[Vision2020] Care About Healthy School Nutrition for Our Children?

Wed Oct 1 12:51:09 PDT 2008

Vegetarian diets can include B-12 from foods that are commonly available
(check the Moscow Food CO-OP).

Spirulina, brewers yeast, and tempeh all can have significant amounts of
vegetarian sourced B-12.  I am holding a bottle of Nutrex
Spirulina purchased at the Moscow Food CO-OP that lists B-12 (Human
Active) content in 2 tsp. at 30 % of RDA.  The bottle
does not indicate this is artificially added.  Either this is
a false claim, or a significant source of vegetarian B-12, not from
supplements.

However, there is disagreement on whether these foods contain enough B-12 of
the correct kind for optimum health in a vegetarian
diet without taking B-12 supplements, a rather easy option.  Sometimes
spirulina, brewers yeast and tempeh, depending on how
produced and processed, have limited B-12 or not of the correct kind.

Given the claims at this web site below, that B-12 is not make by plants,
but by
micro-organisms, it is no surprise that brewers yeast and tempeh can contain
B-12, given the micro-organisms involved in these foods.
"Plants" are not the only source of food for a non-animal sourced diet. a
common misconception.  Spirulina is a micro-algae, so
either this is not a "plant," or the claim that plants do not produce B-12
is false, the label on my spirulina bottle is a lie, or the B-12
is added artificially to this spirulina.

But consider that insects in the diet can supply B-12, also according to
this web site below.  Are insects acceptable
for a "vegetarian" diet?  They are not plants, but are they considered
animals?  If they are not animals, a vegetarian could
get B-12 from this source, though our culture's views of insects as foods
would render this unthinkable for many:

