Jain Digest 1995 11

Author(s): Federation of JAINA
Publisher: USA Federation of JAINA

Page 34

Gujaratis were found to consume up to 40% of their calories in
fat!
In this form, the four food groups were (1) fruits and veg- planned.” Moreover, it recognized that "it may be easier, as well etables, (2) grains and cereals, (3) meat, legumes, nuts, and (4) as more acceptable, for some individuals to meet the Dietary dairy. Consumers were encouraged to eat equal amounts from each Guidelines for Americans by following a vegetarian diet rather than group. With adequate protein intake being the number one a non-vegetarian diet," pointing to the fact that vegetarian diets are priority, the Guide advocated a solidly meat-centered diet with lower in total fat, saturated fat and cholesterol which are an fruits and vegetables accorded a minor role. The nutritionists in important factor in reducing the risk of heart disease and some their preoccupation with protein, raised major concerns about forms of cancer. vegetarianism. Vegetable protein was viewed as inferior and veg- North American nutritional agencies have moved a significant etarians were cautioned that they would require special awareness distance and are now advocating a diet that is essentially similar to to overcome the nutritional deficiencies of plant
the one Jains have been eating for centuries. food.
However, they may not have gone far enough. However, this way of thinking began to be
While vegetarian diets are usually lower in fat challenged as research in nutritional science un
than non-vegetarian diets, they may not be low covered the importance of nutrition in the devel
enough. It is still possible to consume a signifiopment of major chronic diseases such as heart
cant amount of fat by following a vegetarian diet. disease and cancer. It was becoming evident that
Consider the diet that many Jains eat. Most of us a disproportionate consumption of foods high
are lacto-vegetarians, meaning that we eat plant in fats, at the expense of foods high in complex
foods and dairy products. In a recent study in the carbohydrates and fibre, was injurious to health.
UK, Gujaratis were still found to consume up to High fat-low fibre diets were identified as im
40% of their calories in fat! Compared with a portant causative agents in heart disease, various
recommended 15%. This fat comes from natuforms of cancer, and other major killers. Far
rally fatty foods such as cheese, cream, whole from protecting them from malnutrition, which
milk; fats used in cooking such as ghee, butter, was the earlier concern, the North American diet
coconut oil; fats added through frying of puris, was causing "overnutrition" and increased inci
samosas, pakora, bhajia, gathia, chevdo; and sweet dence of chronic disease.
dishes such as ice cream, barfi, and ladoos - a lot of fat when it's all Acting on these findings, in the late 1980s, the American added up. Reducing dairy products and vegetable oils can be fairly Heart Association, American Cancer Society, USDA and the easy and very beneficial in reducing fat intake. Canadian Ministry of Health and Welfare all recommended a In order to limit excesses such as these, the Physicians' major shift in the North American diet. Unanimously, they Committee for Responsible Medicine, a Washington-based physuggested that North Americans should eat less fat, particularly sicians' group, has recommended "The New Four Food Groups." saturated fat, increase their consumption of complex carbohy- In this scheme, the four food groups are legumes, fruits, vegetables drates and fibre through breads, cereals, and other starchy foods, and grains. For the average adult, a healthy diet would include at and increase the quantity and variety of fruits and vegetables in least five servings of whole grains, two servings of legumes, three their diets.
servings of vegetables, and three servings of fruits. Since all the But the old four food groups, which heavily emphasized foods in the four groups are healthy, there is no warning to eat animal products, were clearly limited in their ability to promote the particular foods in moderation. Animal products are considered recommended dietary change. In 1992, Canada and the US only as an optional part of the diet and are placed in the same adopted revised Food Guides. In Canada, the Food Guide was category as vegetable oils, alcoholic beverages and nuts. These converted to a rainbow, with the outer and largest strip represent recommendations have been endorsed by many leading researchers ing breads and cereals, the second one representing fruits and
one representing fruits and in the nutrition field. vegetables, the third one representing meat and alternatives and the If we are to adapt our diet to this Food Guide, it will require smallest innerstrip representing dairy products. Americans adopted important changes, especially in reducing dairy products of all an inverted pyramid, placing similar emphasis on fruits, vegetables, kinds and vegetable oils in cooking and frying. But since many of and grains. According to the pyramid Food Guide, people should these foods are added after or during the cooking process and are eat six to eleven servings of grains, three to five servings of not central to the diet (as, red meat is to the meat eater) the change vegetables, two to four servings of fruits, two to three servings of can be fairly easy to make. dairy, and two to three servings of meat or alternatives, which As Jains, we have eaten an essentially lacto-vegetarian diet for includes legumes and nuts. Fats, oils and sweets are to be eaten thousands of years. Recently, North American food agencies have sparingly. In contrast to earlier views, the new Food Guide urges changed their position dramatically on the vegetarian diet. Now consumers to think of chicken, fish and other animal foods as side they have endorsed the vegetarian diet as a way to optimal health. dishes and legumes, grains and vegetables as the main courses. However, it may be that these agencies have not gone far enough.
The enormous shift in nutritional opinion that has occurred As our own diet illustrates, fat intake may still be high in a in recent years has cast vegetarianism in a new light. Vegetarian lacto-vegetarian diet. We may need to move towards the New Four diets are now universally endorsed by major health agencies. In Food Groups, based entirely on plant foods. For Jains, this means 1988, the American Dietetic Association stated that "vegetarian reducing - substantially - the amount of diary products and diets are healthful and nutritionally adequate when appropriately vegetable oils we consume.
Gratitude to the members of the Animal Compassion and Vegetarian Committee. 32 JAIN DIGEST
Sept./Dec. 1995
Jain Education Intemational