Posted by diane on July 05, 2001 at 05:32:58:
In Reply to: Why is dairy taboo? posted by Marina on July 05, 2001 at 05:30:04:
it's not so much that dairy is a problem, rather how the animals are treated which bothers me. producing soooooo much milk usually means treatment with hormones, antibiotics, and the like. this just isn't natural for the animals and there is some suspicion as to the health risks for these animals.
when i do eat dairy i look for companies that treat their livestock with respect. also, when it comes to cheese products, i choose those made without the use of animal enzymes, such as rennet, which is found in the intestinal tract of cows. unfortunately, the cows do not readily give this up without taking a walk through the slaughterhouse. many health food stores carry cheeses made with microbial enzymes and there is absolutely no difference in taste! as an option, rice cheese is also good, whether it's cheddar, mozzarella, or parmesan! do youself a favor and stay away from soy cheese! the health benefits are great as for as soy as a cancer defense, but the taste and texture leave something to be desired.
hope this info gives you some insight as to the diferent levels of vegetarianism.