Animal or non-animal based diet?

[Diana]

@ sillypumpkins: I meant no offense to you. I just endeavor to share my point of view on this subject. One reason I do is because I think animals are also other-selves. There are many things that distinguish plants from animals to support the idea that a plant-based diet is indicated.

It is more difficult to take care of the body eating only plants. Evolutionarily, a sufficient intake of animal products correspond the most straightforwardly to what the body needs. If people take care and remain healthy as vegetarians, that's one thing, but it would be counterproductive, I think, to neglect the body in what becomes a kind of soft martyrdom, as some do, viewing it rigidly as the only right thing to do.

It is not more difficult to take care of the body eating plants only. I am healthier than most people half my age, and I have been vegetarian since 1993, and vegan most of that time.

To say it is soft martyrdom has nothing to do with why I am vegan (I can't vouch for others). I do not neglect my body, and unlike many "spiritual" people who think the physical doesn't matter, I do think it matters. I take care of the body I have, and the best way to do that in my opinion is to feed it the healthiest food (healthiest on every level including mental/emotional and for the spirit along the evolutionary journey).

Beyond all the obvious reasons which are easy to look up (physical heath, animal abuse), imagine a time in the future when we have evolved to the point of existing on "light" or drinking the ambrosia Ra mentions. Now draw a line to that point. What steps might one take along that line regarding nourishment of the body?