View source for Animal food is not meant for the human being. For chewing solid food, the human being has a particular type of teeth meant for cutting fruits and vegetables

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{{terms|"Animal food is not meant for the human being. For chewing solid food, the human being has a particular type of teeth meant for cutting fruits and vegetables"|"Human teeth are so made that they can chew and cut fruit and vegetables, although there are two canine teeth so that primitive humans can eat flesh if they so desire"|"Our teeth is meant for eating vegetables and fruits"|"The teeth is made for eating vegetables"|"You have got your particular type of teeth for eating fruits, flowers, grains"|"You take fruit, you can easily cut. But if you take meat, bite"|"Your teeth is different, your nature is different"|"a man cannot do that, but his teeth is different, he has no nails"|"man should live on fruits and vegetables. Their teeth are made in that way"|"our teeth is made—you take a fruit, you can easily cut into pieces by this tooth. But if you take a piece of flesh, it will be difficult to cut with these teeth"|"our teeth, it is meant for cutting vegetables, fruit, not meat"|"we human beings, this is scientific. Our teeth are meant for eating fruits"}}
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[[Category:Animal|2]]
[[Category:Food|2]]
[[Category:Not Meant For|2]]
[[Category:Human Beings|2]]
[[Category:Chewing|2]]
[[Category:Solid|2]]
[[Category:Particular Type Of|2]]
[[Category:Teeth|2]]
[[Category:They Are Meant For|2]]
[[Category:Cut|2]]
[[Category:Fruit|2]]
[[Category:Vegetables|2]]
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<div id="Srimad-Bhagavatam" class="section" sec_index="1" parent="compilation" text="Srimad-Bhagavatam"><h2>Srimad-Bhagavatam</h2>
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<div id="SB_Canto_2" class="sub_section" sec_index="2" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam" text="SB Canto 2"><h3>SB Canto 2</h3>
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<div id="SB2319_0" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_2" book="SB" index="91" link="SB 2.3.19" link_text="SB 2.3.19">
<div class="heading">Animal food is not meant for the human being. For chewing solid food, the human being has a particular type of teeth meant for cutting fruits and vegetables.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 2.3.19|SB 2.3.19, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">Persons who have no discrimination in the matter of foodstuff and who eat all sorts of rubbish are compared to hogs. Hogs are very much attached to eating stools. So stool is a kind of foodstuff for a particular type of animal. And even stones are eatables for a particular type of animal or bird. But the human being is not meant for eating everything and anything; he is meant to eat grains, vegetables, fruits, milk, sugar, etc. Animal food is not meant for the human being. For chewing solid food, the human being has a particular type of teeth meant for cutting fruits and vegetables. The human being is endowed with two canine teeth as a concession for persons who will eat animal food at any cost. It is known to everyone that one man's food is another man's poison. Human beings are expected to accept the remnants of food offered to Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, and the Lord accepts foodstuff from the categories of leaves, flowers, fruits, etc. ([[Vanisource:BG 9.26 (1972)|BG 9.26]]). As prescribed by Vedic scriptures, no animal food is offered to the Lord. Therefore, a human being is meant to eat a particular type of food. He should not imitate the animals to derive so-called vitamin values. Therefore, a person who has no discrimination in regard to eating is compared to a hog.</p>
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<div id="Other_Books_by_Srila_Prabhupada" class="section" sec_index="3" parent="compilation" text="Other Books by Srila Prabhupada"><h2>Other Books by Srila Prabhupada</h2>
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<div id="Sri_Isopanisad" class="sub_section" sec_index="8" parent="Other_Books_by_Srila_Prabhupada" text="Sri Isopanisad"><h3>Sri Isopanisad</h3>
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<div id="ISO17_0" class="quote" parent="Sri_Isopanisad" book="OB" index="19" link="ISO 17" link_text="Sri Isopanisad 17">
