and Black Swan, Oscar and Golden Globe winner, has been a vegetarian since she was eight years old. Natalie's father involuntarily pushed me to refuse meat: “When I was eight years old, my father took me to a medical conference, where they demonstrated the achievements of laser surgery. A live chicken was used as a visual aid. Since then I have not eaten meat. "

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

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

Richard Gere's healthy lifestyle is not limited to vegetarianism - the actor meditates daily in the bosom of nature, travels around Tibet quite often, by all means 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 descended from the pages of gloss, is convinced that her gorgeous appearance is primarily due to an active life position and a plant-based diet. Olivia Wilde adheres to the principles of vegetarianism for many years and practically does not allow herself to indulge in indulgence. The only exception for the actress was severe depression after her divorce from her husband, film director Tao Ruspoli Wilde. A difficult breakup became a mental trauma for Olivia, and she allowed herself a weakness: “I really really love healthy food. I have been 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." This is how cheese appeared in my life. "

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

Such a diet hinders the actress a little on the set, because the scenes of family lunches and dinners with the presence of meat dishes should look natural, and Gwyneth literally turns back from the sight of a freshly prepared animal: “Filming the scenes of dinners and lunches is bad because you have to eat the same many takes, sometimes all day. Many actors do not like this and therefore do not specifically eat in the frame, this approach seems unnatural to me. True, most of what I put in my mouth I spit after the stop command. Otherwise, I risk getting an upset stomach. "

True, Gwyneth Paltrow did not come to such convictions herself - the basic principles of vegetarianism were put into the beautiful head of the actress by the famous advocate of animal rights, colleague “in the shop” Leonardo DiCaprio: “Leo constantly talked about how bad it is to eat meat, and how horrible cattle breeding. I have not eaten red meat for 20 years. This is not to say that this is entirely the merit of DiCaprio, but he was definitely the first who threw this idea and grew it in me. I became interested in macrobiotics when my father was diagnosed with cancer. Then it seemed to me that a special bond was established between us and that I could help him by eating right. "

The principles of the Hollywood hottie and incredibly talented actor Brad Pitt are the epitome of how famous people are promoting vegetarianism. He is sure that only herbal products can ensure the normal functioning of the body. And he has something to compare with: since childhood, little Brad ate traditional American food, including meat, smoked meats and fast food. And only after the wedding with Angelina Jolie, the actor revised his outlook on life - he began to lead a healthy lifestyle, play sports, eat right and help those in need. For him, vegetarianism has become not a tribute to fashion, but a vital position: "I must be a vegetarian ... I don't want any animal to be put on my plate."

Having adopted a healthy lifestyle, Brad Pitt began to look and feel much better. As the actor notes, the elimination of animal products helped him improve blood circulation and brain activity.

Famous vegetarians - "stars" of sports

Many successful athletes have proven by their own example that a plant-based diet is the only possible option to maintain health and good spirits, keep the body in good shape and always be at the peak of their 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 “retired”: Carl Lewis, Paavo Nurmi, Edwin Moses, Bode Miller, Christopher Campbell, Mike Tyson and others.

Federic Carlton Lewis has long left the big sport - the famous athlete has passed well over 50. However, his popularity was not limited to this: the US basketball club Chicago Bulls, as a sign of respect for the merits of the athlete, reserved the number 208 for him, although he did not even play basketball. In addition, Karl's portrait adorns one of the postage stamps of Azerbaijan - is this not a sign of true honor?

The Olympic champion-record holder, in whose biography there are 9 medals, did not immediately become a vegetarian: at the beginning of his career, Carl Lewis did not attach importance to what he eats. However, the transition to plant foods helped to strengthen the athlete's position in the athletics arena. He defended his beliefs by example and numerous comments about vegetarianism: "I found that to be a successful athlete, man 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 for his services was entered into the Guinness Book of Records 12 times. His physical characteristics were amazing: an athlete could hold a 34 kg kettlebell on his outstretched arm, punch a Coca-Cola can with his fingers, do push-ups using only 2 fingers, and pull up on his little fingers. His reactions were so harsh that the standard 24fps technology was not always able to capture the actor's passages. Bruce Lee himself did not advertise his diet, but his daughter, Shannon Lee, told Big Breakfast that the athlete had been a strict vegan for 8 years.

Mike Tyson

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

"You are probably very surprised to hear that I am a vegetarian?" - laughing, says Tyson. Indeed, now his opponents need not be afraid for 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 of Soviet culture promoted the idea of ​​refusing meat and other manifestations of cruelty to animals.

Lev 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 nonviolent resistance included vegetarianism as the first step on the path of spiritual and moral purification of a person. Leo Tolstoy's essays "On the Unreasonableness of Meat Eating" and "The Way of Life" became a real standard for many humanists in Russia: "As long as there are slaughterhouses, there will be battlefields," Lev Tolstoy said. And this is not his only statement in defense of animals:

1. "How can one hope that peace and prosperity will reign on earth if our bodies are living graves in which killed animals are buried?"
2. "If a person is serious and sincere in his 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 striving for moral perfection is."

