From: altar@beaufort.sfu.ca (Ted Wayn Altar)
Subject: Re: Veg book recommendations sought
Organization: Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, B.C., Canada
Date: Mon, 27 Jul 1992 06:07:16 GMT

Kathy writes:


>Hi,
>I'd like to learn more about nutrition as it pertains
>to vegetarianism.  I read "Diet for a Small Planet" years
>ago when I became a vegetarian, but I've heard that it
>has info in it that is now considered out of date.
>Any suggestions for more recent, readable books?

 
     I am very glad to see you asking about possible books
to purchase.  As Cicero correctly observed, "A room without
books is a body without a soul".  I wish more people would
seek out and buy good books instead of being so tightfisted
and unplanned about what are probably the most important and
valuable small purchases one can make.  Because so many
people really don't highly value books and properly spend
more money on such vital intellectual resources, many books
become overpriced, go out of print, or are simply not even
published.
 
     "This will never be a civilized country until we expend
     more money for books than we do for chewing gum"
          (from Elbert Hubbard's, "The Philistine")
 
Ok, now to try to answer your question.  If your interest is
in vegetarian nutrition, then I would recommend that one
starts with purchasing some books written by practicing
vegetarians for a vegetarian audience.
 
I think this is important so that both some conviction and
interest informs the discussion rather than the usual kinds
of neglect.  At best, one finds some begrudging (if not
misinformed) information about vegetarian nutrition is these
mainstream textbooks on nutrition written by omnivores in an
omnivorous culture for an omnivorous readership.
Vegetarians are a small minority (about 4-5% of the U.S.
pop.) and until a critical mass of, say about 10%, is
reached I doubt that mainstream texts on nutrition will
consider vegetarianism as a serious and viable option rather
than as a mere curiosity and "rigid diet" (how ironic that
vegetarianism is considered "rigid" when in fact vegetarians
report eating a more varied diet and one that gives them
greater culinary pleasure than when they were omnivores).
 
It is curious that nutrition texts written by omnivores are
often thought to be more "objective" than books written for
vegetarians by practicing vegetarians.  It is simply not
necessarily the case.  No one has a monopoly on objectivity,
or prejudice for that matter.  Yes, there are some bad
vegetarian tracts, but I am also quite surprised by the
kinds of misinformation that is presented in some of the
mainstream texts.  Probably this comes as no surprise given
the kinds of defensive postures we so frequently and
routinely see here on this conference by our "lurking
ominvores" (as one person called herself).  Indeed, this
defensiveness ranges from a begrudging acknowledgement that
a vegetarian diet is probably healthier (although the full
and supported benefits are still underplayed) to an outright
rudeness, if not an unabashed hostility about vegetarians
being like "religious fanatics" or whatever.  Unfortunately,
even schooled nutritionists and medical writers may evince
some of this same prejudices.  Hence, there is a need for
specialized or focused texts that help to offset the
sometimes faulted one-sided outlook, and even outright
prejudice, of mainstream texts.
 
As a starter, then, one should have a good vegetarian
sourcebook(s).  A minimum requirement, I think, is that it
be well documented by good and respectable references.
Given such references then one can advance one's knowledge
further by looking up those references.
 
 
 
A. VEGETARIAN SOURCEBOOKS:
 
Keith Akers (1989).  A VEGETARIAN SOURCEBOOK: THE NUTRITION,
     ECOLOGY, AND ETHICS OF A NATURAL FOODS DIET.
 
     I think every self-respecting vegetarian should have a
     copy of this sourcebook!  It is both carefully and
     interestingly well-argued and provides some very good
     references to primary sources.  Peter Singer reviewed
     the book as follows:
          "... there is a need for a thoroughly reliable
          sourcebook covering all the main arguments for
          being a vegetarian of one sort or another.  There
          cannot be a definitive book that will do this for
          all time, for new medical evidence keeps coming
          in, and the ecological situation and the treatment
          of farm animals are gradually changing.  For the
          present, however, Keith Akers has done a
          remarkable job of assembling the evidence relating
          to vegetarianism from fields as diverse as
          nutrition, medicine, ecology, agriculture,
          literature, sociology, philosophy, history, and
          religion.  His summaries of the material are
          always carefully documented, and while he has not
          attempted to conceal his support for
          vegetarianism, he has presented his evidence
          objectively and without that proselytizing tone
          that so often turns the uncommitted reader away
          from vegetarian tracts.  Thanks to its
          comprehensiveness, its attention to detail and its
          consistently intelligent discussion, A VEGETARIAN
          SOURCEBOOK is the most useful single volume I know
          covering all the arguments about vegetarianism."
 
