Search

Vegetarianism is a food consumption pattern. Vegetarianism, at large, includes several diets depending on exclusion's degree (partial or total) of animal products (meat or dairy). Among them we distinguish, according to the restriction order, flexitarian, semi-vegetarian, pesco-vegetarian, lacto-ovo-vegetarian, vegan food, raw food and fruit diets. These three last modes can extend to a lifestyle called veganism, which is defined as the lack of use of animal products in daily life (cosmetics, clothing, materials, etc.). This diversity can be explained by individual, psychological and motivational characteristics. Main reasons reported by individuals who have undertaken this feeding method are health and ethics. We observe differences in behaviors, attitudes and reactions about animals, disgust and justification of each diet vs. others' diets especially the omnivorous diet.

With the debate on climate change, topics of diet change and the reduction of animal products have become increasingly important in both public and academic discourses. However, sustainable ICT studies have so far focused on individual aspects, in particular investigating the criticized persuasive design approach. We argue for a broader perspective on the role(s) of ICT, one that helps in identifying opportunities to support consumer practice transformation, beyond motivational aspects. Based on retrospective interviews with 16 vegans, we argue to understand practice transformation as co-evolution of practices and ICT artefacts, as this perspective helps to understand how tensions arising from complex entanglements of practices, socio-material contexts, and communities can be resolved. Rather than a motivational process, we observe various roles of ICT artefacts co-evolving with practices: Ranging from initial irritation, to access to information about vegan practices, to the learning of vegan food literacy, to the negotiation of a vegan identity, and vegan norms at the intersection of the &lsquo, odd&rsquo, and the &lsquo, norm&rsquo

Higher education student sustainability projects should really deviate from a business-as-usual scenario. They need to question the ecological modernization thought. They should highlight the need for a dramatic paradigm shift specifically towards sufficiency and equity. They ought to make explicit what is required to make such a change. The course science and sustainability at KU Leuven makes natural science students experience the challenges of setting up transdisciplinary sustainability research that can truly make a difference. Making the campus more sustainable then requires dramatic shifts in trivial routines. One team chose to help reduce the carbon footprint of the university staff and students by setting up some basic conditions for nudging towards a vegan food choice. This paper describes the sustainability framework the students started from and the experience and insight they gained tackling the specific issue. It is relevant to anyone interested in using on-campus project work to provide students with basic insight in how sustainability might really be attained and what minimal transdisciplinary methods are needed.

Introduction: The Palaeolithic diet is designed to resemble that of human hunter-gatherer ancestors thousands to millions of years ago. This review summarises the evidence and clinical application of this diet in various disorders. An empiric vegan variant of it has been provided, keeping in mind vegan food habits. Review of the literature: different types of Palaeolithic diets in vogue include the 80/20, the autoimmune, the lacto, the Palaeolithic vegan and the Palaeolithic ketogenic. We have developed an Indian variant of the Palaeolithic vegan diet, which excludes all animal-based foods. The Palaeolithic diet typically has low carbohydrate and lean protein of 30–35% daily caloric intake in addition to a fibre diet from non-cereal, plant-based sources, up to 45–100 g daily. In different observational studies, beneficial effects on metabolic syndrome, blood pressure, glucose tolerance, insulin secretion, lipid profiles and cardiovascular risk factors have been documented with the Palaeolithic diet. Short-term randomised controlled trials have documented weight loss, and improved glycaemia and adipo-cytokine profiles. Few concerns of micronutrient deficiency (e.g. calcium) have been raised. Conclusion: Initial data are encouraging with regard to the use of the Palaeolithic diet in managing diabesity. There is an urgent need for large randomised controlled trials to evaluate the role of the Palaeolithic diet with different anti-diabetes medications for glycaemic control and the reversal of type 2 diabetes.

Recently, vegan food has received increased attention from Italian consumers. Despite this fact, it has rarely been the subject of analysis. Our study focuses on consumer preferences for breadsticks in North-Eastern Italy. We applied a choice experiment where a hypothetical market was designed to analyze five characteristics of breadsticks (country of origin, vegan product certification, production method, type of flour, and price). We collected data by interviewing 487 consumers and analyzed them by means of the random parameter logit model. Results suggest that 8% of respondents are willing to pay a premium price for vegan breadsticks and that there is the opportunity to develop local chains for vegan niche markets.

Considers the relevance of the National Food Guide to vegans. Looks at various groupings, e.g. meat, fish and alternatives, and suggests improvements to the information currently presented in the guide, e.g. an increased emphasis on the protein value of pulses. Concludes that an alternative guide would be a good idea for people on a strict vegetarian diet, mentioning the Vegan Food Guide to be presented in a later issue of the journal.

Discusses the need for a food guide for vegans. Looks at the nutritional information and advice found in current popular vegan cookery books, including: sample menus; food groupings; food descriptions and recipes. Suggests a possible approach to a vegan food guide (VFG) incorporating foods suitable for this group. Concludes that more work needs to be undertaken in this area to develop the VFG and to ensure that the VFG is made readily available to vegans.

1. Twenty-nine patients who had suffered from essential hypertension for an average of 8 years, all receiving long-term medication for hypertension, were subject to therapy with vegan food for 1 year. In almost all cases medication was withdrawn or drastically reduced. There was a significant decrease in systolic and diastolic blood pressure. A number of reported symptoms disappeared.2. There was a significant improvement in a number of clinical variables as well as a significant change in various biochemical indices such as urea, haptoglobin, cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations in blood.3. Subjectively all patients reported improvement.4. Selected patients, with a fear of side-effects of medication, who are interested in alternative health care might replace conventional medication with this dietary regimen.