A growing consensus of today’s leading health and nutrition organizations are in agreement – we need to eat more whole, unprocessed plants!
In 2016, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics published a position paper on vegetarian and vegan diets. They concluded that “appropriately planned vegetarian, including vegan, diets are healthful, nutritionally adequate, and may provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases. These diets are appropriate for all stages of the life cycle, including pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood, adolescence, older adulthood, and for athletes. Plant-based diets are more environmentally sustainable than diets rich in animal products because they use fewer natural resources and are associated with much less environmental damage.”
The Academy went on to report that vegetarians and vegans are at reduced risk of certain health conditions, including ischemic heart disease, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, certain types of cancer, and obesity. They credit this to “low intake of saturated fat and high intakes of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, soy products, nuts, and seeds (all rich in fiber and phytochemicals) that produce lower total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and better serum glucose control.”
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics represents more than 112,000 credentialed practitioners – registered dietitian nutritionists, nutrition and dietetics technicians, registered, and other food and nutrition professionals holding undergraduate and advanced degrees in nutrition and dietetics, and students – and is committed to improving health and advancing the profession of nutrition and dietetics through research, education and advocacy.
For more information on vegetarian diets and specific micronutrient considerations, life stages, and conditions, find the full white paper here.
Giveaway: Santa Barbara County Plant-Powered Gift Basket
Hey Santa Barbara, are you ready for another Rooted Giveaway? We’re trying to reach all of our community members who...
Super Fudgy Flourless Brownies
Super Fudgy Flourless Brownies Whole food... plant-based... brownies? Yes, please! Santa Barbara native Nathalie...
Research Highlight: Nutritional Quality, Environmental Impact and Cost of Ultra-Processed Foods
Researchers sought to determine the most sustainable diet based on its nutritional composition, environmental impact,...
Supporting Our Work - We’re currently an all-volunteer organization and we see incredible room and need to grow over the coming year. We understand that this time has enormous challenges for everyone, so while we’ll be seeking support to help roll our vision forward, we’re also thinking creatively to keep our costs low to efficiently build resources and deliver programming at low to no cost to our community. If you’d like to support our work, we hope you’ll consider making a donation to one of our giving programs through our community partner, the Santa Barbara Foundation!