About the Book:The Complete Vegetarian makes important scientific connections between good health and vegetarianism after citing health concerns as the number one reason many people adopt a vegetarian diet. Peggy Carlson examines the vegetarian diets impact on chronic diseases and serves as a nutritional guide and meal-planning resource for many health professionals and regular consumers. Vegetarian nutritionists and medical doctors cutting-edge research find that an absence of meat is the only factor that accounts for the health effects of a vegetarian diet, but also a lower saturated fat and more fiber, antioxidants, and unsaturated fat count than other diets. Essential and in-depth The Complete Vegetarian is an invaluable guide for health professionals and the growing number of people who have adopted or want to adopt a vegetarian lifestyle.Table of Contents: 1. Introduction 1Peggy Carlson, MD Vegetarians 2 History of Vegetarian Diets 2 Diets around the World 5 History of the “Western” or “Affluent” Diet 5 History of Scientific Research into Diet-Related Diseases 9 Conclusion 13 References 132. Protein 15Virginia Messina, MPH, RD Introduction 15 Summary of the Scientific Literature 15 Practical Aspects 19 Conclusion 19 References 213. Fats 23Brenda Davis, RD Introduction 23 Summary of the Scientific Literature 24 Practical Aspects 38 Conclusion 46 References 464. Fiber 51Peggy Carlson, MD Introduction 51 Summary of the Scientific Literature 51 Practical Aspects 60 Conclusion 60 References 615. Iron 64Dina Aronson, MS, RD Introduction 64 Summary of the Scientific Literature 64 Practical Aspects 74 Conclusion — Vegetarians: At Risk, or Having an Edge? 75 References 766. Calcium and Vitamin D 78Suzanne Havala Hobbs, DrPH, MS, RD John J. B. Anderson, PhD Introduction 78 Summary of the Scientific Literature 79 Practical Aspects 80 Conclusion 81 References 827. Vitamin B12 83Michael A. Klaper, MD Introduction 83 Summary of the Scientific Literature 83 Practical Aspects 88 Conclusion 91 References 918. Zinc 93Virginia Messina, MPH, RDReed Mangels, PhD, RD, FADA Introduction 93 Summary of the Scientific Literature 93 Practical Aspects 96 Conclusion 96 References 979. Other Vitamins and Minerals 99Reed Mangels, PhD, RD, FADA Introduction 99 Summary of the Scientific Literature 99 Practical Aspects 107 Conclusion 107 References 10810. Heart Disease 111Peggy Carlson, MD Introduction 111 Summary of the Scientific Literature 111 Practical Aspects 126 Conclusion 127 References 12711. Cancer 134Peggy Carlson, MD Introduction 134 Summary of the Scientific Literature: Cancer Rates among Vegetarians 134 The Relationship Between Diet and Cancer 140 Practical Aspects 155 Conclusion 156 References 15612. Hypertension 162James Craner, MD, MPH Introduction 162 Summary of the Scientific Literature 163 Practical Aspects 178 Conclusion 179 References 17913. Stroke 184Peggy Carlson, MD Introduction 184 Summary of the Scientific Literature 184 Practical Aspects 196 Conclusion 196 References 19614. Obesity and a Vegetarian Diet 202Sudba Raj, PhD, RD Introduction 202 Summary of the Scientific Literature 202 Practical Aspects 208 Conclusion 209 References 20915. Diabetes and Vegetarian Diets 212Peggy Carlson, MD Introduction 212 Summary of the Scientific Literature 214 Practical Aspects: How to Plan a Vegetarian Diet for Diabetics 232 Conclusion 233 References 23316. Osteoporosis 239John J. B. Anderson, PhD Suzanne Havala Hobbs, DrPH, MS, RD Introduction 239 Summary of the Scientific Literature 239 Practical Aspects 246 Conclusion 247 Acknowledgments 248 References 24817. Gallbladder Disease, Diverticulitis, Appendicitis, Kidney Stones, and Kidney Failure 250Valerie Kurtzbalts, MSN, APRN, BC Peggy Carlson, MD Introduction 250 Summary of the Scientific Literature 250 Practical Aspects 259 Conclusion 259 References 26018. Vegetarian Diets and Children 264Jeanene Fogli, MS, RD, LDN Carol M. Meerschaert, RD, LDN Introduction 264 Summary of the Scientific Literature 264 Practical Aspects 270 Conclusion 274 References 2719. Pregnancy and Lactation 277Reed Mangels, PhD, RD, FADA Introduction 277 Summary of the Scientific Literature 277 Practical Aspects 282 Conclusion 284 References 28420. Optimal Nutrition for Active Vegetarians and Vegetarian Athletes 288D. Enette Larson-Meyer, PhD, RD, FACSM Mary Helen Niemeyer, MD, MPH, FAAFP Introduction 288 Summary of the Scientific Literature 289 Practical Aspects 309 Conclusion 310 References 31021. Environmental and Food Safety Aspects of Vegetarian Diets 317Carl V. Phillips, MPP, PhD Simon K. Emms, PhD Erin L. Kraker, MS, REHS Introduction 317 Types of Animal Food Production 318 A Variety of Environmental Impacts 318 Summary of the Scientific Literature 319 Practical Aspects 333 Conclusion 334 Acknowledgment 335 References 33522. Planning Nutritious vegetarian Diets 338Cheryl Sullivan, MA, RD Introduction 338 Summary of the Scientific Literature 338 Practical Aspects 342 Conclusion 343 References 34423. Conclusion: Summary of Protective Factors 345Virginia Messina, MPH, RD Peggy Carlson, MD Factors in Vegetarian Diets That Are Protective 346 Vegetarian Diets May be More Healthful Because of Lower Intakes of These Factors 347 Conclusion 348Contributors 349 Index 353