A vegetarian diet that includes a high proportion of milk and milk products will have enough buildup foods to keep balance. It may sit well with some people, but in many others it may cause metabolic havoc, especially if the person has allergies or is lactose intolerant. Milk and cheese may in fact aggravate various allergy problems, regardless of what one is“ allergic to.” Also, as they are very strong buildup foods( milk makes calves grow into cows!), they may cause unwanted weight gain. There are, incidentally, few eating habits as damaging as strict vegetarianism, or veganism( no animal protein, no milk products), when combined with the frequent use of refined sugar and / or honey. As sugar is a pure carbohydrate and lacks protein, in a vegan diet it will set up a relative protein deficiency, and thereby be weakening. Scientific evidence backs up this contention. In a detailed study conducted by Dr. C. Keith Conners of Children’ s Hospital in Washington, D. C., it was shown that a combination of a carbohydrate meal and a sugary food was“ deadly” in its effects on learning ability and behavior, whereas sugar following a( animal) protein meal did not have such a negative effect. 20 Well-balanced vegetarian eating, when a person is suited for it, is extremely healthful. Studies done on vegetarian groups such as the Seventh Day Adventists show a much lower incidence of cancer than in meateating populations. 21 A diet high in vegetable protein and correspondingly low in saturated fat is also positively correlated with clean coronary arteries. A raw-foods vegetarian diet, even though it may include nuts and even soaked grains, is strongly tilted toward aiding breakdown because of its low protein and fat content. It’ s an extremely helpful way of eating when we wish to get rid of excess mucus, fat, or any sort of deposited matter in tissues, blood vessels, or joints. It is also extremely cooling. Most people I know who successfully follow a raw-food regimen live in a warm climate, such as Florida or California. Those who live in New York and other northern cities reported becoming very cold in the winter; they warmed up quickly as soon as they started eating cooked buildup foods, such as grains and beans. COMMENTS Vegetarians are often interested in spiritual development, meditation, and the transcendental view of life— that is, the understanding that there is another reality beyond the material world. § It is also popularly believed that vegetarians are peaceful, whereas meat eaters are bloodthirsty and even warlike. According to my observations, this bears out only partially. A well-balanced vegetarian way of eating, when coupled with an altruistic predisposition, can indeed support a peaceful and friendly character. But there are no guarantees: Cain, the tiller of the ground( perhaps a vegetarian?) killed Abel, the keeper of sheep( a meat eater?). Hitler was a committed vegetarian from 1911 until his death thirty-four years later. His case, in fact, is a dramatic illustration of unbalanced vegetarianism: He lived on fruits, vegetables, potatoes, milk, white rice, chocolate, and enormous amounts of sugar and white flour in the form of pastries and cakes. 23 Considering less extreme examples, I have seen many a contentious, cranky vegetarian— myself included at times— and many a kind and patient meat eater. After all, if the“ you are what you eat” cliché is true, when you eat beef you become like the cow— not like the butcher. This point was brought home to me on a five-hour plane trip I took with my children when they were three and six years old, and very lively. I dreaded the confinement and was prepared with healthy snacks, toys, and plenty of crayons. When lunchtime came, the only thing on the menu turned out to be beef bourguignon; the kids were hungry and demanded“ airplane food,” so with great trepidation and visions of little savages dancing in my head, I let them order it. Much to my surprise, after the meat meal they were quite relaxed and content, played quietly with their books and crayons, and even allowed me a nap! I found out later that one of the amino acids in meat, tryptophan, tends to induce relaxation and sleepiness. Some people are natural vegetarians, practically since birth, and both the thought and the act of eating animal products is quite repugnant to them; they usually remain in excellent health on a simple vegetarian regime. On the other hand, there are people who cannot follow a vegetarian way of eating without becoming weak, getting depressed, losing energy, weight, hair, the“ creative edge,” and feeling generally deprived. Still others go in and out of vegetarian phases. There are a number of theories that classify the body into various types so as to help us decide what kinds of foods work best for each of us. One theory, which according to some who have tried it is fairly effective, says that body types with strong adrenals do very well on a vegetarian, no-sugar diet, whereas those with strong pituitary-gland activity cannot handle a vegetarian diet too well— they need animal protein. 24 Another theory holds that people with strong, active endocrine systems, a high rate of metabolism, lean bodies, and a liking for exercise do well with large amounts of vegetables and fruits, whereas people with weaker endocrine systems, a slow metabolic rate, and the tendency to put on weight would be uncomfortable on a vegetarian diet and do better with a fair amount of animal protein.