The Island Vegetarian Vegetarian Society of Hawaii Quarterly Newsletter supporting human health, animal rights, and ecology Volume 12, Issue 4, Oct - Dec 2001 Inside · President’s Message · John Westerdahl · Animal Rights Corner · Calendar of Events & Bookstore · Eye on the Environment · Meet Our Members Public Lectures From left: Brian Tottori (HPC Foods), Mae Isonaga (DOH), Laurie Veatch (VSH), Pat Moore (VSH), Lola Irvin (American Cancer Society), Mayor Harris, Eileen Towata Antonia Demas, PhD (VSH), Bill Harris (VSH). “HEALTHY SCHOOL LUNCHES” October 3 Mayor Signs *McCoy Pavilion* 5-A-Day Proclamation Bill Harris, MD by Bill Harris, MD “COVERING ALL THE n August 31, 2001 members of the Hawaii 5-A-Day Coalition presented BASES” OMayor Jeremy Harris with a colorful fruit basket in his office on the third November 14 floor of Honolulu Hale. He in turn signed a proclamation designating September Ala Wai Golf Rec. Center 9-15 as 5-A-Day Week, encouraging citizens to consume five servings of fruits and vegetables daily, in accord with recommendations of the USDA and most health organizations. Rozalind Gruben, AHSI In conjunction with the Proclamation, the Department of Health will distrib- “PERMANENT ute free 5-A-Day book covers to public school students, and city buses will be WEIGHT LOSS carrying full color ads featuring our local 5-A-Day boy “Ikaika,” meaning THE VEGETARIAN WAY” “healthy.” VSH would like to thank Mayor Harris for recognizing the importance of his December 12 constituents including more fruits and vegetables in their diets. We also thank Ala Wai Golf Rec. Center our 5-A-Day volunteers for their tireless efforts to ensure that this important Proclamation was passed by the legislature and signed by the Mayor. The Island Vegetarian • Oct - Dec 2001 See page 18 for an update on the vegetarian school lunch resolution. Page 1 VSH extends its President’s deepest sympathies to the victims of the Message September 11 ter- rorist attacks and to by Alida Rutchick, M.Ed. their families. We hope for and will continue to It Takes All Kinds work toward a world that re- places violence and hatred with love and compassion. s you are probably aware, the the stated positions. If we destroy our The Island Vegetarian A mission of the Vegetarian Soci- environment and have no planet to ety is to educate with regard to the dwell on, human health and animal The Island Vegetarian is published effects of diet not only on human rights are moot points. On the other quarterly by and for the members of the health, but on the well-being of ani- hand, if we seriously degrade our Vegetarian Society of Hawaii mals and the environment as well. health, we won’t be in a position to P.O. Box 23208 Of the three basic reasons for be- think and act effectively about the Honolulu, HI 96823-3208 ing a vegetarian, most of us empha- planet or anything else. And of 808-944-VEGI (8344) size one or another. I have found that course, it is undeniable that the ani- E-mail: [email protected] this emphasis is usually a function of mals are suffering acutely every day. www.VSH.org an individual’s initial experience of or Out of respect and concern for all Visit our website introduction to vegetarianism as well of these viewpoints we have intended for newsletter archives as his or her subsequent exposure to to balance fairly the attention we give and more. the thinking and sensitivity of other to the three areas; that one or another vegetarians. I myself began long ago may seem to be dominant or ne- as a “health” vegetarian, having been glected from time to time is really the Board of Directors influenced by Paul Bragg’s The Mira- result of opportunities that present President: Alida Rutchick Vice President: Laurie Veatch cle of Fasting. After joining the themselves for monthly speakers or Secretary: Mary Arakaki Vegetarian Society, however, and newsletter articles. In this issue we’re Treasurer: Elaine French learning of the environmental effects happy to inaugurate an environmental Directors: Jim Brown of animal agriculture as well as think- column. VSH VP Laurie Veatch has Bill Harris, MD ing more about the animals over the a special interest in this area, which Elaine Johnson past decade or so, my concern for she shares with her son, who is an en- Karl Seff, PhD these other effects of meat-eating has vironmental ethicist. We thank her for grown to rival my health interests. I her contribution to this issue, and we attribute this change to a spiritual and encourage others with environmental Newsletter Committee intellectual maturation, for which I interests to submit their ideas or arti- Alida Rutchick Helen Wells thank the Vegetarian Society. cles to the newsletter editor. We have Jim Brown Lately some have questioned also recently given attention to animal what our emphasis as an organization issues. We were privileged to hear the should