<div class="heading">Human teeth are so made that they can chew and cut fruit and vegetables, although there are two canine teeth so that primitive humans can eat flesh if they so desire.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:ISO 17|Sri Isopanisad 17, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">In the material world, material nature displays wonderful workmanship by creating varieties of bodies for the living beings according to their propensities for sense gratification. The living entity who wants to taste stool is given a material body that is quite suitable for eating stool—that of a hog. Similarly, one who wants to eat the flesh and blood of other animals may be given a tiger's body equipped with suitable teeth and claws. But the human being is not meant for eating flesh, nor does he have any desire to taste stool, even in the most aboriginal state. Human teeth are so made that they can chew and cut fruit and vegetables, although there are two canine teeth so that primitive humans can eat flesh if they so desire.</p>
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<div id="Lectures" class="section" sec_index="4" parent="compilation" text="Lectures"><h2>Lectures</h2>
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<div id="Bhagavad-gita_As_It_Is_Lectures" class="sub_section" sec_index="0" parent="Lectures" text="Bhagavad-gita As It Is Lectures"><h3>Bhagavad-gita As It Is Lectures</h3>
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<div id="LectureonBG71113BombayApril51971_0" class="quote" parent="Bhagavad-gita_As_It_Is_Lectures" book="Lec" index="281" link="Lecture on BG 7.11-13 -- Bombay, April 5, 1971" link_text="Lecture on BG 7.11-13 -- Bombay, April 5, 1971">
<div class="heading">Our teeth is meant for eating vegetables and fruits. It is so made.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on BG 7.11-13 -- Bombay, April 5, 1971|Lecture on BG 7.11-13 -- Bombay, April 5, 1971]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">So this merit is being misused to improve the process of eating, sleeping, mating, and defending. If you improve this process of this eating, sleeping, that does not make you very advanced in civilization. The animal is also eating. Whatever, according to the nature, they are destined to eat, they are eating. Similarly, we are also eating, but we are not eating according to the, I mean to say, indication of nature. Take, for example, our teeth and animal teeth. There is difference. Our teeth... This is scientific. Our teeth is meant for eating vegetables and fruits. It is so made. If you eat continually vegetables and fruits, you'll not be attacked with pyorrhea. But if you eat meat—your teeth is not meant for eating meat—you'll very soon be attacked with pyorrhea because breaking the laws of nature. This is one example. Similarly, in our eating, sleeping, mating and defending we are using so many wrong things.</p>
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<div id="LectureonBG133ParisAugust111973_1" class="quote" parent="Bhagavad-gita_As_It_Is_Lectures" book="Lec" index="346" link="Lecture on BG 13.3 -- Paris, August 11, 1973" link_text="Lecture on BG 13.3 -- Paris, August 11, 1973">
<div class="heading">You have got your particular type of teeth for eating fruits, flowers, grains. You haven't got canine teeth. Why you should eat meat?
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on BG 13.3 -- Paris, August 11, 1973|Lecture on BG 13.3 -- Paris, August 11, 1973]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Four things are already supplied you require to keep your body fit. That is supplied by God, by Kṛṣṇa. He has given everyone. So why you are bothering? You are human being, you have got so much nice brain, civilized. Why you are so much busy for these four things? If God has supplied these four things to the animals, beasts, birds, is He very miserly that He'll not supply to the human being? No. There is food, You have got your particular type of teeth for eating fruits, flowers, grains. You haven't got canine teeth. Why you should eat meat? This is not your food.</p>
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<div id="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" class="sub_section" sec_index="1" parent="Lectures" text="Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures"><h3>Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures</h3>
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<div id="LectureonSB1224LosAngelesAugust271972_0" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="91" link="Lecture on SB 1.2.24 -- Los Angeles, August 27, 1972" link_text="Lecture on SB 1.2.24 -- Los Angeles, August 27, 1972">
