ASK BONNIE for July 2004

Question #1:

My 11 year old daughter and 8 year old son have been vegetarians (by choice) since age 6. They do consume milk products and eggs. My daughter is now about 20 pounds overweight. She loves carbs and sweets. Her blood tests appeared normal. How can I be sure that she is getting enough protein and what supplements should they take.

Answer #1:

Normal in a blood test means no disease (it does jot mean nutritional balance). Your daughter is obviously eating too many carbos, and the diet is probably incompatible. If she is blood type O, she cannot be a healthy vegetarian because gluten in most grains and dairy products would not be tolerated well, and plant foods are not absorbable forms of proteins. To get a bigger picture of how genetics affects dietary measures, I recommend that you get a copy of Time Magazine's recent Obesity Special Issue which discusses the genetic cause of being overweight at length. Also, you can read my recent tidbit So Your Child Wants to Be a Vegetarian?

If your children are not blood type O, and you want to make sure they are eating properly as vegetarians, it would be a good idea for them to come in for an appointment.

Have a happy, healthy day.

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