chapter 1 VEGETARIAN DIETS: DESCRIPTIONS AND TRENDS -- chapter 2 THE PUBLIC HEALTH RISK-TO-BENEFIT RATIO OF VEGETARIAN DIETS: CHANGING PARADIGMS -- chapter 3 VEGETARIANISM, CORONARY RISK FACTORS AND CORONORY HEART DISEASE -- chapter 4 VEGETARIAN DIETS AND CANCER RISK -- chapter 5 VEGETARIAN DIETS AND OBESITY PREVENTION -- chapter 6 VEGETARIAN DIETS IN THE PREVENTION OF OSTEOPOROSIS, DIABETES, AND NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS -- chapter 7 DOES LOW MEAT CONSUMPTION CONTRIBUTE TO GREATER LONGEVITY? -- chapter 8 PHYSICAL GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF VEGETARIAN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS -- chapter 9 VEGETARIAN DIETS IN PREGNANCY AND LACTATION -- chapter 10 WOMEN’S REPRODUCTIVE FUNCTION -- chapter 11 A VEGETARIAN DIET: HEALTH ADVANTAGES FOR THE ELDERLY -- chapter 12 IMPLICATIONS OF THE VEGETARIAN DIET FOR ATHLETES -- chapter 13 NUTRIENTS OF CONCERN IN VEGETARIAN DIETS -- chapter 14 HEALTH-PROMOTING PHYTOCHEMICALS: BEYOND THE TRADITIONAL NUTRIENTS -- chapter 15 VEGETARIAN DIETS AND DIETARY GUIDELINES FOR CHRONIC DISEASE PREVENTION: HOW MEATLESS DIETS CONFORM TO CURRENT RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HEALTHY EATING -- chapter 16 DEVELOPING A VEGETARIAN FOOD GUIDE -- chapter 17 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF MEAT PRODUCTION AND VEGETARIANISM -- chapter 18 MEATLESS DIET: A MORAL IMPERATIVE? -- chapter 19 THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT OF VEGETARIANISM -- chapter 20 RELIGION, SPIRITUALITY, AND A VEGETARIAN DIETARY.