The Plant-based and Vegan Handbook: Psychological and Multidisciplinary Perspectives

The Plant-based and Vegan Handbook is the first of its kind to bring together interlocking – and sometimes conflicting – perspectives focused on veganism and plant-based living. As an interdisciplinary volume the noted contributors are from the fields of medicine, psychiatry, environmental studies, sociology, marine ecology, philosophy, agriculture, psychology, animal studies, religion, economics, literature, business, and law. Despite a range of individual preferences, these authors advance a scientific argument for a societal move away from the current model of human and nonhuman animal relationships. In our Anthropocene era experts not only debate about how human beings will , survive on Earth, but more particularly are more concerned with how they will thrive . As evidenced by the authors in this collection, it will involve a reconsideration of the way our species relates to the planet and to other species. This volume can serve as a critical reference work, especially for students and scholars working in both emerging and established fields such as psychology, medicine, animal studies, food studies, environmental studies, philosophy, animal ethics, and marine ecology. Acknowledgments Introduction Vegan or Plant-Based? Food and the Anthropocene References Contents Part I: Ethics and Social Justice Chapter 1: Anthropocentrism and Its Discontents: An Intellectual History Greco-Roman Antiquity Medieval Christian Thought Early Modern Thought and the Enlightenment Contemporary Tradition-Bound Approaches Postmodern Approaches References Chapter 2: Farm Sanctuaries References Chapter 3: Sanctuary Communities References Chapter 4: Can Animals Be Moral Agents? Why the Debate Matters for Animal Ethics Animals’ Moral Capacities: An Overview of the Scientific Literature The Philosophical Debate on Animal Moral Agency: A Summary Animal Moral Agents Proto-Moral Agency and Moral Subjecthood in Animals Moral Agency: A Uniquely Human Capacity The Practical Implications of Recognizing Animals as Moral Concluding Remarks References Chapter 5: Abolitionism The Analogy Between Human Slavery and Animal Exploitation Similarities in the Techniques of Subjugation and Rhetoric The Comparison at the Moral and Political Levels A Contested Analogy Conclusions References Chapter 6: Is Veganism Socially Just? Is Veganism Socially Just? Is Veganism Sexist or Misogynist? Is Veganism Racist? Is Veganism Classist? Is Veganism Ableist? Is Veganism Colonialist? Is Veganism Heteronormative/Heterosexist/Cisgenderist? Does Veganism Involve Cultural Appropriation? The Positive Case that Veganism Is Socially Just Conclusions References Chapter 7: Veganism and Capitalism The Many Senses of “Vegan” Veganism and the “Free Market” Is There a Strong Case for Veganism? Conclusion References Chapter 8: If Carnism Is World Ending, Ought Vegans Proselytize?: The Logic and Rhetoric of Veganism The Morality of Vegan Proselytizing The Logic and Rhetoric of Veganism Argument that Is Relatively Easy to Accept More Challenging Argument to Accept A Sound Argument Carnivores Usually Accept A Similar Sound Argument Many Carnivores Usually Fail to Accept Rhetoric First Matters: Rhetoric and Problematizing Conclusions References Part II: Veganism Plus Chapter 9: New Omnivorism The Rise of New Omnivorism Evaluating New Omnivorism References Chapter 10: Pragmatism Veganism, Pragmatism, Idealism, Meat Reduction Idealism Versus Pragmatism The Need for Pragmatism Adaptability References Recommended Reading Chapter 11: An Oath for Business and Animals Introduction The MBA Oath Animal-Blind Business Why an Oath Including Animals? An Animal-Friendly Oath References Chapter 12: Economics of Circumfauna: A Fashion Case Study Circumfauna Circumfaunal Fashion Industry Fears Historical Commodification of Faunal Fashion Economics of Circumfauna Drivers of the Circumfauna Phenomenon Global Risks Facing Faunal Fashion Twenty-First Century Policy Arena Technology and Sustainability Megatrends Addressing Big Veganism Conclusion References Part III: Ethics and Speciesism Chapter 13: Ableism and Speciesism: Tensions and Convergence Between Animal Rights and Disability Rights The Argument from Marginal Cases and Its Criticisms Toward Reconciliation The Social Model of Disability and Its Contribution to Animal Rights Conclusion References Chapter 14: Aliens, Antispeciesism, and