Vegan diets may lead to malnutrition and growth retardation in infants

This post includes a synopsis of a study published in Pediatrics 1982 Oct;70(4):582-6 and a recipe for slow cooked rabbit.

Study title and authors:
Totally vegetarian diets and infant nutrition.

Books:

Shinwell ED, Gorodischer R.

Department of Pediatrics "A," Soroka University Hospital, and Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheba, Israel

This paper can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6812012

The paper reports on the harmful effects of a vegan diet in infants.

Shinwell found that:
(a) 25 infants from the vegan community who were seen at the hospital showed evidence of protein-calorie malnutrition, iron- and vitamin B12-deficient anemia, rickets, zinc deficiency, and multiple recurrent infections.
(b) Evidence of growth retardation was also found in 47 infants seen at the local mother-child health (well-baby) clinic.
(c) Samples of breast milk showed low levels of carbohydrate, protein and fat.
(d) The main constituent of the infants' diet after the age of 3 months (a "soya milk" prepared at the community's central kitchen) was extremely dilute with a very low calorific value.

To conclude: A vegan diet may lead to malnutrition and growth retardation in infants.

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Recipe of the day

Slow Cooked Rabbit

Ingredients:

Food Mall: Rabbit

• 2 whole rabbits, cut into serving pieces

• sea salt
• pepper
• 8 oz tomato sauce
• 15 oz diced tomatoes
• 1 med onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1/2 t rosemary
• 1/2 t thyme
• crushed red pepper
• 1 lb carrots
• 1 cup dry white wine

Instructions:
Brown rabbit pieces in large skillet. Salt and pepper the rabbit to taste. Place the rabbit in a crock pot. Mix the rest of the ingredients together and pour over rabbit, stirring to coat. Cover and cook on low for 6- 8 hours.

Slow Cooked Rabbit