<div class="heading">Everything is eatable? So why don't you eat stool? No. Your eatable is different. It must be different from the animal eatables. Your teeth is different, your nature is different.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 1.2.24 -- Los Angeles, August 27, 1972|Lecture on SB 1.2.24 -- Los Angeles, August 27, 1972]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">In the Bhagavad-gītā it is said anumantā upadraṣṭā. Upadraṣṭā means witness. This is also explained in the Upaniṣads, that one bird is eating, another bird is seeing. The seeing bird is God, upadraṣṭā. He's noting down that you like this. He's noting down that you like to eat such and such thing. You'll find so many animals; they are eating differently. The hog is eating stool, the tiger is eating fresh blood, another animal is eating something, something. All facilities are there. Open hotel: you come on and take whatever you like. And the witness... God is so kind, this person has no discrimination of eating, so let him become dog, hog. The hog has no discrimination. Whatever you think: you give him halavā, he will eat; you give him stool, it will eat. There are goats, so many animals, and no discrimination. The human being, there must be discrimination. Everything is eatable? So why don't you eat stool? No. Your eatable is different. It must be different from the animal eatables. Your teeth is different, your nature is different. A child, a child, you cannot give anything. She wants, he wants to drink milk only. Natural food. Artificially, the child is taught to eat something else. If you, if the child simply drinks mother's milk for six months, it becomes stout and strong for whole life. Because that is natural food. But there is no milk in the mother's breast. Artificial. So how the child will be healthy? This is modern civilization. Otherwise, if we get our natural food, there is no question of disease, there is no question of doctor's bill.</p>
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<div id="LectureonSB1105MayapuraJune201973_1" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="274" link="Lecture on SB 1.10.5 -- Mayapura, June 20, 1973" link_text="Lecture on SB 1.10.5 -- Mayapura, June 20, 1973">
<div class="heading">Although one animal is meant for by another these animals, they use their discrimination by nature's law. Tigers will never come to your garden to eat fruits and vegetables. No. By nature, they have got teeth and jaws to kill another animal. They want to eat, drink blood, fresh blood. Nature has given them all the provisions for that. Similarly, we human beings, this is scientific. Our teeth are meant for eating fruits.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 1.10.5 -- Mayapura, June 20, 1973|Lecture on SB 1.10.5 -- Mayapura, June 20, 1973]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">So, in this way, there is order that one life is meant eaten by another. That is nature's law. But we should use discrimination what kind of foodstuff, what kind of living entities we shall eat. That Kṛṣṇa... (?). We have taken vow to eat only Kṛṣṇa's prasādam. There is something. Whatever Kṛṣṇa orders. So that is a fact that each and every living entity is meant for another living entity for eating. When we get human form of life, the animals, they, just like, another eat vegetables. Similarly, the cows. Nature's law is there. Although one animal is meant for by another these animals, they use their discrimination by nature's law. Tigers will never come to your garden to eat fruits and vegetables. No. By nature, they have got teeth and jaws to kill another animal. They want to eat, drink blood, fresh blood. Nature has given them all the provisions for that. Similarly, we human beings, this is scientific. Our teeth are meant for eating fruits. That is one Dr. Cooney, in your Germany. He said that... And actually, if you eat fruits and milk, you will have never any kind of sickness. That's a fact. So they're also life. So we should use our discrimination. We... We, our only business is to become Kṛṣṇa conscious.</p>
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<div id="LectureonSB2319LosAngelesJune141972_2" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="389" link="Lecture on SB 2.3.19 -- Los Angeles, June 14, 1972" link_text="Lecture on SB 2.3.19 -- Los Angeles, June 14, 1972">
<div class="heading">Our teeth is just like... You take fruit, you can easily cut. But if you take meat, bite... That is not natural. Unnaturally. But you take fruit, immediately you cut. and... So that is discrimination, that "We have to take some food, but what kind of food we shall take?"