Valeria Gai Germanicus

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

Vegetarianism became a part of the life of Valeria Gai Germanicus after the birth of her daughter Octavia. Only after becoming a mother, the director realized the horror of meat-eating: “I prefer something Ayurvedic in food. The basic principle of Ayurvedic nutrition is that you should eat a 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 then we kill this alive and push it into ourselves. It's hard for me to perceive the karma of an animal that died a violent death. So I've been a vegetarian for two years now. ”

Playful and charming - everyone is used to seeing Olga Shelest on the TV screen. Her lively and sonorous voice broadcasts not only from the TV screen - the star is also popular on radio waves. As a child, an event happened to her that forever turned the diva's worldview: “When I was nine or ten years old, we visited 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 appear in my memory: a ram is brought in, tied in the yard. And the next episode - he is already hanging dead upside down in the barn, and he is being skinned. Catastrophe! This event made a tremendous impression on me. And I refused to eat pilaf, which was made from the meat of this ram. Moreover, I persuaded all my brothers and sisters to do the same. We then boycotted the grand dinner. And my grandmother then complained to my mother when she came to pick us up: they say, Olenka raised such a storm - she refused to eat. And through her fault, the children were completely emaciated. "

Parents did not take their daughter's passion for vegetarianism seriously, considering it a whim and whim. And, as it turned out, in vain - the girl retained her beliefs in adulthood: “I am not a meat-eater by nature. Even as a child, I did not eat much meat. Sweet is another 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 controversy. Despite the fact that the necessity of eating meat and fish is very doubtful, 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 managed to recognize the rationality and humanity of the vegetarian diet. Even the WHO has classified the plant-based diet as a mental disorder - right next door to love, which is also one of them. Well, if resistance to cruelty is not considered the norm - so be it: it is better to be branded as abnormal than to please the public to eat living beings.

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

Decrepit, teeth fell out,
Years scroll on the horns.
Beat her rude expeller
On the distillation fields.
The heart is not kind to the noise
The mice are scratching in the corner.
Thinks a sad thought
About the white-legged heifer.
They did not give the mother a son,
The first joy is not good.
And on a stake under an aspen
The breeze fluttered the skin.
Soon on buckwheat sveta,
With the same filial destiny,
Tie a noose around her neck
And they will lead to the slaughter.
Plain, sad and skinny
Horns are screaming into the ground ...
She dreams of a white grove
And grassy meadows.

Many popular actors have long since given up eating meat, each for their own reasons. Some find it unethical to kill innocent animals, while others have had to give up meat for medical reasons. Today we bring you a list of the most famous vegetarian and vegan actors.

In one of his most recent interviews with GQ magazine in 2013, Jared claims that good sleep and special nutrition, which consists of 20 years of experience, first vegetarian and then vegan, help him to stay healthy and forever young.

Woody Harrelson went vegan at 24 on the advice of a friend. He suffered from acne and persistent coughing, but just 3 days after changing his diet, the mucus from his lungs and acne were gone forever. Woody is now a raw foodist.

Tobey Maguire became a vegetarian in 1992, and in 2009 the actor gave up all animal products. The performer of the role of Spider-Man admits that he never had the desire to eat meat: "Even when I was a child, it was hard for me."

Samuel L. Jackson switched to a vegan diet to improve his health and "live forever." Jackson stated that he decided to completely abandon meat, meat products and milk. According to the actor, it was his age that made him go for it, as well as the desire to stay healthy as long as possible.

Leonardo DiCaprio
Not just a vegetarian, but an ardent environmentalist. The popular actor organizes events and makes films in support of animals.

American actor Peter Dinklage, star of Game of Thrones, stated: “I decided to become a vegetarian when I was a teenager. Of course, firstly, it was a decision made out of love for animals. However, secondly, it all happened because of the girl. " Which girl prompted him to give up meat, Dinklage did not elaborate.

Brad Pitt has been a vegetarian for a long time and gets very angry when his wife pounces on meat.

Natalie Portman. Her vegetarian experience is over 20 years. According to Natalie, "every animal is a personality that has its own character." In addition, the actress is convinced that the time will come when vegetarianism will become the norm, and eating meat will be shocking and outdated.

Actor Joaquin Phoenix described the reasons for the transition to veganism: “I was three years old. I remember that day very well. Together with my family, we went fishing on a boat. One fish began to scramble desperately when it was caught and forcefully thrown onto the side of the boat. The truth horrified me: we treat animals monstrously. A living throbbing creature that tried to survive died a cruel death at the hands of a man. I clearly realized this. "

Cillian Murphy is a vegetarian because of the unhealthy practices and drugs used in animal husbandry.

Jessica Chastain is a vegan since birth. She grew up in a family where plant-based food and respect for all living things were a priority. Moreover, everything is very strict, the Chastain family does not eat not only meat and fish, but also honey, eggs, dairy products.