http://www.vegetarianaction.org.au/Refs/RFB12.htm

--------------------------------------------
Vision2020 Post: Ted Moffett

On 9/30/08, Saundra Lund <sslund_2007 at verizon.net> wrote:
>
>  Hi Donovan & Other Visionaries,
>
>
>
> Thanks for your response and for the opportunity to provide accurate
> information.
>
>
>
> First, because improving the nutrition available for all children who eat meals at school is very important to me, I renew my request that folks take this opportunity to contact the USDA to encourage that vegetarian meals and non-dairy beverage options be incorporated into The Child Nutrition Act revisions currently being drafted (for those who may have missed my original post, please scroll down or go to http://mailman.fsr.com/pipermail/vision2020/2008-September/056598.html).
>
>
>
> Second, the study you cited has nothing to do with the topic I was posting
> about, although through no fault of yours, no one would know that from
> reading the links since the study itself wasn't identified in the links you
> provided.  In case there are other science junkies like me here, feel free
> to check out:
>
>
> http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18779510?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum
>
> OR
>
> http://tinyurl.com/4e65uu
>
> *Vitamin B12 status and rate of brain volume loss in community-dwelling
> elderly.*
>
>
>
> With permission, I'm sharing the response I received from my contact at
> Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, who has given permission for
> it to be shared to anyone who may be confused:
>
>
>
> Headlines claiming that vegetarian and vegan diets cause "brain shrinkage"
> have received quite a bit of attention recently. These headlines are based
> on a recent study conducted by researchers at Oxford and published in the
> Journal "Neurology". This was not a study of vegans or vegetarians.
> Unfortunately, this sound research study on vitamin B12 status in older
> adults has been mistakenly misconstrued by a few members of the popular
> media.
>
>
> http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18779510?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum
>
>
>
> This study looked at older adults, who are much more likely to be deficient
> in vitamin B12 compared to younger adults. This allowed the researchers to
> see the differences in brain atrophy, or "shrinkage," between groups of
> people with low B12 levels vs. normal B12 levels. In fact, the researchers
> found that older adults with lower B12 levels lost more brain mass over a
> five-year period compared to those with higher B12 levels. But this does not
> necessarily have anything to do with their diet, and because dietary intake
> was not measured, there is no evidence of a relationship between a
> vegetarian or vegan diet and brain volume.
>
>
>
> The most common cause of B12 deficiency actually has nothing to do with
> diet.  Rather, some people simply cannot absorb it adequately. Normally,
> cells in the stomach produce a compound called intrinsic factor, which
> combines with vitamin B12 and allows it to be absorbed in the small
> intestine. Some people cannot make intrinsic factor, because of various
> stomach disorders. They need monthly B12 injections or very large oral doses
> (1,000 - 2,000 mcg per day).  Also, certain medicines for acid stomach, such
> as omeprazole (Prilosec), esomeprazole (Nexium), ranitidine (Zantac), or
> famotidine (Pepcid), interfere with the body's ability to absorb B12.
>
>
>
> Vegan diets need to be supplemented with B12. However, the National Academy
> of Sciences recommends that everyone over age 50 take a B12 supplement or
> use B12-fortified foods, and some have suggested that this should apply to
> all age groups. The reason is that about 15 percent of older meat-eaters-and
> some younger ones as well-are low in B12.  So, the bottom line is to take a
> multiple vitamin or a B12 supplement. This is not a reason to add meat to
> your diet; that would lead to far worse problems.
>
>
>
> The harm in the popular media's misinterpretation of this study is
> twofold.  First, reporters have wrongfully implicated vegetarian and vegan
> diets in causing brain shrinkage, while research continues to show the
> health benefits of this plant-based eating pattern. But most regrettably, we
> as a community have failed to acknowledge the value of this study, which
> clearly demonstrates the need to prevent, screen, and treat vitamin B12
> deficiency in older adults. While these vulnerable members of our community
> go unnoticed, they continue to suffer from preventable cognitive decline,
> nerve damage, personality changes, and depression.
>
>
>
> Furthermore, the authors of this article noted that other risk factors for
> brain atrophy include hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia. So, PCRM
> concludes that those people who follow a low-fat vegan diet and take a
> vitamin B12 supplement have a low risk of brain atrophy, as a low-fat vegan
> diet has demonstrated improvements and reversals of all of the above risk
> factors.
>
>
>
> Please see PCRM's fact sheet on vitamin B12 for more information.
>
> http://www.pcrm.org/health/PDFs/faq_b12.pdf
>
>
>
> Best regards,
>
>
>
> Katie Strong, M.S., R.D.
>
> Staff Dietitian
>
> Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine
>
> 5100 Wisconsin Ave, NW, Suite 400
>
> Washington, DC 20016
>
> Phone: 202-686-2210 ext. 338
>
> Fax: 202-686-2216
>
> kstrong at pcrm.org
>
>
>
>
>
> Saundra Lund
>
> Moscow, ID
>
>
>
> The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people to do
> nothing.
>
