Gary Null, PhD, and Martin Feldman, MD – Vegetarianism – Part 1: A Philosophical and Historical Perspective

Earlier this year, the United Nations released a report which stated that a “substantial worldwide diet change” will be needed to reduce the effects of agriculture on the environment. Not surprisingly, the substantial change recommended by the UN is a move away from the consumption of animal products. As noted on the Guardianwebsite, the UN report urges a global shift toward a meat- and dairy-free diet to help “save the world from hunger, fuel poverty, and the worst impacts of climate change.”1,2

For those of us in the West, the UN report provides another piece of evidence in favor of a vegetarian lifestyle. Yet consumers who are considering a switch to vegetarianism may have questions about various aspects of the diet and lifestyle. This three-part series of articles provides information on vegetarianism that will help health-care providers to answer such questions. Part 1 provides a philosophical and historical discussion of vegetarianism; Part 2 discusses nutritional aspects of a vegetarian diet; and Part 3 covers more practical aspects related to this diet, such as economical and taste issues.