VEGETARIANISM

Abstract

This conceptual research analyzes the different aspects thatsupport the proposal of vegetarianism in order to show thecomplexity of dietary and cultural established practices andstimulate further studies in the country. A literature reviewwas conducted, using authors of different areas. The articleshows the controversies that involve the researches about thenutritional value of the vegetarian diets and the relationshipbetween vegetarianism and health; it emphasizes the needto consider the profile of the researched population andthe multiplicity of the healthy diet concepts. The socioenvironmentalimpacts of current industrial practices endorsethe importance of supporting sustainable systems thatpromote animal welfare and health and point to the needto reduce meat consumption. Under the cultural approach,vegetarianism shows up as a cultural practice that embracesthe most complex humans’ needs and choices and putsfeminism, sexism and culture-nature relationship back on theagenda. This food trend tends to gain more supporters, as wellas the attention of experts who should consider this culturalperspective of vegetarianism and expand the reductionistparameters of nutritional adequacy, which prevails in thenutritional science.