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 2.3.19 -- Los Angeles, June 14, 1972|Lecture on SB 2.3.19 -- Los Angeles, June 14, 1972]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Pradyumna: "And even stones are eatables for a particular type of animal or bird. But the human being is not meant for eating everything and anything, save grains, vegetables, fruits, milk, sugar, etc. Animal food is not meant for the human being. For chewing solid food the human being has a particular type of teeth meant for cutting fruits and vegetables. The human being is endowed with two canine teeth as a concession..."</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Our teeth is just like... You take fruit, you can easily cut. But if you take meat, bite... That is not natural. Unnaturally. But you take fruit, immediately you cut. and... So that is discrimination, that "We have to take some food, but what kind of food we shall take?" So our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is that you take only kṛṣṇa-prasādam, that's all. You save yourself. Even if I cannot discriminate, Kṛṣṇa's prasādam I take, it is transcendental. I don't require any discrimination. Don't require. Kṛṣṇa-prasādam. And Kṛṣṇa says, patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyaṁ yo me bhaktyā prayacchati ([[Vanisource:BG 9.26 (1972)|BG 9.26]]). We offer Kṛṣṇa foodstuffs, what He wants. Kṛṣṇa is God. He can take anything. He can eat the whole world. And eating the whole world means all animals, all men, all everything, vegetables, not vegetables.</p>
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<div id="Sri_Brahma-samhita_Lectures" class="sub_section" sec_index="5" parent="Lectures" text="Sri Brahma-samhita Lectures"><h3>Sri Brahma-samhita Lectures</h3>
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<div id="LectureonBrahmasamhitaVerse32NewYorkJuly261971_0" class="quote" parent="Sri_Brahma-samhita_Lectures" book="Lec" index="2" link="Lecture on Brahma-samhita, Verse 32 -- New York, July 26, 1971" link_text="Lecture on Brahma-samhita, Verse 32 -- New York, July 26, 1971">
<div class="heading">In all scriptures it is stated that man should live on fruits and vegetables. Their teeth are made in that way. They can eat very easily and digest. Although jīvo jīvasya jīvanam: one has to live by eating another living entity. Jīvo jīvasya... That is nature's law. So the vegetarian also eating another living entity. And the meat-eater, they're also eating another... But there is discretion.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on Brahma-samhita, Verse 32 -- New York, July 26, 1971|Lecture on Brahma-samhita, Verse 32 -- New York, July 26, 1971]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">So our proposition: If you inquire, "Then why you restrict, "No meat-eating'?" The answer is that actually we do not make any distinction between the meat-eaters and the vegetable eaters, because the cow or the goat or the lamb has got life, and the grass, it has also got life. But we follow the Vedic instruction. What is that? Now, īśāvāsyam idaṁ sarvaṁ yat kiñcit jagatyāṁ jagat, tena tyaktena bhuñjīthā: ([[Vanisource:ISO 1|ISO 1]]) everything is the property of the Supreme Lord, and you can enjoy whatever is allotted to you. Mā gṛdhaḥ kasya svid dhanam. You cannot touch others' body, others' property. You cannot touch. That is Vedic life. So in all scriptures it is stated that man should live on fruits and vegetables. Their teeth are made in that way. They can eat very easily and digest. Although jīvo jīvasya jīvanam: one has to live by eating another living entity. Jīvo jīvasya... That is nature's law. So the vegetarian also eating another living entity. And the meat-eater, they're also eating another... But there is discretion. Discretion means that these things are made for human being. Just like fruits, flowers, vegetables, rice, grains, milk—the animals do not come to claim that "I shall eat this." No. It is meant for man. Just like milk. Milk is an animal product. It is the blood of the cow changed only. But the milk is not drunk by the cow. She is delivering the milk, but she's not taking, because it is not allotted for it. By nature's way. So you have to take. Milk is made for man, so you take the milk. Let her live and supply you milk continually. Why should you kill? Follow nature's law. Then you'll be happy. Tena tyaktena bhuñjīthā ([[Vanisource:ISO 1|ISO 1]]). Whatever is allotted to you, take. You live comfortably. So our, in temple, in this temple, we take fruits, flowers, milk because they're allotted, and Kṛṣṇa says: patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyaṁ yo me bhaktyā prayacchati ([[Vanisource:BG 9.26 (1972)|BG 9.26]]). Kṛṣṇa does not say that "You give Me meat." Kṛṣṇa says, "You give Me fruits, flowers, vegetables, milk." So we prepare nice preparations out of these things, we offer it to Kṛṣṇa, and we take it. If Kṛṣṇa would have said that "Give Me eggs and meat," then we would have given and eaten it. But because we are Kṛṣṇa conscious, we do not take anything which is not accepted by Kṛṣṇa.</p>
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<div id="General_Lectures" class="sub_section" sec_index="11" parent="Lectures" text="General Lectures"><h3>General Lectures</h3>
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<div id="LectureLosAngelesDecember41968_0" class="quote" parent="General_Lectures" book="Lec" index="31" link="Lecture -- Los Angeles, December 4, 1968" link_text="Lecture -- Los Angeles, December 4, 1968">
