Reporters Misusing V Word in Undernourished Baby Story; Parents Not Really Vegan, Say MDs

[Guest guest]

http://story.news./news?tmpl=story & u=/020504/180/1hqn6.html

 

Reporters Misusing " V " Word in Undernourished Baby Story; Parents Not Really

Vegan, Say Physicians; Vegan Diet Safe, Healthy, Superior

Saturday May 4, 3:37 PM ET

 

 

State Desk

 

Contact: Simon Chaitowitz of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine,

202-686-2210, ext. 309 or simonc

 

WASHINGTON, May 3 /U.S. Newswire/ -- In the wake of reports of a misguided New

York couple who refused to breastfeed or provide baby formula for their infant

daughter, many reporters have mistakenly suggested that the couple was following

a " vegan " diet. Headlines have implied such a diet is not healthy. Because a

vegan diet is safe, increasingly popular, and nutritionally superior to other

diets, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine wants to prevent

further misunderstandings.

 

" Vegan diets provide excellent nutrition for all stages of childhood, from birth

through adolescence, " says PCRM president Neal Barnard, MD. " In fact, vegetarian

children grow up to be slimmer, healthier, and live longer than their

meat-eating friends. Raising your children on a well-balanced plant-based diet

is one of the best gifts you can ever give them. "

 

" Unfortunately, the Swintons reportedly did not provide the first step in good

nutrition, " continues Dr. Barnard. " All infants should be breastfed. If this is

not possible, then a baby formula must be used, ideally a soy-based one to avoid

the allergies and other problems that can come from dairy-based formulas. " The

New York couple was not using a vegan diet, as they reportedly gave their child

cod-liver oil which is derived from fish.

 

All major health authorities, including the American Dietetic Association,

recognize that vegan and vegetarian diets supply solid nutrition when

appropriately planned. Moreover, many studies show that a vegan diet offers

nutritional advantages to growing bodies and minds. Leading baby expert Dr.

Benjamin Spock embraced the use of vegan diets in the 7th edition of Baby and

Child Care, the leading guide for parents.

 

Vegan babies, like all infants, are raised with mother's milk or formula,

eventually followed by fortified infant cereal and mashed fruits and vegetables.

At approximately six to eight months, parents can begin introducing vegetables,

fruits, breads, and protein-rich foods such as tofu or beans that have been

cooked well and mashed.

 

When children are old enough to rely on solid food exclusively, a vegan diet

consists of a wide variety of whole grains, vegetables, fruits, and legumes.

Such a diet offers plenty of protein and calcium and other nutrients. To ensure

adequate vitamin B-12, any common children's multivitamin does the trick.

 

For more information on vegan diets for children, including a wealth of

delicious and easy recipes, visit www.pcrm.org. (Media only: For interviews with

PCRM doctors or dietitians, call 202-686-2210, ext. 309.)

 

------ Founded in 1985, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM)

is a nonprofit organization that promotes preventive medicine, particularly good

nutrition, and conducts clinical research trials. PCRM also promotes higher

standards in research.

 

 

http://www.usnewswire.com/

 

 

 

 

 

Health - your guide to health and wellness

 

 

[Guest guest]

Glad to see this statement, don't know if it will help. The damage may

be done. I hope not though.

[Guest guest]

very glad to see this follow up to the previous article.

 

, " Maynard S. Clark " <MaynardClark@Y...> wrote:

> http://story.news./news?tmpl=story & u=/020504/180/1hqn6.html

>

> Reporters Misusing " V " Word in Undernourished Baby Story; Parents

Not Really Vegan, Say Physicians; Vegan Diet Safe, Healthy, Superior

> Saturday May 4, 3:37 PM ET

>

>

> State Desk

>

> Contact: Simon Chaitowitz of the Physicians Committee for

Responsible Medicine, 202-686-2210, ext. 309 or simonc@p...

>

> WASHINGTON, May 3 /U.S. Newswire/ -- In the wake of reports of a

misguided New York couple who refused to breastfeed or provide baby

formula for their infant daughter, many reporters have mistakenly

suggested that the couple was following a " vegan " diet. Headlines

have implied such a diet is not healthy. Because a vegan diet is

safe, increasingly popular, and nutritionally superior to other

diets, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine wants to

prevent further misunderstandings.

>

> " Vegan diets provide excellent nutrition for all stages of

childhood, from birth through adolescence, " says PCRM president Neal

Barnard, MD. " In fact, vegetarian children grow up to be slimmer,

healthier, and live longer than their meat-eating friends. Raising

your children on a well-balanced plant-based diet is one of the best

gifts you can ever give them. "

>

> " Unfortunately, the Swintons reportedly did not provide the first

step in good nutrition, " continues Dr. Barnard. " All infants should

be breastfed. If this is not possible, then a baby formula must be

used, ideally a soy-based one to avoid the allergies and other

problems that can come from dairy-based formulas. " The New York

couple was not using a vegan diet, as they reportedly gave their

child cod-liver oil which is derived from fish.

>

> All major health authorities, including the American Dietetic

Association, recognize that vegan and vegetarian diets supply solid

nutrition when appropriately planned. Moreover, many studies show

that a vegan diet offers nutritional advantages to growing bodies and

minds. Leading baby expert Dr. Benjamin Spock embraced the use of

vegan diets in the 7th edition of Baby and Child Care, the leading

guide for parents.

>

> Vegan babies, like all infants, are raised with mother's milk or

formula, eventually followed by fortified infant cereal and mashed

fruits and vegetables. At approximately six to eight months, parents

can begin introducing vegetables, fruits, breads, and protein-rich

foods such as tofu or beans that have been cooked well and mashed.

>

> When children are old enough to rely on solid food exclusively, a

vegan diet consists of a wide variety of whole grains, vegetables,

fruits, and legumes. Such a diet offers plenty of protein and calcium

and other nutrients. To ensure adequate vitamin B-12, any common

children's multivitamin does the trick.

>

> For more information on vegan diets for children, including a

wealth of delicious and easy recipes, visit www.pcrm.org. (Media

only: For interviews with PCRM doctors or dietitians, call 202-686-

2210, ext. 309.)

>

> ------ Founded in 1985, the Physicians Committee for Responsible

Medicine (PCRM) is a nonprofit organization that promotes preventive

medicine, particularly good nutrition, and conducts clinical research

trials. PCRM also promotes higher standards in research.

>

>

> http://www.usnewswire.com/

>

>

>

>

>

> Health - your guide to health and wellness

>

>