Thread: Are You Vegetarian?

Generally, Theravada monks (mostly Sri Lankan, Thai, Myanmese etc.) eat meat, while Mahayana monks (mostly Chinese, Koreans, Vietnamese etc.) are strict vegetarians. Both appear to be very healthy and renowned for their longevity.

Seems to me that monk life and meditation can foster a more positive than average mindset, and that might be one major reason why they live long lives. People who worry don't live as long.

Originally Posted by Plan B

A few years ago there was a fad diet book: Eat Right For Your Type, written by a doctor with an interesting theory about how blood types evolved to meet our changing lifestyles. I've never heard of any medical studies that back up his idea but the concept was interesting. As I remember it (not to clearly) it goes like this...

Blood type 'O' : The original blood type survives best on high protein, meat, some fruit and vege.

Blood type 'A' : As humans starting settling down in one place and growing food this type evolved. Works best on veges with some meat.

Blood type 'B' : Evolved in those populations that were nomadic herdsmen, do well on meat and diary.

Blood type 'AB' : The most modern evolution in blood type can eat the newer processed foods like bread.

So the answer about which dietary course to follow may depend on your ancestors and also be different for each individual.

Does this theory work? I don't know. In his second follow on book to this one he started to investigate somatyping as another factor.

I don't know anything about this theory but I do know that dietary recommendations are not "one size fits all". Unfortunately it seems that science has not yet looked into this problem seriously.

There've been also some claiming that certain bloodtypes take alcohol better. But I don't think that's scientifically sound; same for veggie versus meat.