<div class="heading">Everything is food, that's all right. But you can take only what is allotted for you, that's all. So human being should take, as far as possible, vegetables. The teeth is made for eating vegetables. That is scientifically true. And if you take vegetables all along, then you will never be diseased.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture -- Los Angeles, December 4, 1968|Lecture -- Los Angeles, December 4, 1968]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Madhudviṣa: Prabhupāda, why did Lord Jesus Christ eat meat?</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: That was circumstantial because we have to take into consideration of the situation of the country and the people. Where there is no other food, one must live. Then meat-eating is not bad in that case. Because survival is required. But when there are substitutes... Everyone is eating another life. That is the law of nature. That is stated in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, that sahastānām ahastāni. The animals, animal who has got hands, he eats the animal who has no hand. That means four-legged animals. Ahastāni sahastānām apadāni catuṣ-padām. And the animals or living entities who cannot move, they are foodstuff of the moving. That means the grass, plants, they are the foodstuff for the cows and other animals. Nūnaṁ mahatāṁ tatra. And the big animal eats the small animal. Just like we see a big serpent is eating a small serpent, a big fish eating a small fish. So this is the law, that nūnaṁ mahatāṁ tatra jīvo jīvasya jīvanam. So one life is meant for maintaining another life. This is the law of nature. But Upaniṣad says that īśāvāsyam idaṁ sarvam: ([[Vanisource:ISO 1|ISO 1]]) everything belongs to the Lord. Just like in a hotel there are many kinds of foodstuff, but they all belong to the hotel keeper. And you can take only on your table what is offered to you. You cannot take anything, anything, whatever you like, no. That is illegal. Similarly, everything is food, that's all right. But you can take only what is allotted for you, that's all. So human being should take, as far as possible, vegetables. The teeth is made for eating vegetables. That is scientifically true. And if you take vegetables all along, then you will never be diseased. And so far we are concerned, we are taking Kṛṣṇa prasādam. That I have already explained, that Kṛṣṇa wants this foodstuff... If Kṛṣṇa says that "Give Me meat," then we shall eat meat. Because we are concerned with Kṛṣṇa prasādam. We are not distinguished that "Vegetable eating is nice, meat eating is not nice." No. The nature's law is that you must eat, and that eating is something living. Vegetable is also living. But we are not concerned, vegetarian or nonvegetarian. We are concerned with Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa says, "You give Me fruits, flowers, grains." We offer that. If Kṛṣṇa says, "You give Me meat, chickens," we shall offer and we shall take.</p>
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<div id="SpeechNewVrindabanAugust311972_1" class="quote" parent="General_Lectures" book="Lec" index="121" link="Speech -- New Vrindaban, August 31, 1972" link_text="Speech -- New Vrindaban, August 31, 1972">
<div class="heading">We human beings, we have got our particular type of food also. What is that? Fruits, milk, grains. Just like our teeth is made—you take a fruit, you can easily cut into pieces by this tooth. But if you take a piece of flesh, it will be difficult to cut with these teeth. But a tiger has got particular type of teeth, he can immediately cut into pieces the flesh.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Speech -- New Vrindaban, August 31, 1972|Speech -- New Vrindaban, August 31, 1972]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Everyone takes birth as human being, but he does not know how to utilize it. He utilizes it just like animal. The animal eats; we simply make arrangement of eating unnaturally. That is our advancement. In the animal kingdom, every particular animal has got a particular type of food. Just like tiger. A tiger eats flesh and blood, but if you give tiger nice oranges or grapes, he'll not touch it, because that is not his food. Similarly, a hog. A hog eats stool. If you give the hog nice halavā, it will not touch. You see? So every particular animal has got a particular type of food. Similarly, we human beings, we have got our particular type of food also. What is that? Fruits, milk, grains. Just like our teeth is made—you take a fruit, you can easily cut into pieces by this tooth. But if you take a piece of flesh, it will be difficult to cut with these teeth. But a tiger has got particular type of teeth, he can immediately cut into pieces the flesh. So we are advancing in education, but we do not study even of our teeth. We simply go to the dentist. That's all. This is our advancement of civilization. The tiger never goes to dentist. Although its teeth are so strong that immediately he can into pieces, but he doesn't require a dentist, because he doesn't eat anything which is unnatural for him. But we eat anything damn; therefore we require the help of dentist.</p>
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<div id="Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" class="section" sec_index="5" parent="compilation" text="Conversations and Morning Walks"><h2>Conversations and Morning Walks</h2>
