Vegetarian diets can be healthful and nutritionally sound. In fact, many people initially stop eating animal products to benefit their health. So if you've been concerned about the healthiness of a meat-free diet, you can set your mind at rest… by following a more compassionate plant-based diet, you can help both yourself and animals at every meal!

Scientific research consistently supports the recommendation to eat less meat and saturated fat in favor of healthy plant-based alternatives to help prevent heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and some cancers. Vegetarian foods, such as whole grains, vegetables, fruits, and beans are low in fat, contain no cholesterol, and are rich in fiber & nutrients.

Add to this the plethora of antibiotics, hormones, and other chemicals routinely administered to animals in unnatural factory farming conditions — along with growing occurrences of meat-based diseases like E. coli and Salmonella — and there's a compelling health-based case for vegetarianism.

Enjoying vegetarian fare is now easier than ever, with delicious and satisfying vegetarian alternatives available almost everywhere. From fast food outlets and top restaurants to your local shop or supermarket, the range of vegetarian options is enormous!

Want more information? Check out these great sites!

• Vegetarian Diets — American Dietetic Association
  'Appropriately planned vegetarian diets are healthful, nutritionally adequate, and provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases. Well-planned vegan and other types of vegetarian diets are appropriate for all stages of the life cycle.'

• Vegetarian diet: A healthy alternative — The Mayo Clinic
  'A vegetarian diet generally contains less total fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol and includes more dietary fiber. And vegetarians have lower rates of some cancers, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes. No matter what your age or situation, a well-planned vegetarian diet can meet your nutritional needs.'

• Nutrition — The Vegetarian Resource Group
  Addresses dietary concerns of vegetarians with articles on iron, calcium, vitamin B-12, and other important nutrients.Tufts University Nutrition Navigator praises this site as 'substantive, well-organized, and balanced… an excellent resource.'

• Health & Nutrition — The Vegetarian Society
  Loads of helpful nutrition information from our veg friends in Great Britain!

• Overview of Current Research on Meat, Diet and Chronic Disease
  Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health
  ' Many Americans eat a diet high in meat and low in fruits, vegetables and whole grains. This dietary pattern increases our risk for heart disease, cancer, stroke and diabetes — four of the leading causes of death in the U.S.'

WHAT ABOUT THE ATKINS DIET?

The Atkins diet phenomenon has spread like a virus, convincing millions of people to buy into two dangerous notions: that avoiding carbohydrates is the key to weight loss, and that high-fat, high-cholesterol foods pose essentially no risk.

What do health experts say? The American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, American Kidney Fund, and American Dietetic Association have all published statements warning about the various dangers associated with low-carbohydrate, high-protein diets.

• American Heart Association — Recommendation On High-Protein Diets
  'The American Heart Association doesn't recommend high-protein diets for weight loss. Most of these diets aren't balanced in terms of the essential nutrients our bodies need. If followed for a long time, they can result in potential health problems. A healthy diet that includes a variety of foods and is rich in fresh fruits and vegetables along with regular physical activity can help most people manage and maintain weight loss for both cardiovascular health and appearance.'

• American Cancer Society — Weighing In on Low-Carb Diets
  'A low-carb diet can be a high-risk option when it comes to health. The American Cancer Society warns that low-carb dieters can fall into eating habits that may increase the risk of developing cancer later in life. In short: man cannot live on steak alone.'

• American Kidney Fund Warns About Impact Of High-Protein Diets On Kidney Health
  The American Kidney Fund is warning Americans about popular high-protein diets for weight loss. The diets place such a significant strain on the kidneys that even in healthy athletes, kidney function is impacted.

• American Dietetic Association — Studies of Low-Carb Diets
  'Results of two new studies on low-carbohydrate diets support the position of the American Dietetic Association that the most effective method of healthy lifelong weight management includes an eating plan that is based on complex carbohydrates such as whole grains, fruits and vegetables, moderate in protein and relatively low in fat, coupled with daily physical activity.'

Mad Cow Disease:
Information & Resouces

Is Milk a Natural?
Our bodies have no natural need for cows' milk. We weren't designed with some odd flaw requiring us to drink the milk of other animals. Except for some domesticated cats, human beings are the only animals who drink the mother's milk of another species.

'The human body has no more need for cows' milk than it does for dogs' milk, horses' milk, or giraffes' milk.'
Michael Klaper, MD