Mahayogi Sthulabhadra Diwakar Chitrakatha 043

Author(s): Nityanandsuri, Chidanandmuni, Shreechand Surana
Publisher: Mahavir Seva Trust Mumbai

Page 36

force calcium out of the body, eating meat can promote Although cases of B deficiency are very bone loss. In nations with mainly vegetable diets (and uncommon, it is important to make sure that one has without dairy product consumption), osteoporosis in a reliable source of the vitamin. Good sources include less common than in the U.S. even when calcium all common multiple vitamins (including vegetarian intake is also less than in the U.S. Calcium is vitamins), fortified cereals, and fortified soymilk. It is important, but there is no need to get calcium from especially important for pregnant women and breastdairy products. For more information on protecting feeding mothers to get enough vitamin B. your bones, contact PCRM for additional reference
Special Concerns : Pregnancy, Infants, and materials and fact sheets.
Children Asthma
During pregnancy, nutritional needs increase. A 1985 Swedish study demonstrated that The American Dietetic Association has found vegan asthmatics who practice a vegan diet for a full year diets adequate for fulfilling nutritional needs during have a marked decrease in their need for medications, pregnancy, but pregnant women and nursing mother and in their frequency and severity of asthma attacks.
should supplement their diets with vitamins B and D. Twenty-two of the 24 subjects reported improvement Most doctors also recommend that pregnant women by the end of the year. Dairy allergies may be part of
supplement their diet with iron and folic acid, the reason.
although vegetarians normally consume more folic Common Concerns
acid than meat-eaters. Some people still worry about the ease with
Vegetarian women have a lower incidence of which a vegetarian diet can provide all essential
pre-eclampsia in pregnancy, and significantly more nutrients. The fact is, it is very easy to have a well
pure breast milk. Analyses of vegetarians' breast milk balanced diet with vegetarian foods. Vegetarian foods
show that the levels of environmental contaminants in provide plenty of protein. Careful combining of foods
their milk are much lower than in non-vegetarians. in not necessary. Any normal variety of plant foods
Studies have also shown that in families with a history provides more than enough protein for the body's of food allergies, when women abstain from allergenic needs. Although there is somewhat less protein in a
foods, including milk, meat, and fish, during vegetarian diet than a meat-eater's diet, this is actually
pregnancy, they are less likely to pass allergies on to an advntage. Excess protein has been linked to
the infant. Mothers who drink milk pass cow kidney stones, osteoporosis, and possibly heart
antibodies along to their nursing infants through their disease and some cancers. A diet focused on beans,
breast milk. These antibodies can cause colic. whole grains, and vegetables contains adequate amounts of protein without the "overdose" most meat
Vegetarian children also have high nutritional eaters get.
needs, but these, too, are met within a vegetarian diet. Calcium is easy to find in a vegetarian diet.
A vegetarian menu is life-extending. As young Many dark green leafy vegetables and beans are
children, vegetarians may grow more gradually, reach loaded with calcium, and some orange juices and
puberty somewhat later, and live substantially longer cereals are calcium-fortified. Iron is plentiful in whole
than do meat-eaters. Do be sure to include a reliable
source of vitamin B. grains, beans, and fruits. Vitamin B
Further Reading Vitamin B is a genuine issue for vegans,
For more information on vegetarian diets, although very easy to deal with. Traditionally, getting
PCRM recommends : this vitamin has not been difficult. In cultures with Foods that Fight Pain, by Neal Barnard, M.D. plant-based diets, the microorganisms that produce B
Eat Right, Live Longer, by Neal Barnard, M.D. grow in the soil and cling to root vegetables, and
Food for Life, by Neal Barnard, M.D. traditional Asian miso and tempeh contain large amounts of the vitamin. But with industrialized The McDougall Plan, by John McDougall, M.D. production and improved hygiene, this source of B has Dr. Dcan Ornish's Program for Reversing Heart been eliminated. Meat-eaters get B through Disease, by Dean Ornish, M.D. microorganisms living in the animals they eat.
Jai Jinendra Pramoda Chitrabhanu