Who Do Not Eat Garlic?
Many individuals and groups abstain from eating garlic for various reasons. These reasons range from religious beliefs to personal preferences and health concerns.
Several religious groups discourage or prohibit the consumption of garlic:
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Jainism: Jain vegetarianism strictly excludes root vegetables, including garlic, onions, and potatoes, to minimize harm to living beings during harvesting. Jain vegetarianism - Wikipedia explicitly states this.
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Hinduism: Certain sects, notably Vaishnavas and Brahmins, often avoid garlic (and onions) due to traditional beliefs about purity and spiritual practice. These beliefs often associate garlic with being rajasic or tamasic, considered detrimental to spiritual progression. Several sources confirm this, including this Quora answer and articles discussing the topic within Hinduism. The idea of garlic being "impure" due to its growth location is also mentioned in some interpretations.
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Buddhism: Some Buddhist traditions also discourage or prohibit the consumption of garlic, aligning with broader principles of mindful eating and avoiding foods considered to have negative impacts on mental clarity. A Reddit discussion highlights this.
Health Reasons
While less common than religious reasons, some individuals avoid garlic due to:
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Allergies: Garlic allergy, though not prevalent, can cause significant reactions in those affected. This PopSci article touches on the experiences of individuals with this allergy.
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Personal Preferences: Some people simply dislike the taste or smell of garlic, choosing to avoid it regardless of religious or health factors.
Summary
The reasons for not eating garlic are diverse, primarily stemming from religious practices within Jainism and certain branches of Hinduism and Buddhism, as well as personal health concerns or dislikes.
