Vegetarianism

Vegetarianism
Peggy Greb, USDA ARS · Public domain · source
Name	Vegetarianism
Type	Dietary practice
Region	Worldwide
Founded	Ancient–modern

Vegetarianism is a dietary practice that excludes the consumption of meat and sometimes other animal products, adopted for health, ethical, environmental, cultural, or religious reasons. It intersects with movements, institutions, and figures across history and contemporary society, influencing public policy, food industries, and scientific research.

Definition and types

Vegetarianism includes variations such as lacto-ovo, lacto, ovo, pesco-vegetarian, and vegan approaches, each defined by the inclusion or exclusion of Milk-derived products, eggs, or Fish; notable subtypes reference practices promoted by organizations including the Vegetarian Society and advocacy groups such as the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Some adherents follow ovo-lacto patterns encouraged historically by figures associated with the Royal Society and contemporary institutions like the World Health Organization that classify dietary patterns. Philosophical frameworks informing types draw on thought from individuals linked to Theosophical Society, proponents associated with the Indian National Congress, and writers published via houses like Penguin Books.

History and cultural context

Vegetarian practices appear in texts linked to ancient civilizations such as those centered in Ancient India, Ancient Greece, and Imperial eras associated with Han dynasty records, and were articulated by thinkers connected to the Buddhist and Jainism traditions. During the 19th century, proponents including members of the Rochester Vegetarian Society and activists tied to the Temperance movement and the British Vegetarian Society promoted dietary reform alongside figures associated with the Abolitionism movement and authors published by Macmillan Publishers. The 20th century saw expansion through institutions like the American Dietetic Association and social movements linked to leaders in the Civil Rights Movement and organizations such as Greenpeace.

Dietary practices and nutrition

Nutritional planning for vegetarian diets involves nutrients discussed in reports by the Food and Agriculture Organization and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, including protein sources from legumes and cereals cultivated in regions around Punjab, micronutrients like Vitamin B12 often associated with animal-derived foods, and essential fatty acids examined in studies funded by institutions such as the National Institutes of Health. Food preparation traditions derive from cuisines of Mediterranean Sea nations, South Asia, and indigenous practices recorded by ethnographers linked to the British Museum and universities like Harvard University. Supplementation guidance has been issued in guidelines influenced by committees from organizations such as the European Food Safety Authority.

Health effects and research

Epidemiological and clinical research on vegetarian patterns has been conducted by researchers affiliated with Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Oxford University, and public health bodies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; studies have examined associations with cardiovascular disease outcomes tracked in cohorts from Nurses' Health Study and trials registered with agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration. Meta-analyses published in journals with editorial boards connected to publishers like Elsevier and Springer evaluate impacts on body weight, blood lipids, and chronic disease markers, while randomized trials have been undertaken at institutions including Johns Hopkins University and Mayo Clinic.

Environmental and ethical considerations

Environmental assessments of plant-based diets have been produced by researchers working with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the United Nations Environment Programme, analyzing greenhouse gas emissions across supply chains studied in contexts like Amazon Basin deforestation and the North Sea fisheries. Ethical arguments are advanced by philosophers associated with universities such as Oxford University and Rutgers University and by advocacy organizations including Humane Society International and the Vegetarian Society; these debates intersect with legal frameworks cited in cases before courts like the European Court of Human Rights and legislative bodies such as the European Parliament.

Movement, demographics, and advocacy

Contemporary movements involve NGOs and campaigns run by groups like Friends of the Earth and Mercy for Animals, while demographic studies have been conducted by agencies such as the Pew Research Center and national statistical offices including the Office for National Statistics. Prominent public figures and celebrities affiliated with vegetarian advocacy have appeared in media outlets including BBC News, The New York Times, and broadcasters like CNN, and movements convene at events organized by institutions like the United Nations and festivals similar to those hosted by VegFest organizers.

Criticisms and controversies

Critiques of vegetarian practices have been articulated in debates involving scholars from Cambridge University and commentators in periodicals such as The Economist and The Lancet, raising questions about nutritional adequacy, cultural imposition, and socioeconomic impacts studied in regions like sub-Saharan Africa and the Caribbean. Controversies have emerged around industry responses from corporations listed on exchanges like the New York Stock Exchange and policy disputes debated in forums such as meetings of the World Trade Organization.

Category:Dietary practices Category:Food and drink