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Vegetarian Healthy Diet Program - VEGETARIAN DIET ARTICLES INDEX |
Vegetarian Diet - Adolescents and TeenagersU.S. researchers say vegetarian teenagers have a healthier diet than their meat-eating counterparts. According to diet researchers at the University of Minnesota a vegetarian diet is actually a good way to get the recommended vitamins and minerals — and avoid fatty junk food in the process. Adolescent Vegetarianism“It seems that rather than viewing adolescent vegetarianism as a difficult phase or fad, the dietary pattern could be viewed as a healthy alternative to the traditional American meat-based diet,” epidemiologist Cheryl Perry and colleagues wrote in Sunday’s issue of the journal Archives of Pediatric Adolescent Medicine. Vegetarian Diet StudyThey studied more than 4,500 teenagers and adolescents, average age of about 15, from 31 middle schools and high schools in Minnesota. Of them, about 262, or nearly 6 percent, said they were vegetarian. They compared the diets of these boys and girls to the Healthy People 2010 recommendations, which are dietary targets issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. They include goals of getting less than 30 percent of one’s daily calories from fat and less than 10 percent from saturated fat, eating more than two servings of fruit and three servings of vegetables daily. “Overall, adolescent vegetarians were significantly more likely to meet the dietary recommendations of Healthy People 2010,” Perry’s group wrote. “Vegetarian adolescents were more than twice as likely to eat less than 30 percent of their calories from fat and nearly three times more likely to eat less than 10 percent of their calories from saturated fat,” they added. “They were also 1.4 to two times more likely to eat two or more servings of fruit, three or more servings of vegetables ... and five or more servings of fruits and vegetables daily.” Both the vegetarians and the meat-eaters failed to get enough calcium every day, the researchers found, but the vegetarians got significantly more iron, vitamin A, folate and fiber. They also drank more diet soda and caffeine, which the researchers said reflected the desire of most of the teen-agers to keep weight off. Vegetarian Diet Study: Conclusions“Vegetarian adolescents, similar to their adult counterparts, have dietary patterns that, if maintained, could significantly lower their risk of the leading causes of death as adults,” the researchers said. Source: www.msnbc.com 2003 Vegetarian Healthy Diet Program |
Vegetarian Diet InformationVegetarianism is a healthy option and vegetarian
diets can be perfectly healthy eating plans but care should be taken to
ensure optimum nutrition. So, whether following an ovo-lacto or other
type of vegetarian food plan, or vegan diet, for a healthy body and weight
make it a balanced eating plan and take regular exercise. Always consult
a doctor before beginning a weight loss diet or new fitness routine.
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