**Historical Development of Veganism:**
– Veganism traces back to early proponents like Al-Maarri, Roger Crab, and Johann Conrad Beissel.
– Term ‘veganism’ coined by Dorothy Morgan and Donald Watson in 1944.
– Interest in veganism surged notably in the 2010s.
– Early vegetarianism roots in the Indus Valley civilization and was advocated by philosophers like Parshavnatha and Mahavira.
– Vegetarianism became significant in 19th-century Britain and the United States with advocates like Percy Bysshe Shelley and William Lambe.
**Health and Nutritional Aspects of Vegan Diets:**
– Vegan diets are rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
– Poorly planned vegan diets can lead to nutritional deficiencies and health issues.
– Vitamin B supplementation is crucial to prevent blood disorders and neurological damage.
– Fortified foods or supplements are necessary for certain nutrients in vegan diets.
– Veganism offers both benefits and risks to health based on dietary choices.
**Environmental and Ethical Considerations in Veganism:**
– Environmental veganism advocates avoiding animal products due to industrial farming’s environmental damage.
– Ethical vegans aim to avoid using animals, their products, and animal-tested products.
– Veganism challenges the commodity status of animals and promotes a cruelty-free lifestyle.
– It extends beyond diet to encompass broader ethical and environmental concerns.
– Concern for animal welfare is a significant motivation for veganism.
**Definition, Etymology, and Legal Aspects of Veganism:**
– The Vegan Society defines veganism as avoiding all forms of animal exploitation.
– ‘Vegan’ term coined by Donald Watson and Dorothy Morgan in 1944.
– Legal definitions for vegan food approved in Germany and Europe.
– International standard ISO 23662 established for vegan food labeling.
– European Commission has the power to regulate vegan food information.
**Global Trends and Prevalence of Veganism:**
– Vegan diet gained mainstream popularity in the 2010s.
– Chain restaurants and supermarkets offer more vegan options.
– Global mock-meat market saw significant growth.
– Various countries like Australia, Brazil, Canada, and the UK show varying percentages of vegan populations.
– Influential books, documentaries, and dietitians have promoted veganism.
Veganism is the practice of abstaining from the use of animal products—particularly in diet—and an associated philosophy that rejects the commodity status of animals. A person who follows the diet or philosophy is known as a vegan.
| Veganism | |
|---|---|
 The symbol widely used to denote a vegan-friendly product | |
| Pronunciation | Veganism /ˈviːɡənɪzəm/ VEE-gə-niz-əm Vegan /ˈviːɡən/ VEE-gən |
| Description | Avoiding the use of animal products, particularly in diet |
| Earliest proponents |
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| Term coined by | Dorothy Morgan and Donald Watson (November 1944) |
| Notable vegans | List of vegans |
| Notable publications | List of vegan media |
Distinctions may be made between several categories of veganism. Dietary vegans, also known as "strict vegetarians", refrain from consuming meat, eggs, dairy products, and any other animal-derived substances. An ethical vegan is someone who not only excludes animal products from their diet but also tries to avoid using animals, animal products, and animal-tested products when practical. Another term is "environmental veganism", which refers to the avoidance of animal products on the grounds that the industrial farming of animals is environmentally damaging and unsustainable. Another motivation for veganism is concern about animal welfare.
Vegan diets tend to be higher in dietary fiber, magnesium, folic acid, vitamin C, vitamin E, iron, and phytochemicals, and lower in dietary energy, saturated fat, cholesterol, omega-3 fatty acid, vitamin D, calcium, zinc, and vitamin B12. As a result of the elimination of all animal products, a poorly planned vegan diet can lead to nutritional deficiencies that counteract its beneficial effects and cause serious health issues, some of which can only be prevented with fortified foods or dietary supplements. Vitamin B12 supplementation is important because its deficiency can cause blood disorders and potentially irreversible neurological damage; this danger is also one of the most common in poorly planned non-vegan diets.
The word vegan was coined by Donald Watson and his later wife Dorothy Morgan in 1944. Interest in veganism increased significantly in the 2010s.