12:20 AM
Vegetarian
A research study conducted in Korea at a Buddhist Temple has generated some potentially beneficial insights. The study title is: “Influence of a five-day vegetarian diet on urinary levels of antibiotics and phthalate metabolites: A pilot study with ‘Temple Stay’ participants.”
A “temple stay” in this study means five days in a Buddhist temple, living like monks. Twenty five study participants ate vegetarian food during their stay. They were queried before entering the temple about their dietary habits, and urine samples were also taken at that time. High levels of antibiotics and phthalates were observed in the study participants before their temple stay. Presumably the antibiotic levels were due mainly to meat consumption. Phthalates were also high before entry, and they can also be absorbed through meat consumption. However, they are also found in abundant supply in the manmade environment. They are mainly found in plastics, like food containers, shower curtains, floor tiles, personal care products, sex toys, textiles, pharmaceuticals, and many other applications. (Research about the potential health effects of phthalates on humans is ongoing.)
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