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"Becoming Vegan" Reviews
"All I can say is "Bravo!" This is the definitive work on vegan nutrition and I can heartily recommend it to all. A magnificent job presenting up-to-date information on this most important subject."
Dr. Michael Klaper
"Every so often a book comes along that you feel should be on every vegan's of Becoming Vegan you have a far better chance of achieving it."
Paul Appleby, researcher in the Oxford Study and Epic Study
"Becoming Vegan: The Complete Guide to Adopting a Healthy Plant-based Diet by Brenda Davis, RD and Vesanto Melina, MS, RD. Book Publishing Co. 288 pages. $16.95. ISBN 1-57067-103-6.
Brenda Davis, the American Dietetic Association's Vegetarian Nutrition Chair, and Vesanto Melina have written an out-standing guide to vegan diets. Becoming Vegan begins with a look at the history of the vegan movement, goes on to thoroughly cover basic nutrition topics for vegans, provides a vegan food guide, and discusses topics like overweight, eating disorders, and the vegan athlete. It ends with an excellent chapter on vegan diplomacy and vegan resources. Davis and Melina, who previously worked together on Becoming Vegetarian, have written a book that will appeal to both health care professionals and educated lay-people.
Many complex issues, including lipid metabolism and the stages of vitamin B-12 deficiency are clearly explained using a variety of techniques to great advantage. The book features a number of tables, bulleted points, sidebars, and boxed bulletins to simplify information and to reinforce points made in the text. Case studies also give the reader very practical, useful help. While some of the information presented may be over-the-head of the beginning vegan with no nutrition background, the tables and summary points could be easily used by even a beginner to understand the more important issues.
The tone of the book is both humorous and serious. Humor is used to add life to the sometimes ponderous topic of vegetarian nutrition while the discussion of eating disorders is done so sensitively that I know that I will refer to this chapter again and again.
Nutrition professionals can rely on this book as a credible source of information for themselves and for their clients. While only selected references are included in the book, a website is given where a more complete list of references can be found.
I highly recommend Becoming Vegan to health care professionals, vegans, and those interested in moving towards a more plant-based diet."
Reviewed by Reed Mangels, PhD, RD
"Becoming Vegan is packed, virtually packed with useful information. Congratulations to Brenda and to you for a terrific job.
Louise Lambert Lagacé, Registered Dietitian
"BECOMING VEGAN: The Complete Guide to Adopting a Healthy Plant-based Diet by Brenda Davis and Vesanto Melina (Book Publishing Company, paperback, $16.95).
A new book by two registered dietitians (one the chair of the ADA's Vegetarian Practice Group and the other a coordinator of the vegetarian section of the Manual of Clinical Dietetics) is one of the most comprehensive, interesting and inspiring books ever published on vegan diets. Ranging from a fascinating history of the vegetarian and vegan movements from the 19th century to the most scientifically accurate studies from the late 1990's, BECOMING VEGAN is a wonderful book on many counts. A note from the authors at the beginning of the book declares "Every step you take towards a more compassionate world is one of celebration." Then the entire 281 pages of this user friendly book is full of facts, figures, research results, nutrient counts, tables, side bars and recipes that will turn even the most skeptical reader toward a more plant-based diet - truly reason to celebrate. A chapter on vegan diplomacy offers advice for vegans in a non-vegetarian world. A chapter on raising children as vegans offers reassuring data from scores of studies. Whole chapters devoted to fats, carbohydrates, and minerals answer every conceivable question about which foods in our diets contribute to health and which detract from it. Be sure to get two copies of this book: one to send to your relatives who worry about the way you eat and one to keep handy on the most accessible shelf in your house.
Patti Breitman, literary agent for John Robbins' "Diet for a New America".
"I just read Brenda Davis' and Vesanto Melina’s new book "Becoming Vegan" and am thoroughly impressed with the material and its presentation. The authors did a rigorous job of researching and presenting the current scientific data, presenting both the pro and contrary findings. I found the directness refreshing in comparison to some of the less scientific and more evangelistic writings that have been published.
Highlights are:
-A unique and thought-provoking look at the relationship between diet and chronic disease and the protective effects of vegan diets against the leading killers.
-One of the most convincing and well researched explanations on why plant proteins are both adequate and preferable to animal protein as the major protein source for humans.
-The most comprehensive examination of dietary fat and essential fatty acids for vegans written to date.
-A thorough and practical discussion on all of the vitamins and minerals of concern to vegans, including calcium, iron and vitamin B12. -Invaluable guidelines for people at various stages of the lifecycle: pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood, adolescence and the senior years.
-A detailed and thoughtful discussion on matters of weight and shape including underweight, overweight and eating disorders. -Straight-shooting advice about vegan diets and athletic performance.
-An exceptional vegan food guide, helping you design a well-balanced vegan diet.
-A lively discussion about diplomacy and how to handle sticky situations gracefully in this nonvegan world.
I suggest this to you as a must read.
Peter Roosen.
To order Becoming Vegan and other books, click here.