Vegan Advocacy Eating E.T. Dethroning Humanity Humanity Beyond Homo sapiens Who Are the Exo-Us? (Exo)Humans on the Menu Human Privilege or Animal Equality? Conclusion References Chapter 15: Zoopolis: Imagining a Just Multi-species World References Chapter 16: Animal Ethics and the Problem of Predation Introduction Understanding the Argument from Predation Strategy 1: Rejecting Premise (1) Strategy 2: Rejecting Premise (3) Strategy 3: Rejecting Premise (5) References Chapter 17: Speciesism What Is Speciesism? Does Speciesism Exist? Is Speciesism Justified? References Chapter 18: ‘Beasts of Burden’: An Ethical Vegan Perspective on ‘BioDiesel’ Fuelling Ecological and Climate Crises: Fossilised Animals and Plants ‘Dead Animals Don’t Grow on Trees’: Biofuels, Plants and Animals ‘Sheer Bloody Self-Interest’: Speciesism and Climate Heating Humans Have Changed the World for Nonhuman Animals: The Anthropocene, Anthropocentrism and Climate Change Paying Attention to Nonhuman Animals: Ecocentrism and Ethical Veganism References Part IV: Veganism, Culture, and Intersectionality Chapter 19: Indigenous Veganism Indigenous Veganism Veganism and the Cultural Resurgence of Indigenous People(s) Indigenous Veganism as an Academic Theme Conclusion References Chapter 20: “One Shall Not Make Their Stomach a Cemetery:” A Musical and Philosophical Approach to Rastafari’s Environmental and Animal Ethics Escaping the Babylonian Superstructure: Transformative Power of Rastafari Livity Herbal is Vital, Natural Is Vital, Ital Is Vital, Vital Is Total (Sister Carol, 1999) Healing the Body, the Mind, and the Land “Eating Cadaver Won’t Make You More Alive”: Eating Ital to Be Fully Alive Conclusion References Documentaries Musical References Chapter 21: From Lifestyle to Activism and Back: Young People’s Participation in Vegan Movements A Paradigmatic Movement? Why and How Do People Participate in Social Movements? The Roles of Ideas and Emotions in the Animal Cause Early Socialization: Gender, Childhood Sensitivities and Family Toward a Redefinition of Political Participation’s Boundaries Conclusion References Chapter 22: Ahiṃsā Vedic Traditions Śramaṇa Origins Jainism Buddhism Early Upaniṣads and Early Hinduism Ahiṃsā and Vegetarianism Cows, Milk, and Ahiṃsā Concluding Remarks References Chapter 23: Vegan Stigma Introduction Stigma Vegan Stigma and Stigma Sources What Vegans Eat Who Vegans Are What Vegans Think With Whom Vegans Socialize Vegan Stigma Consequences and Mechanisms Among Vegans Social and Interpersonal Consequences Psychosocial Consequences Behavioral Consequences Among Non-vegans Social and Interpersonal Consequences Psychosocial Consequences Behavioral Consequences Future Research on Vegan Stigma Context of Stigma Management The Role of Stigma and Perceived Discrimination in Dietary Lapses Intersectionality and Intersecting Biases Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) Conclusion References Part V: Environmental Health and Medicine Chapter 24: Plant-Based Diets and Diabetes What Are Plant-Based Diets? Introduction to Diabetes Gestational Diabetes Type 1 Diabetes Type 2 Diabetes The Benefits of Plant-Based Diets for Type 2 Diabetes Carbohydrates Fats Fiber Antioxidants Versus Pro-Oxidants Pill Burden Economic Burden Treating Complications of Type 2 Diabetes Neuropathy Retinopathy Nephropathy Cardiovascular Disease Other Complications Current Gaps in the Literature Conclusion References Chapter 25: N = 1: A Science-Guided Personal Investigation into What a Plant-Based Diet Can and Cannot Do to Address Cardiovascular Diseases Postscript Chapter 26: The Impact of Plant-Based Diets on Cardiovascular Disease and Its Risk Factors Introduction Hypertension Type 2 Diabetes Dyslipidemia Diet Studies Meta-Analyses and Systematic Reviews Randomized Control Trials Case Series Effect of Macronutrients on Cholesterol Profile Obesity Stroke Heart Failure Erectile Dysfunction Conclusion References Chapter 27: Plant-Based Diets and Hypertension Mechanisms of Plant-Based Diet in Blood Pressure Reduction Weight Loss Sodium Potassium Animal Protein Antioxidants Gut Microbiome Epigenetics Other Scientific Evidence Cross-Sectional Data Prospective Cohort Data Nonrandomized Experimental Evidence Randomized Experimental Evidence Comparing Modalities Conclusion References Chapter 28: Plant-Based Diets and Cancer Current Dietary Guidelines for Cancer Mechanisms Maintaining a Healthy Weight Increasing Dietary Fiber