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Naked or Not, Famous Vegetarians Are a Passionate Bunch

By Laura Ferreiro Posted Nov 14th 2009 11:00AM

What could inspire Alicia Silverstone to strip naked in an ad, Natalie Portman to blog passionately and Morrissey to walk off stage at a festival? The answer might surprise you: vegetarianism. Countless actors, rock stars and folks from all walks of life have decided to take meat off the menu and go veggie for an array of reasons as colorful as their personalities.

Most of us know that Paul McCartney hasn't eaten meat for years (and his late wife, Linda, launched her own brand of meat-free products), but did you know that Red Hot Chili Peppers' Anthony Kiedis was voted the world's sexiest vegetarian by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), '30 Rock' star Alec Baldwin is a long-time veggie who campaigns for animal rights, and Woody Harrelson convinced director Ruben Fleischer to eat vegan while shooting 'Zombieland'?

One of the most outspoken vegetarians in recent weeks has been Silverstone, who's promoting her new book 'The Kind Diet.' The 'Clueless' star writes that eating a meat-and-dairy-free, plant-based diet can improve your health and appearance, increase energy levels and even help cure diseases. She also offers up scrumptious vegan recipes including healthy "chorizo" tacos, crispy rice squares and chocolate peanut butter cups.

"There's nothing in the world that's changed me as much as this," Silverstone says. "I know deep in my heart that when you eat this way you'll feel better than you ever have in your life. You get younger and stronger. When I went vegan, people thought I was glowing...I lost weight and felt like I was walking around the world a little lighter. You can heal yourself through eating this way. The cure is in the food."

Putting her money where her mouth is, the vegan actress took off her clothes for a sexy PETA ad promoting vegetarianism.

Jonathan Safran Foer's new book, 'Eating Animals,' takes an entirely different approach. The hot young author zeroes in on the questionable practices of the meat industry, writing about the deplorable and shocking conditions animals live (and die) in at factory farms after spending a year and a half visiting farms around the country. He argues that we are defined not just by what we do, but also by what we are willing to do without.

The non-fiction book made such an impression on Natalie Portman that it caused the Hollywood star to go from being a vegetarian to a vegan, eliminating all animal products from her diet such as milk and cheese in addition to meat and fish. "Perhaps others disagree with me that animals have personalities, but the highly documented torture of animals is unacceptable, and the human cost Foer describes in his book, of which I was previously unaware, is universally compelling," the star wrote in her Huffington Post blog.

Meanwhile, famed vegetarian Morrissey told thousands of fans at California's Coachella Festival this year that meat makes him sick. "I can smell burning flesh and I hope to God it's human," he said dramatically as the scent of barbecued meat from nearby food stands wafted through the air during his performance.

Celebrities including Casey Affleck, Joan Jett, Bryan Adams, McCartney, James Cromwell, Kevin Nealon, and Forest Whitaker have all participated in PETA's ongoing "I Am a Vegetarian" campaign in which they passionately express their personal motivations for eliminating meat from their diet. "Life is full of choices," Whitaker says, "and many years ago I chose to become a vegetarian. It was one of the best choices I ever made."

Silverstone adds that you don't necessarily need to become a vegan for the rest of your life, you can simply "flirt" with a plant-based diet and see how it makes you feel. "The flirting plan I created for people who say, 'OK, I've read all this information and I really want to do this. I really want these results, but I feel a little shy that I wont be able to do it all the way,'" she told the Wall Street Journal. "Then do it slowly. Flirting means you keep an open heart, an open mind. You're sort of dating a healthier lifestyle, and you're slowly adding new concepts and new foods to your life."

Tags: alec baldwin, AlecBaldwin, alicia silverstone, AliciaSilverstone, Anthony Kiedis, AnthonyKiedis, natalie Portman, NataliePortman, paul mccartney, PaulMccartney, peta, Woody Harrelson, WoodyHarrelson

Comments

(33)

Saturday 14 November

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Meanwhile, famed vegetarian Morrissey told thousands of fans at California's Coachella Festival this year that meat makes him sick. "I can smell burning flesh and I hope to God it's human," there are plenty of places he can find this happening maybe he should visit them.Humans are not less than animals.

Monday 16 November

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I believe there is a place on this earth for all of God's creatures...... Right next to a side of mashed potatos!