> ~ Edmund Burke
>
>
>
> ****** Original material contained herein is Copyright 2008 through life
> plus 70 years, Saundra Lund.  Do not copy, forward, excerpt, or reproduce
> outside the Vision 2020 forum without the express written permission of the
> author.******
>
>
>
> *From:* Donovan Arnold [mailto:donovanjarnold2005 at yahoo.com]
> *Sent:* Thursday, September 25, 2008 9:25 PM
> *To:* vision2020 at moscow.com; Saundra Lund
> *Subject:* Re: [Vision2020] Care About Healthy School Nutrition for Our
> Children?
>
>
>
> Didn't they just find out that not eating meat shrinks the brain?
>
>
>
>
> http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/HealthSci/Eating_veggies_shrinks_the_brain/articleshow/3480629.cms
>
> http://www.nowpublic.com/health/eating-veggies-shrinks-brain
>
> http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=28622
>
> Isn't that something the students need? I sure could have used a bigger
> brain in school, now I don't need it that much, but I sure could have used
> one back when I was in school.
>
>
>
> Best Regards,
>
>
>
> Donovan
>
> --- On *Thu, 9/25/08, Saundra Lund <sslund_2007 at verizon.net>* wrote:
>
> From: Saundra Lund <sslund_2007 at verizon.net>
> Subject: [Vision2020] Care About Healthy School Nutrition for Our Children?
> To: vision2020 at moscow.com
> Date: Thursday, September 25, 2008, 11:11 AM
>
> If so, then I urge you to contact Mr. Robert M. Eadie, Policy and Program
>
> Planning Branch Chief for the USDA to encourage that vegetarian meals and
>
> non-dairy beverage options be incorporated into The Child Nutrition Act
>
> revisions currently being drafted.
>
>
>
> You can contact Mr. Eadie by letter, fax, or email at:
>
>
>
> Mr. Robert M. Eadie, Policy and Program Planning Branch Chief
>
> U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
>
> 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 640
>
> Alexandria, VA 22302-1594
>
> E-mail: robert.eadie at fns.usda.gov
>
> Fax: (703) 305-2879
>
>
>
> You can learn more about what we can do to provide healthy meal options in
>
> our schools at:
>
> http://www.healthyschoollunches.org/
>
>
>
> For those who don't want to have to reinvent the wheel, below is a copy of
>
> our letter:
>
>
>
> Dear Mr. Eadie,
>
>
>
> Although neither of us are vegetarian, our daughter took the "Pledge to be
>
> Veg" when she was in the seventh grade.  She graduated from high school in
>
> June, and she remained vegetarian in spite of the challenges school
>
> breakfasts and lunches provided throughout the years.  And, out of the group
>
> of friends who took the Pledge, all 11 of them remain vegetarian today.
>
>
>
> Many children do not consume animal products due to ethical, religious, or
>
> health reasons.  Children of color are especially likely to need an
>
> alternative to regular cow's milk, due to lactose intolerance.  It is
>
> ***essential*** that the National School Lunch Program accommodate all
>
> students!  The American Medical Association and American Public Health
>
> Association already support efforts to provide vegetables, fruits, legumes,
>
> grains, vegetarian foods, and healthful nondairy beverages in school lunches
>
> and food assistance programs.
>
>
>
> We ask the USDA to include these items when the Child Nutrition Act is
>
> reauthorized next year:
>
> -  Nondairy beverage alternatives should be available and reimbursable
>
> without a note wherever cow's milk is provided.  Offering all students a
>
> nutritious nondairy beverage will reduce saturated fat consumption and
>
> increase overall program participation.
>
>
>
> -- Vegetarian meal options should be available every day, as trailblazing
>
> states such as California, Florida, Hawaii, and New York have already
>
> recommended.  Whether a student consumes a vegetarian diet or chooses an
>
> occasional vegetarian meal, experts agree that plant-based foods are healthy
>
> choices for all children.
>
>
>
> -- Nondairy vegetarian commodity foods should be readily available to
>
> schools.  The USDA should provide schools with more fresh fruits and
>
> vegetables and plant-based entrées to help meet the demand for these
>
> healthful foods.   The USDA and Congress should shift federal subsidies so
>
> that they support child health rather than agricultural interests.
>
>
>
> We join the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, the American
>
> Medical Association, and the American Public Health Association in asking
>
> the USDA to provide healthful vegetarian foods including vegetables, fruits,
>
> legumes, grains, and nutritious nondairy beverages in schools.  Increasing
>
> access to low-fat, cholesterol-free, vegetarian foods will help mitigate the
>
> rising prevalence of obesity and other chronic diseases.
>
>
>
>
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Saundra & Bill Lund
>
> <snip>
>
> _____
>
>
>
> Saundra Lund
>
> Moscow, ID
>
>
>
> Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.
>
> ~ Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
>
>
>
>
>
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>
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>
>  serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
>
>                http://www.fsr.net
>
>           mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
>
> =======================================================
>
>
>
> =======================================================
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>               http://www.fsr.net
>          mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
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