Vegetarian Diet Info
Health Risks Controversy - Vegetarian Diets
Controversy Over Anti-Vegetarian Remarks

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Health Risks of Vegetarian Diets

According to Professor Robert Pickard, anyone thinking of restricting their diet by becoming a vegetarian is potentially taking risks with their health.

Professor Pickard said the gut contained a kilogram of bacteria to help digest the wide variety of food present in an omnivorous diet.

He said there was evidence that leaving the bacteria idle as a result of a restricted diet can make it easier for disease to take hold.

"Evolutionary science tells us that man emerged from an insect-eating group of mammals whose adaptability was greatly accelerated by the adoption of an omnivorous diet.

"Man's teeth, jaws and gut have evolved to deal with a mixture of meat and vegetables."

Third Way Diet

Professor Pickard said that this `third way' diet provided primitive man with a high-energy food intake making him a more effective species. This gave him more time to think and stay ahead of competitor species. "Meat should now play a central part in any person's diet." he said.

Vegetarian Response

The Vegetarian Society said comments such as those made by Professor Pickard made many vegetarians worry about their diet - unjustifiably.

Sam Calvert, head of PR, said: "There are three million vegetarians in the UK, and it can clearly be seen that vegetarianism is not have a detrimental effect on their health - in fact research shows that it has a positive effect."

Ms Calvert quoted a study published in the British Medical Journal in 1994 which showed vegetarians were 20 percent less likely than meat eaters to die before the age of 65 - and 40 percent less likely to die prematurely from cancer.

Catherine Grainger, of the Vegan Society, said Professor Pickard's comments contradicted advice from the World Health Organization, and the UK and US governments, who all recommend reducing consumption of foods high in saturated fats and cholesterol in favour high fibre, plant-based foods

"Professor Pickard's suggestion that meat should play a central part in any person's diet is outrageous given the wealth of scientific evidence showing that vegetarians and vegans are healthier than meat-eaters."

"Not only does a meat-free diet easily provide all the nutrients necessary for good health - including iron, protein, calcium, fatty acids and vitamin D - it is also commonly chosen by top class athletes and health care professionals precisely because it improves one's health."

Source: BBC 2000

Vegetarian Healthy Diet Program