be with regard to these three “the most influential living philoso- Mahalo to all our volunteers… areas of concern. Some have ex- pher” speak to us on the philosophical pressed a desire to hear less of animal underpinnings of the animal rights rights, others have wondered why we movement. We sponsored this event The opinions expressed in this don’t mention environmental issues cooperatively with our friends in Ani- newsletter are those of the writers more often, and still others, I’m sure, mal Rights Hawaii, 90% of whose and do not necessarily reflect those have their own preferences. members are estimated to be vegetar- of the Vegetarian Society of Hawaii. What’s the proper balance? ian; many are VSH members as well. Which need is more critical or more Questions also have arisen lately immediate? Arguments have been put of whether we should address areas forward by the proponents of all of (See President’s Message on page 19) Page 2 The Island Vegetarian • Oct - Dec 2001 Vegetarian Nutrition Update by John Westerdahl, PhD, MPH, RD Journal of The American Dietetic Association Features Planning Vegan Diets for Infants and Children he featured cover articles of the in the general population. terol than do children’s omnivore diets, T June 2001 issue of The Journal of For the first 4 to 6 months of an in- some studies indicate that they may be The American Dietetic Association (J fant’s life beast milk should be the sole low in calcium. In addition, bioavail- Am Diet Assoc. 2001;101:661-669 and food with soy-based infant formula as ability of zinc and iron from plant J Am Diet Assoc. 2001;101:670-677) an alternative; commercial soymilk foods can be low. Special attention focus on vegan nutrition for infants and should not be the primary beverage un- should be given to promoting dietary children. This is a historical event, as til after age 1 year. In addition, be- habits that enhance absorption of zinc never before has this topic been the cause infants require a sustained intake and iron from plant foods. Absorption highlighted cover feature of this pres- of vitamin B-12 to support rapid can be increased, for example, by soak- tigious scientific nutrition journal, the growth, unless the mother’s diet is sup- ing dried beans and discarding the main scientific and professional journal plemented or includes B-12-fortified soaking water before cooking; using read by registered dietitians world- foods, it is important that breastfed ve- fermented soy products like tempeh wide. gan infants receive a regular supple- and miso can also enhance zinc absorp- The two articles are entitled: ment of vitamin B-12 (0.4 micrograms tion. Vitamin C and other organic acids “Considerations in planning vegan di- per day for the first 6 months, 0.5 mi- found in vegetables enhance the ab- ets: Children” and “Considerations in crograms per day beginning at age 6 sorption of nonheme iron (the type of planning vegan diets: Infants.” Both months). Furthermore, because zinc iron found in plant foods), a fact that articles were written by Ann Reed levels in human milk naturally decline emphasizes the importance of these Mangels, PhD, RD, FADA and Vir- during the lactation period, foods con- plant foods in the child’s diet. Parents ginia Messina, MPH, RD, personal col- taining zinc are typically added to the may want to consider giving their ve- leagues and friends of mine. Here are infant’s diet. Sources of zinc for vegan gan children a vegetarian multi- summaries of the articles: infants include zinc-fortified infant ce- supplement containing both zinc and reals, legumes, whole grains, wheat iron for nutritional insurance against a Planning Vegan Diets for Infants germ, and tofu. While zinc is available diet that may not be sufficiently varied. The American Dietetic Association in these foods, its bioavailability is re- Further, good sources of omega-3 and The American Academy of Pediat- duced by the phytate found in whole fatty acids should be emphasized to rics state that appropriately planned grains and legumes. enhance synthesis of the long-chain vegan diets can satisfy nutrient needs The timing of solid food introduc- fatty acid docosahexanoic acid; vegan of infants and promote normal infant tion is the same as that recommended diets for children should include growth. for non-vegetarians. Tofu, dried beans, sources of linolenic acid such as Breast milk composition of vegan and vegetarian meat substitutes are in- ground flax seed, walnuts, and soy mothers is similar to that of the non- troduced as protein sources around 7 – products. (Note that protein needs are vegetarian except for the fat composi- 8 months to support growth of infants, easily met with a varied diet that pro- tion: breast milk appears to be lower in who have a higher protein need than vides adequate calories.) saturated fat and eicosapentaenoic acid older children.