Alice C. Richer, RD, MBA, LD, is a registered dietitian, certified in advanced functional and genomic nutrition, in private practice in New Hampshire, USA.

• Series ForewordIntroductionGuide to Health LiteracyCommon Misconceptions about Vegetarian and Vegan DietsQuestions and AnswersThe Basics1. What is a plant-based diet?2. What are the different types of plant-based diets?3. What is a Mediterranean diet, and how does it differ from a plant-based diet?4. How many people in the United States and worldwide follow a plant-based diet, and are these diets becoming more popular?5. What concerns about animals might motivate an individual to change to a plant-based diet?6. What are the environmental factors that might influence an individual to transition to a vegetarian or vegan diet?7. Do religious or cultural factors influence plant-based diet choices?Plant-Based Diets and Health8. What are the potential health benefits of plant-based diets?9. What are the potential negative health consequences of following a plant-based diet?10. Do genetics influence whether or not a plant-based diet is healthy for an individual?11. What impact do plant-based diets have on the gastrointestinal microbiome?12. What is the China study, and how does it relate to plant-based diets?13. Can plant-based diets benefit those with cardiovascular disease?14. Can plant-based diets benefit those with diabetes?15. How can plant-based diets affect an individual's weight?16. Do plant-based diets increase life expectancy?17. Why do some people become unhealthy when following a plant-based diet?Nutritional Management of Plant-Based Diets18. What are the most important nutrition guidelines to follow to maintain good health when eating vegan or vegetarian?19. What nutritional deficiencies can develop while following a plant-based diet?20. Can pregnant women have a healthy baby while following a vegetarian or vegan diet?21. Is it safe for children to follow a vegetarian or vegan diet?22. Can those with food allergies follow a plant-based diet?23. How does someone who has gastrointestinal disease follow a plant-based diet?24. Are all vegetarian and vegan foods healthy and good for you?25. Why is soy so controversial, and is it bad for health?26. What are lectins, and are they a problem when eating a vegetarian or vegan diet?Life as a Vegetarian or Vegan27. How do I transition to a plant-based diet?28. Is it difficult to eat out in restaurants or in public places when following a vegetarian or vegan diet?29. How difficult is it to grocery shop when following a vegan or vegetarian diet?30. How do I afford a vegetarian or vegan diet on a budget?31. What resources are available to support vegetarians and vegans so that meals are flavorful, healthy, and enjoyable?32. How can I convince family and friends to accept my plant-based diet choice without alienating them?33. If a vegetarian or vegan wants to begin eating meat or animal products again, how should they transition to this new diet?Case StudiesGlossaryDirectory of ResourcesIndex

Alice C. Richer, RD, MBA, LD, is a registered dietitian, certified in advanced functional and genomic nutrition, in private practice in New Hampshire, USA.