Saturday 14 November

By Dlg

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And animals are not less than humans!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU GO MOZ!!!

Saturday 14 November

By PooterBooter12

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Humans are animals, dingbat. As to whether other animals are less than humans, show me one animal, other than a human that has saved the life of a heart attack victim with heart surgery, restored a crushed leg with orthopedic surgery, implemented a cure for cancer or any other some such thing and I'll start to entertain your assertion.

Saturday 14 November

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your wrong Dig.....
if there was a house fire and i could save either an animal or a person, i would choose the person in a heartbeat. and i'm sure MANY others would agree with me on that one.

On that reason alone people are more important than animals....
we could get into the nitty-gritty of it and talk about 'if it were a choice between a murderer or an animal' or w/e
but the fact remains that i would wholeheartedly choose a person over an animal to live 99 percent of the time.

and if wouldn't choose the same there is something seriously wrong with your mental health.

Meat! it's the new cigarette!

Sunday 15 November

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PooterBooter12, in response, show me an animal who beats another animal to death simply because it's different. Show me an animal who tortures and kills other animals for pleasure. Show me another animal who is aware that it's killing our planet, shakes its head, then continues to do so.

Im not saying animals are better. Im saying humans are less that perfect, and every living creature on this planet deserves respect and love.

That simple.

Sunday 15 November

By JT

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ALL animals are parasites, in that they live by consuming animals, plants, or both plants and animals. Plants on the other hand are mostly self-sufficient and don't have to consume another life-form to survive (yes, there are parasitic plants and meat eating plants, but they are by far in the minority). So, it actually makes more sense to eat the other parasites rather than the life creators (plants). However, being ego-centric, and species-centric, some people think there's some moral superiority in not consuming other animals. I don't agree.

Saturday 14 November

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As the far left embraces every vice imaginable, they look for other causes upon which to build their counterfeit morality. Sex, drugs and good times abound, but you better not eat meat, you better not have a large carbon foot print, you better believe in Mao and Marx and be an atheist. Meanwhile, soft penalties for child molesters, and coddling of terrorists is the order of the day.

Saturday 14 November

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how can one POSSIBLY get as "obese" as Alec Balwdin being a Vetarian? he must Fry all his "Veggies"or hes a cheater. Guess we have to ask his EX. or is it just his LIB overtures?. At any rate. hes not one I'd use as a role model for Vetarians! Hes a Pieece of work. Watch out chickens and Cows.

Saturday 14 November

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who the hell IS lady GAGA and who CARES? any idiot these days thows on a wierd pair of jeans, wierd Sun Glasses and thinks they need attention. Get a life!

Saturday 14 November

By PooterBooter12

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Eat meat you PETA freaks!!!! And tell me, just how much sense does it really make to wear a synthetic that's made in a factory that pollutes the environment, thus threatening and killing the very animal you're trying to protect by not killing it and taking it's pelt? Shoot the damned thing, wear it and eat it. It's the cycle of life folks. I'm a card-carrying member of the other PETA - People Eating Tasty Animals! Yum.

Saturday 14 November

By dlg

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You are a very sick person obviously in need of psychiatric help. KARMA!!!!!!!!

Saturday 14 November

By PooterBooter12

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Well, at least you admit who and what you are with your moniker, DIG. Is that what you're here to do? Just DIG at someone? You're an idiot. "Circle of Life", pansy. Even Disney gets that one. Karma??? you say that like it's a bad thing ;p

Saturday 14 November

By PooterBooter12

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Besides, I have had help from a psychiatrist. He taught me to enjoy liver with a bottle of Chianti and some fava beans.

Saturday 14 November

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Man did not climb to the top of the food chain to eat leafs and grass.

Sunday 15 November

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Here you are thinking we are at the top of the food chain, and yet we are still one of the stupidest species on the planet.

Saturday 14 November

By Joanna Casteel

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I try to eat as less as possible but I think that I will eventually not eat meat at all. I hate how the cows are treated and slautered. It's hard to even think of it.

Saturday 14 November

By rob

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im 54 years old i have tried meat eating and forgoing meat....i always felt better when not eating meat...its just hard not to , being programed all these years

Saturday 14 November

By choosevegdotcom

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test

Saturday 14 November

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Rather obscure bunch. Never heard of half these folks nor would I have any interrest in seeing them naked. Steve Zero? Please

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