Expert: Aupmanyav - 12/19/2010

Question
I know that in brahmin varna  women stay on vedic (vegetarian) diet during pregnancy and feeding, and it is unchanged for thousands of years.  Where I can obtain information about propher bramin diet for women of this varna during pregnancy and feeding.      Because in the west it is a matter of dispute if such diet is good for child and so on.
Thanx in advance

Answer
Dear Igor,

It is not only the brahmin women but many vaishya women (trader class) also who abstain from non-vegetarian food, during the pregnancy or otherwise. Though you must note that even among brahmins and vaishyas, some sections in different regions of India partake non-vegetarian food. For example, the Bengalis cannot do without fish and Kashmiris without lamb meat. India is a large country and the customs differ from one place to another.

However, vegetarian pregnant women, if they can afford it, are suggested to take a lot of milk, yoghurt, and vegetables. Preparations with Almonds, Pumpkin seeds, Cantaloupe Seeds and Water melon seeds are given and natural gum (Prosopis cineraria) also is one of the ingredients. The base, however, is cereal and lentils with a lot of clarified butter and carbohydrates. There may be disputes about vegetarian diet in west but Indian children of well-placed vegetarian families are just as healthy. Some of our medal-winning wrestlers and boxers also are vegetarians. Traditional wrestlers take a large quantity of milk, clarified butter, and almonds. With best regards,

Yours sincerely,

Aupmanyav