Thrash & Thrash (1982).  NUTRITION FOR VEGETARIANS.
 
     While this book is now 10 years old, it is at least
     written from perspective of two MD's who are practicing
     vegetarians.  More comprehensive than Klaper's book.
 
 
Klaper, M. (1987).  VEGAN NUTRITION: PURE AND SIMPLE.
 
     While not as extensive as the above, the advantage here
     is that it is more current and is written by a vegan
     M.D. with post-graduate training in medicine, surgery,
     anesthesiology & obstetrics.  Provides some recipes as
     well.
     
 
Robbins, John (1987).  DIET FOR A NEW AMERICA.
 
     While not well like by some our omnivore critics I do
     think it is a useful and informative book.  Yes, it is
     an advocacy book, but Robbins does do a fine job
     referencing his many points (although not all his
     references are equally good).
     
     Sometimes, as rare as this may be, a "pop" book can be
     respectable read.  Unlike some of our omnivorous
     critics, I have looked up some of Robbins references
     and I have found that he does correctly cite the
     information he draws upon.
     
     My only quibble is that Robbins does unnecessarily go
     out on a limb with respect to stating what might be
     some of the underlying specific mechanisms that account
     for why vegetarians benefit from a reduced risk for
     certain diseases.  Such mechanisms are still an ongoing
     and controversial area of research and while
     interesting to consider, what is hypothesized today is
     not likely to survive tomorrow without at least some
     amendments and additional considerations.  More
     immediately useful and more likely to survive intact as
     part of tomorrow's knowledge base is the direct
     evidence regarding the salutary effects of a vegetarian
     diet.  The specific mechanisms of why this is the case
     we can leave for the micro-biologists and research
     physiologists to squabble about.
 
 
 
B.  CONVENTIONAL GENERAL TEXTS OF NUTRITION.
 
If, however, one is interested in better understanding of
some of the mechanisms of why a vegetarian diet is
healthier, then a general but readable reference on
nutrition is useful.  Here I think it is best to draw upon
some of the texts used at an university level for courses in
nutrition.  Even so, many of these texts are really too
sophomoric and waste space with pretty pictures.  Also, none
of the ones I have seen show the slightest interest in
vegetarian nutrition, even as a passing topic.  Often the
only mention about vegetarians is to inform the
undergraduate reader that there are different kinds of
vegetarians, like that of vegans and lacto-ovo-vegetarians.
Hardly new or useful information for vegetarians.
 
Ok, as a general reference for the beginner on some of the
more technical aspects to nutrition, but with very, very
little information about vegetarian nutrition per se, I
suggest as possibilities:
 
Hunt & Geoff (1990).  ADVANCE NUTRITION AND METABOLISM.
 
Wardlaw & Insel (1990).  PERSPECTIVES ON NUTRITION
 
 
 
C.  SPECIALIZED AND SCHOLARLY WORKS ON NUTRITION
 
As one reads the more scholarly primary works, instead of
the secondary textbooks, one then begins to see more readily
acknowledge some of the benefits of vegetarianism.  It is
too bad that such knowledge is being, in effect, buried in
journals and in some specialized primary readings.
 
Now, in addition to looking up some of the specialized
referenced articles one might run across in one's more
general readings, one should also seek out some of the
primary texts for general reference.  For example:
 
McCance & Widdowson (1990).  THE COMPOSITION OF FOODS (5th
     edition).
     This is produced by the Royal Society of Chemistry and
     Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.
     Unfortunately, it is an expensive paperback reference
     (about $80), but it does contain many tables of the
     constituents, vitamins and minerals of various foods
     both cooked and raw.
 
Combs, Gerald (1991).  VITAMINS: THEIR ROLE IN NUTRITION AND
     HEALTH.
     This is the best single advanced book I've seen on the
     biochemistry and metabolic role of vitamins.  It is
     quite technical but the author at least attempts to
     organized the text according to concepts instead of
     simply raw information.
 
 
Well, I hope that helps you get started and provides some
idea of what to later aim for.  Happy reading,
 
                                       ted

Newsgroups: rec.food.veg