Book Title: Medieval Jainism
Author(s): P S Jain, R M Lodha
Publisher: Ashish Publishing House

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Page 137
________________ VEGETARIANISM-A WAY OF LIFE 119 ptyalin, an enzyme that predigests starch from plants and it does not have the powerful kind of acids needed to prey on small games freshly killed. The most dramatic indication of the non-carnivorous nature of the human digestive system is its overall length and shape compared to the shortness of the digestive tract of a carnivore which allows for quick processing and rapid evacuation so that meat does not decay within the intestines and give off toxins. Human, like herbivores, drink by suckling rather than lapping, sweat through the skin rather than by the tongue, and have alkaline urine. The right approach to vegetarian dietary should be that one must be well informed about the proper combination of food, the selection of nutritional food, and cooking from the health point of view. In short the approach to vegetarian dietary should be systematic. In conclusion we may point out that while vegetarianism is desirable it is not enough unless it is associated with the principle of 'Reverence for Life (Ahimsa)* * Reprint from Souvenir of Ahimsa World Conference, New Delhi, 1985. Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only www.jainelibrary.org

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