• Series ForewordIntroductionGuide to Health LiteracyCommon Misconceptions about Vegetarian and Vegan DietsQuestions and AnswersThe Basics1. What is a plant-based diet?2. What are the different types of plant-based diets?3. What is a Mediterranean diet, and how does it differ from a plant-based diet?4. How many people in the United States and worldwide follow a plant-based diet, and are these diets becoming more popular?5. What concerns about animals might motivate an individual to change to a plant-based diet?6. What are the environmental factors that might influence an individual to transition to a vegetarian or vegan diet?7. Do religious or cultural factors influence plant-based diet choices?Plant-Based Diets and Health8. What are the potential health benefits of plant-based diets?9. What are the potential negative health consequences of following a plant-based diet?10. Do genetics influence whether or not a plant-based diet is healthy for an individual?11. What impact do plant-based diets have on the gastrointestinal microbiome?12. What is the China study, and how does it relate to plant-based diets?13. Can plant-based diets benefit those with cardiovascular disease?14. Can plant-based diets benefit those with diabetes?15. How can plant-based diets affect an individual's weight?16. Do plant-based diets increase life expectancy?17. Why do some people become unhealthy when following a plant-based diet?Nutritional Management of Plant-Based Diets18. What are the most important nutrition guidelines to follow to maintain good health when eating vegan or vegetarian?19. What nutritional deficiencies can develop while following a plant-based diet?20. Can pregnant women have a healthy baby while following a vegetarian or vegan diet?21. Is it safe for children to follow a vegetarian or vegan diet?22. Can those with food allergies follow a plant-based diet?23. How does someone who has gastrointestinal disease follow a plant-based diet?24. Are all vegetarian and vegan foods healthy and good for you?25. Why is soy so controversial, and is it bad for health?26. What are lectins, and are they a problem when eating a vegetarian or vegan diet?Life as a Vegetarian or Vegan27. How do I transition to a plant-based diet?28. Is it difficult to eat out in restaurants or in public places when following a vegetarian or vegan diet?29. How difficult is it to grocery shop when following a vegan or vegetarian diet?30. How do I afford a vegetarian or vegan diet on a budget?31. What resources are available to support vegetarians and vegans so that meals are flavorful, healthy, and enjoyable?32. How can I convince family and friends to accept my plant-based diet choice without alienating them?33. If a vegetarian or vegan wants to begin eating meat or animal products again, how should they transition to this new diet?Case StudiesGlossaryDirectory of ResourcesIndex

Alice C. Richer, RD, MBA, LD, is a registered dietitian, certified in advanced functional and genomic nutrition, in private practice in New Hampshire, USA.

• Series ForewordIntroductionGuide to Health LiteracyCommon Misconceptions about Vegetarian and Vegan DietsQuestions and AnswersThe Basics1. What is a plant-based diet?2. What are the different types of plant-based diets?3. What is a Mediterranean diet, and how does it differ from a plant-based diet?4. How many people in the United States and worldwide follow a plant-based diet, and are these diets becoming more popular?5. What concerns about animals might motivate an individual to change to a plant-based diet?6. What are the environmental factors that might influence an individual to transition to a vegetarian or vegan diet?7. Do religious or cultural factors influence plant-based diet choices?Plant-Based Diets and Health8. What are the potential health benefits of plant-based diets?9. What are the potential negative health consequences of following a plant-based diet?10. Do genetics influence whether or not a plant-based diet is healthy for an individual?11. What impact do plant-based diets have on the gastrointestinal microbiome?12. What is the China study, and how does it relate to plant-based diets?13. Can plant-based diets benefit those with cardiovascular disease?14. Can plant-based diets benefit those with diabetes?15. How can plant-based diets affect an individual's weight?16. Do plant-based diets increase life expectancy?17. Why do some people become unhealthy when following a plant-based diet?Nutritional Management of Plant-Based Diets18. What are the most important nutrition guidelines to follow to maintain good health when eating vegan or vegetarian?19. What nutritional deficiencies can develop while following a plant-based diet?20. Can pregnant women have a healthy baby while following a vegetarian or vegan diet?21. Is it safe for children to follow a vegetarian or vegan diet?22. Can those with food allergies follow a plant-based diet?23. How does someone who has gastrointestinal disease follow a plant-based diet?24. Are all vegetarian and vegan foods healthy and good for you?25. Why is soy so controversial, and is it bad for health?26. What are lectins, and are they a problem when eating a vegetarian or vegan diet?Life as a Vegetarian or Vegan27. How do I transition to a plant-based diet?28. Is it difficult to eat out in restaurants or in public places when following a vegetarian or vegan diet?29. How difficult is it to grocery shop when following a vegan or vegetarian diet?30. How do I afford a vegetarian or vegan diet on a budget?31. What resources are available to support vegetarians and vegans so that meals are flavorful, healthy, and enjoyable?32. How can I convince family and friends to accept my plant-based diet choice without alienating them?33. If a vegetarian or vegan wants to begin eating meat or animal products again, how should they transition to this new diet?Case StudiesGlossaryDirectory of ResourcesIndex