2. Muslim Diet
Muslims are required to follow a halal
diet. Halal means lawful and is used to
designate food which is permitted in
Islam.
Not permitted: pork and any other pork
product (e.g. bacon, ham, gelatine); meat
and derivatives not killed ritually;
alcohol.
Permitted: Meat and derivatives that
have been killed ritually (halal meat);
fish; eggs; vegetarian foods.
The religious laws say all animals should
be treated with respect. Slaughtering
methods must limit the amount of pain
the animal will endure.
According to the Quran, Muslims cannot
eat pork or pork by-products, animals that
were dead prior to slaughtering, blood
and blood by-products, alcohol,
carnivorous animals, birds of prey or land
animals without external ears. Those foods
are called “haram,” meaning “forbidden” in
Arabic.
Health care Providers' Handbook on Muslim Patients,
State of Queensland (Queensland Health) 2010
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Unported.
3. Sikh Diet
Some Sikhs follow a strict vegetarian diet. The
following table outlines foods which are suitable
for vegetarian Sikhs, as well as many common
non-vegetarian additives and ingredients that may
be found in these foods. These non-vegetarian
additives need to be identified as they would
make these seemingly vegetarian foods unsuitable.
Sikhs who do not follow a vegetarian diet may eat
meat from any animal, but are prohibited from
eating any meat which has been ritually
slaughtered, including halal and kosher meat
products. However, some Sikhs may choose to not
eat beef or pork.
Sikhs are also prohibited from consuming alcohol
and foods made using alcohol. This includes
products such as bitters, vanilla essence and foods
cooked or preserved using alcohol.
Healthcare Providers' Handbook on Sikh Patients,
State of Queensland (Queensland Health) 2011
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4. Hindu Diet
Hindu dietary practices can vary depending on
the individual’s beliefs and customs.
Most Hindus do not eat beef or pork and many
follow a vegetarian diet. Fasting is common
among Hindus, but there are no set rules and
the decision to fast is up to the individual.
Many Hindus follow Ayurvedic dietary practices.
Under this system certain foods are classified as
hot or cold and can adversely or positively
affect health conditions and emotions.
The classification of foods as hot or cold is
unrelated to temperature. Hot foods are
generally those foods which are salty, sour or
high in animal protein, while cold foods are
generally sweet or bitter.
Some strict Hindus do not consume
garlic or onion as the properties of
these foods disturb spiritual practices
such as meditation.
Health care Providers' Handbook on Hindu Patients,
State of Queensland (Queensland Health) 2011.
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the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic
5. Christian Diet
Dietary restrictions are non-existent in
most Christian denominations. There are
only two notable vegetarian Christian
denominations: Seventh Day Adventists;
and Doukhobors.
The Doukhobors strict vegetarian lifestyle
evolved from their pacifist beliefs. Their
convictions against killing and violence
extend to all of God's living creatures.
Seventh Day Adventist believe God calls all
of us to take care of our bodies and
discourage their members from eating
meat, alcohol consumption and gluttony.
Mormons refrain from drinking tea, coffee
and alcohol.
This work has been released into the public domain.
6. Jewish Diet
Jewish people have several dietary restrictions. Some are
ritualistic and only take place during certain festivals.
Other foods are prohibited at all times:
Koshur food are foods that conform to Jewish dietary
law. To be considered Kosher, birds must have wings, fish
must have scales and fins and animals must chew cud
and have a cloven hoof. Dairy products and meat are
not to be consumed at the same time. To ingest the
blood of any animal is strictly forbidden. Produce
coming from Israel must be tithed.
Several holidays have dietary rituals:
●
On the day of Yom Kippur, Jews will fast (no food or
drink) for 24 hours.
●
As an expression of mourning, during the first nine
day of Av, Jews will not eat meat.
●
During Passover, nothing that is leavened is allowed to
be consumed.
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7. Buddhist Diet
Many Buddhists maintain a vegetarian diet,
but it is left to personal choice.
“One positive development within modern
society is the way in which, together with a
growing appreciation of the importance of
human rights, people are coming to have
greater concern for animals. For example,
there is growing recognition of the inhumanity
of factory farming. It seems, too, that more
and more people are taking an interest in
vegetarianism and cutting down on their
consumption of meat. I welcome this. My
hope is that in the future, this concern will be
extended to consideration for even the
smallest creatures of the sea.”
- Dalai Lama
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