Increasing Phytochemicals and Short-Chain Fatty Acids Decreasing Inflammation Decreasing IGF-1 Levels Decreasing Insulin Resistance Diet-Related Carcinogens Clinical Research Correlates Prostate Cancer Breast Cancer Challenges to Nutrition Studies in Cancer Debunking Common Myths Myth 1: Soy Increases Breast Cancer Risk Myth 2: Plant-Based Proteins Are Incomplete Proteins Myth 3: The More Protein in One’s Diet the Better Myth 4: All Carbohydrates Are Bad Myth 5: One Should Only Eat Organic Fruits and Vegetables Practical Tips: Cancer Prevention with Your Plate Conclusion References Chapter 29: Lifestyle Medicine: Mental Health and Nutrition The Current Mental Health and Mental Illness Climate Lifestyle Psychiatry The Bidirectionality of the Diet–Brain–Body–Mind Connection Nutrient Deficiencies Blood Sugar Levels Weight and Metabolic Status The Brain–Gut–Microbiota System and Healthy Gut Microbiota Inflammation Oxidative Stress Mitochondrial Dysfunction Diet and Depression Conclusion and Future Directions References Chapter 30: Plant-Based v. Omnivorous Diets: Comparative Environmental Impacts Introduction: The Anthropocene Crisis and the Global Food System Environmental Impacts of Plant-Based and Omnivorous Diets Environmental Impacts of Actual and Model Diets Resolving Confusion About Diets’ Environmental Impacts Disentangling the Diet, Environment, Health, Equity Nexus Climate Change Nitrogen (N) and Phosphorus (P) Use and Pollution Blue Water Use Land Use Change and Biodiversity Loss Air Pollution Diet-Related Disease and the Impact of Health Care The Food System, the Environment, and Human Infectious Disease Antibiotic Use and Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Animal Agriculture and Zoonotic Diseases How Can We Increase HSPBDs to Address the Anthropocene Crisis? Information Food Environments Prices Conclusion References Part VI: Food, Agriculture, and the Anthropocene Chapter 31: Stockfree Organic Farming for the Future Needs of the Planet So, what Is Stockfree Organic? Our Stockfree Organic farm Layout Walled Garden 1.2 ha Upper Knights field 4.08 ha Lower Bec field 2.8 ha Soil type Subsoils Our farm Carbon footprint on the farm Our vision of the future farming Chapter 32: More of the Flavor and None of the Flaws: Marketing Plant-Based Foods as Authentic to American and British Consumers Literature Review Authenticity Communication Ethics: Authenticity and Truth Problems with Animal Farming and Fishing Vegan Communication Strategy Vegan Food Marketing Findings Discussion Recommendations for Vegan Marketers and/or Vegan Activists Be Transparent and Take Ownership of Terminology Unequivocally Affirm Vegan Products as Superior to Animal-Based Products Reveal Deceptions in Animal-Based Food Marketing to Reconstruct the Unappetizing Truth of Agribusiness and Fishing Address and Reverse the Processed Food Arguments Retell and Reclaim the Cultural Histories of Plant Foods Conclusion References Chapter 33: Cellular Agriculture The Antecedents of a Possibility Cellular Agriculture and Veganism Conclusion References Chapter 34: The Ethics of Plant-Based Pet Food What Is Pet Food? The Case Against Slaughter-Based Pet Food The Basic Case The Health Case Plant-Based Pet Food It’s Unnatural! Stop Forcing Your Views! It’s Unhealthy! Scientific Disagreement Health Isn’t the Only Issue Tragic Conflict Collective Responses Alternative Pet Foods Invertebrate-Based Pet Food Cultivated Pet Food Conclusion References Chapter 35: Edible Insects and Entoveganism Introduction What Is Entoveganism? Ethical Constructions and Implications of Entoveganism Assumption 1: Ethical Benefits of Entoveganism Standardized Practices and Regulatory Frameworks for an Ethical Insect Consumption Assumption 2: Nutritional Benefits of Entoveganism Assumption 3: Environmental Benefits of Entoveganism Conclusion References Chapter 36: Pescatarians Should Give Up Eating Fish but Not Give Up Entirely What Is Seafood? Common Reasons Given to Be Pescetarian (and Why They Don’t Hold Water) Environmental Impacts Health Benefits Religion Lived a Good Life Relative to Industrial-Farmed Land Animals Inferiority Beliefs About Pain Ease Some Concluding Thoughts Diet Matters for Social Change Bivalvetarianism: A More Logical Next Step An Expanding Moral Circle? References Chapter 37: Animals and Environmental Justice at Sea Environmental Justice Environmental Justice at Sea Aquatic Animals and Justice References Index