The A-Z of vegetarianism
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D is for...
Daal (also spelled Dahl and Dhal but not dull): The name for pulses (usually peas, lentils or kidney beans), which have undergone a certain type of preparation that is particularly common in India. This usually includes drying the pulse, removing it from its outer hull and then splitting it. Daal is also the name of a Hindi dish, which involves boiling the prepared pulses in water with turmeric powder and salt.
Dairy: Usually relating to anything that contains or concerns milk and its by-products. The most common type of vegetarian is a lacto-ovo vegetarian who will eat any vegetarian produce containing milk and egg. Lacto-vegetarians on the other hand eat dairy products but no eggs and ovo-vegetarians eat eggs but no dairy products!
Dalai Lama: The spiritual head of Tibetan Buddhism. It has been claimed that the present Dalai Lama, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989, is a vegetarian. When once asked about what it was like to be vegetarian he answered, "it is wonderful. We must absolutely promote vegetarianism." Unfortunately reports suggest that he now eats meat and fish! 
Damson: A small, dark, purple fruit similar to a plum, often found in jams, preserves and as a liqueur. Not to be confused with a damsel, which is an archaic name for a young, unmarried woman sometimes found to be in distress!
Dandelion: The name, which apparently derives from the similarity of its serated green leafs to the teeth of a lion (dent de lion), is given to members of the taraxacum genus so as not to confuse them with so-called false dandelions such as catsears, hawkweeds and hawksbeards. Often regarded as a weed, but in reality a “true herb”, it is a source of vitamins A and C and also contains vitamin B, potassium and iron. The ancient Greeks believed that dandelion aided digestion, stimulated appetite and increased sexual potency and they (dandelions, not the Greeks!) were also mentioned in Chinese herbal recipes way back in the 7th century. Dandelion continues to be used as an ingredient in many traditional remedies.
The young leaves (before the plant has flowered) can be used in salads, boiled as vegetables, made into a tea or even a soup. Some people suggest soaking leaves in cold water for 30 minutes prior to use will get rid of any bitter taste. If you’re feeling really desperate in the autumn you can dig up the roots of plants less than 2 years old, lightly roast and grind them, before making “coffee”. Best not to pick leaves from “wild” places though in case they’ve been sprayed with weed killer.
Deforestation: The deliberate destruction of the natural forest, through felling and clearing, mainly for livestock farming and logging. Between 2000 and 2005, 90 million acres of forest were destroyed. Deforestation can result in the loss of habitat, threat to wildlife and indigenous tribes, soil erosion and disturbance to water supplies. It also increases greenhouse gas emissions by releasing carbon that was previously stored in the trees. It has been calculated that someone living on a vegetarian diet in the UK requires less than half the area of land to grow their food than someone following a conventional diet.
Dissection: An act that involves cutting something into pieces for analysis, be it a statement or argument, plant, animal or corpse. In Biology, dissection usually refers to the examination of plants or dead animals. Vivisection refers to the dissection of a living animal for physiological investigation.
Dolcelatte: A creamy blue cheese made in Italy. In Italian, ‘dolce’ means sweet or soft and ‘latte’ means milk. This cheese is definitely not sweet but it is rather soft! Look out for vegetarian Dolcelatte cheese which doesn’t contain animal rennet.
Dried fruit: Fruit that has been dried! Dried fruit can make an excellent snack as they are typically high in fibre and complex carbohydrates and contain many useful minerals and vitamins. Some brands will also include sulphur dioxide to enhance the colour of the fruit. Britain is the world's largest importer of dried fruit.
Durum: A type of wheat, which is ground into flour and used to make foodstuffs such as macaroni, pasta and bread. In Latin, the word ‘durum’ literally means ‘hard’ and this type of wheat is just that, which means it’s unsuitable for making things like cakes. Durum wheat is a good source of protein and gluten.
Vitamin D: Essential for the absorption of calcium and phosphate and healthy bones and teeth. Found in dairy products, eggs, margarine and fortified breakfast cereals, it is also produced by the action of sunlight on the skin. However, in the UK there is a lengthy vitamin D ‘winter’ when the sun is not high enough in the sky to produce useful amounts of vitamin D. The elderly, young children and anyone confined indoors may need to consider taking a vitamin D supplement especially if vegan.
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