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<div id="1972_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" class="sub_section" sec_index="5" parent="Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" text="1972 Conversations and Morning Walks"><h3>1972 Conversations and Morning Walks</h3>
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<div id="RoomConversationJune141972LosAngeles_0" class="quote" parent="1972_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="24" link="Room Conversation -- June 14, 1972, Los Angeles" link_text="Room Conversation -- June 14, 1972, Los Angeles">
<div class="heading">A tiger, a tiger eats meat and he has got equipments in his body, what is called, nails, teeth, immediately pounce upon any animal and kills and eats. But a man cannot do that, but his teeth is different, he has no nails; therefore he has to kill animal in different way, by slaughterhouse. So he is worse than animal.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Room Conversation -- June 14, 1972, Los Angeles|Room Conversation -- June 14, 1972, Los Angeles]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Prabhupāda: Just like cats and dogs. They have sexual desire in certain period of the year. But a man, although he is trying to be animal, but he has no restriction. He has sexual desire anytime. Therefore he is worse than animal.</p>
<p>Ātreya Ṛṣi: Man eats and kills everything.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Yes.</p>
<p>Ātreya Ṛṣi: The animals kill just their own quota.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Yes. So therefore, if a man wants to become animal, he becomes worse than animal. A tiger, a tiger eats meat and he has got equipments in his body, what is called, nails, teeth, immediately pounce upon any animal and kills and eats. But a man cannot do that, but his teeth is different, he has no nails; therefore he has to kill animal in different way, by slaughterhouse. So he is worse than animal. You kill one animal for your eating purpose, that is one thing, but if you keep slaughterhouse for business, then you are more (indistinct). Therefore for a human being to try to become animal is worse than the animals, because... Just like you are now grown up. If you imitate that "I want to become child, so I enter anyone's house," the law will not allow you. And if you say that "My philosophy is to become a child; therefore I enter this man's house," the law will say, "All right, first of all you'll be punished." (laughter) You cannot say that. Because you are grown up you cannot act as a child. Similarly, because you are human being, if you act as an animal you'll be responsible for your acts. And you'll be punished if you do something wrong. You cannot say, "No, I have made my philosophy to become a child." That may be your personal philosophy, but law will not allow you. Ignorance is no excuse. (long pause) It has become a philosophy now to become like animals.</p>
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<div id="RoomConversationJune141972LosAngeles_1" class="quote" parent="1972_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="24" link="Room Conversation -- June 14, 1972, Los Angeles" link_text="Room Conversation -- June 14, 1972, Los Angeles">
<div class="heading">For a human being to become nonvegetarian is unnatural. And to become vegetarian, that is natural. Just like our teeth, it is meant for cutting vegetables, fruit, not meat. You will find cutting by these teeth, meat, it will be difficult. But you take any vegetable, any fruit, you can immediately cut. Our medical laws says that anything eatable which you cannot cut with the teeth and smash it properly, it will not be digested. So fruits and vegetables you can properly cut even raw, not to speak of cooked.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Room Conversation -- June 14, 1972, Los Angeles|Room Conversation -- June 14, 1972, Los Angeles]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Prabhupāda: In India, you'll still you'll find ninety-percent of the population, they're vegetarians, strictly. Always vegetarians. They're quite healthy, they're working. Therefore vegetarians are human beings. Vegetables, that food is meant for human beings. That is natural. For a human being to become nonvegetarian is unnatural. And to become vegetarian, that is natural. Just like our teeth, it is meant for cutting vegetables, fruit, not meat. You will find cutting by these teeth, meat, it will be difficult. But you take any vegetable, any fruit, you can immediately cut. Our medical laws says that anything eatable which you cannot cut with the teeth and smash it properly, it will not be digested. So fruits and vegetables you can properly cut even raw, not to speak of cooked. Raw vegetables and raw fruits, you can cut with these teeth and smash it and you swallow, it will be nicely digested. You get all food value. But you cannot do in that way, raw meat. It is not possible. You cannot take raw meat or bite one animal and take some flesh out of it. You cannot. But animal can do that. They are made for that purpose. But that is natural. If you take your natural food, if you live naturally, if you fulfill your natural desires, then it is natural. And as soon as you go against these things, that is unnatural. So if you give up your natural tendency as human being and take artificially the way of life of an animal, that is not natural.</p>
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