Cultural Dietary Restrictions
There are many reasons why people have restricted diets. While religious beliefs are one of the most popular reasons for dietary restrictions, closely related to that are the various cultural beliefs that may or may not be based on religion. An example of this is Hinduism. While the religion of Hinduism has certain beliefs about animals being … Keep Reading → sacred and not being eaten, the degree to which this is adhered to varies considerably based on location. Some cultures that practice Hinduism won’t eat any animal products while others will eat specific animal products. Other items such as alcohol and even certain vegetables are not eaten in some Hindu cultures while they are allowed in others. Judaism is another example of dietary restrictions that vary widely depending on local cultural beliefs. This covers a wide range of beliefs ranging from those who strictly adhere to the rules of the “kosher” diet, to those who won’t eat pork or shellfish, to diets with fewer or no restrictions at all. It is clear that even within established religions, local cultures and customs play an important role in dietary restrictions.
