Vegetarian Nutrition and Wellness

Description

A large amount of research effort goes into assessing the health benefits of a plant-based diet, resulting from human desire to consume a more sustainable diet that is less destructive of the earth's natural resources. In addition, a growing number of people are choosing the vegan or total vegetarian diet because of the potential to greatly reduce the risk of chronic diseases and mortality rates. Although this interest in plant-based eating is popular, there exist concerns on the safety of some vegetarian diets, especially a vegan diet. This book describes issues of the vegetarian diet and outlines ways to prevent nutrient deficiencies. Vegetarian Nutrition and Wellness focuses on synthesizing research around vegetarian diets and human health. A major section of the book deals with how a vegetarian diet protects population groups from the major chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, obesity, and various cancers. Based upon ecological and clinical studies, chapter authors explain the health-promoting properties of plant-based diets, and compare/contrast health outcomes obtained from consuming omnivorous diets with a vegetarian or vegan diet. Fruits and vegetables figure prominently in vegetarian diets and provide a substantial effect in disease reduction and health-promoting properties of a plant-based diet. Vegetarian Nutrition and Wellnessis written for the academic community, registered dietitians, health professionals, and graduate students in nutrition and public health. Each chapter provides a comprehensive review of the scientific literature and includes a concise summary at the beginning of each chapter. The time is ripe for this book to update the scientific community with a collage of well-documented topics on vegetarian nutrition. Content: Introduction viiEditor ixContributors xiChapter 1 Vegetarian Diets: Trends in Acceptance and Perception.What Do the Dietary Guidelines Suggest? 1Reed MangelsSection I Environmental IssuesChapter 2 Impact of Vegetarian Diets on the Environment 13Dora Marinova and Talia RaphaelyChapter 3 The Sustainability of Vegetarian Diets 25Joan Sabate and Tony JehiSection II Prevention of Chronic DiseasesChapter 4 Vegetarian Diet and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease 45Ella H. HaddadChapter 5 Risk of Cancer in Vegetarians 71Michael J. Orlich and Renae M. ThomasChapter 6 Plant-Based Diets and Risk of Osteoporosis 93Kelly Virecoulon Giudici and Connie M. WeaverChapter 7 The Role of Vegetarian Diets in Weight Management 113Celine E. HeskeySection III Plant ProteinsChapter 8 Soy and Human Health: Benefits and Controversies 173Alison M. DuncanChapter 9 The Role of Legumes in Maintaining Health 191Peter PribisSection IV Nutrient ProfilesChapter 10 Critical Nutrients in a Plant-Based Diet 213Winston J. Craig and Angela V. SaundersSection V Vegetarian Issues in Ethnic GroupsChapter 11 Vegetarian Practices among Asian Indians and Their Risk of Disease 233Sudha RajSection VI Vegetarian Diets for Special GroupsChapter 12 Vegetarian Diets for Pregnancy, Lactation, Infancy, and Early Childhood 259Reed MangelsChapter 13 Nutritionally Adequate Vegetarian Diets and Athletic Performance 279D. Enette Larson-MeyerChapter 14 Optimizing Performance on a Vegetarian Diet 303D. Enette Larson-MeyerIndex 321