Pescatarianism VS Vegetarianism: Which is Healthier?

Human health plays a crucial role in nutrition and dietetics, which now considers various new dietary practices, including vegetarianism and pescatarianism. A plant-based diet can be approached in multiple ways, ranging from veganism—which excludes all animal-derived products—to the Mediterranean diet, which includes some meat while prioritizing whole foods and a significant amount of plant-based options. The primary objective of this paper is to explore the implications and impacts of vegetarianism and pescatarianism on human health, including their effectiveness in nutrient supply. A comprehensive scan of all published scientific articles was conducted for two years, and relevant resources were compiled in an online database, utilizing platforms such as Google Scholar, Scopus, PubMed, Science Direct, and Web of Science. Terms such as "vegetarianism," "pescatarians," "vegan diet," and "pescatarian diet" were consistently employed across these online databases. Both dietary patterns fall within the framework of plant-based diets, with room for various approaches that extend beyond strict vegetarianism to include pescatarian options. A vegetarian diet entirely excludes meat, poultry, and fish, while a pescatarian diet eliminates meat and poultry but incorporates fish into the dietary regime. Although the pescatarian diet is more flexible and offers several beneficial nutrients from seafood, it also presents a heightened risk of mercury exposure. Vegetarian diets have numerous health benefits, including a reduced risk of chronic diseases due to their plant-based nature. Ultimately, selecting the appropriate diet to maintain a healthy and optimal life is essential and should be guided by individual preferences, health objectives, and food accessibility.