Approximately 12 million U.S. citizens consider themselves vegetarians, and 13.5 percent of all U.S. households claim to have at least one family member practicing some form of vegetarianism. In the past 30 years, scientific endeavors in the area of vegetarian nutrition have progressively shifted from investigating dietary concerns held by nutritionists and other health professionals to creative solutions for various medical conditions and preventive approaches to chronic diseases. Although professional interest in vegetarian nutrition has now reached unprecedented levels, scientific knowledge regarding vegetarian diets and their positive effects on human health is far from complete.
Vegetarian Nutrition provides data to explain the preventive role of vegetarian diets for many chronic diseases such as heart disease and some types of cancers while including recommendations and guidelines for vegetarians and those prescribed vegetarian diets. Based on scientific sources and research, and presenting information in both tabular and prose formats, the book details various diet regimens, health concerns, and energy expenditure.
This handbook is written for academic and clinical nutritionists, dieticians, and graduate students in nutrition ad public health, with each chapter rendering a scholarly review of the particular topic. While considering both health benefits and nutritional concerns Vegetarian Nutrition addresses such topics as chronic disease prevention; adequacy of the diet for children, in pregnancy, lactation, and for the aging population; recommendations for a healthy vegetarian diet; and global perspectives.
Preface
Prologue, Mervyn Hardinge
Background
Vegetarian Diets: Descriptions and Trends, Joan Sabaté, Rosemary Ratzin-Turner, and Jack E. Brown
The Public Health Risk to Benefit Ratio of Vegetarian Diets -- Changing Paradigms, Joan Sabaté
Vegetarian Diets and Chronic Disease Prevention
Vegetarianism, Coronary Risk Factors and CHD, Tim
J. Key and Paul N. Appleby
Vegetarian Diets and Cancer Risk, Paul Mills
Vegetarian Diets and Obesity Prevention, Joan Sabaté and Glen Blix
Vegetarian Diets in the Prevention of Osteoporosis, Diabetes, and
Neurological Diseases, Sujatha Rajaram, and Michelle Wien
Does Low Meat Consumption Contribute to Greater
Longevity? Pramil Singh
Adequacy of Vegetarian Diets Through the Lifecycle and in Special Groups
Physical Growth and Development of Vegetarian Children and
Adolescents, Marcel Hebbelinck and Peter Clarys
Vegetarian Diets in Pregnancy and Lactation, Patricia K. Johnston
Women's Reproductive Function, Susan Barr
Nutritional Considerations for an Aging Population, Richard Hubbard
and Elaine Fleming
Implications of the Vegetarian Diet for Athletes, David Nieman
Recommendations for Healthy Vegetarian Diets
Nutrients of Concern in Vegetarian Diets, Winston J. Craig and Laura
Pinyan
Health-Promoting Phytochemicals: Beyond the Traditional Nutrients,
Winston J. Craig
Vegetarian Diets and Dietary Guidelines for Chronic Disease
Prevention, Ella Haddad
Developing a Vegetarian Food Guide, Crystal Whitten
Global Issues and Non-nutritional Perspectives of Vegetarian Diets
Environmental Impacts of Meat Production and Vegetarianism,
Lucas Reijnders
Meatless Diets, a Moral Imperative? Mark Carr and Gerald Winslow
The Historical Context of Vegetarianism, James C. Whorton
Religion, Spirituality and a Vegetarian Dietary, Glen Blix
Biography
Joan Sabate
"Two thumbs up (make those green thumbs) for Vegetarian Nutrition. This one volume contains a remarkable summary of the current state of the art of vegetarian diets. …well organized, making it easy …to hone in on a topic of interest and find supporting data, possible dietary deficiencies, sources of recommended nutrients, and areas needing further study. …Overall, I would recommend this book for professionals in academia, administrative positions, community health, and clinical settings. It can deepen one's understanding of the subject and provide sound arguments in the promotion of increased plant consumption."
- Esther M. Trepal, R.D., M.S., Clinical Dietician, The Brooklyn Hospital Center in Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior
"…the book is well written and a useful addition to the literature on vegetarian diets."
-CHOICE
"…an excellent reference text for clinicians, researchers and advanced students… a worthy resource whose time has come."
- Caitlin O'Neill, M.S., R.D., AMC Cancer Research Center, in Journal of the American Dietetic Association
"The material is presented succinctly, with good use of tables, and is referenced appropriately."
-New England Journal of Medicine
