Vegetarian Diets Deemed Safe — Again!

Some of you may have been eating a vegetarian diet for years, and are already well-aware of its wealth of benefits. You may know all about the lowered risk for cardiovascular disease, obesity, osteoporosis, dementia, and rheumatoid arthritis; or you may delight in knowing you’re creating less impact on the earth’s resources.

You are more than convinced, though it is nice when the big boys agree.
For the sixth time, The American Dietetic Association (ADA) is endorsing a vegetarian diet as healthy and safe. New recommendations in the July 2009 issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association state that “appropriately planned vegetarian diets, including total vegetarian or vegan diets, are healthful, nutritionally adequate, and may provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases.”

Not only that, but they go on to say a vegetarian diet is safe for all age groups, and can help prevent and treat chronic diseases. That includes pregnant or lactating women, infants, children, adolescents, and athletes. And while it’s true that living vegetarian can be a healthy way to live, the ADA does make some recommendations to make sure vegetarians are getting the nutrition they need.

This is where the practitioners at Nature Cures Clinic can help!

The ADA recommends:

- -A diet with a wide variety of healthy foods, including whole grains, vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, and seeds, and dairy and eggs if desired.

- -Minimizing foods high in sugar, sodium, and fat.

- -A steady source of vitamin B-12, and vitamin D if there is little sunlight (like during an Oregon winter!)

- -Consultation with a nutritionist to find local, reliable sources of food, or mail-order sources when necessary. This is where the practitioners at Nature Cures Clinic can come in handy. We can help you develop a nutrition and supplement plan to make sure you’re getting what you need.

- -The ADA also recommends that clinicians collaborate with family members, especially the parents of children following vegetarian diets. Again, we can help make this happen.

- -The ADA also recommends that practitioners who are unfamiliar with vegetarian nutrition help their vegetarian patients find a provider to advise them. So even if we’re not your primary care physicians, we can help you fill in the gaps.

Tags: ADA, Chronic disease, vegetarian

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