Author: Virginia Messina, with JL Fields
Publisher: Da Capo Press – Lifelong Books (A member of the Perseus Books Group)
Book Review by: Laxmi Chaandi

Many books have been written on the benefits of a plant-based diet, including the landmark work The China Study whose research findings proved conclusively that eating excessive amounts of meat was found to be one of the leading cause of deadly diseases such as cancer, diabetes, heart attacks, hypertension, and others.

That book was about conclusions arrived at from data gathered from thousands of people,  the subjects in the massive research studies conducted by the Chinese government. But the authors also conducted their own detailed, comparative studies between Americans and Chinese and found that many more Americans had incidence of the diseases named above, that damaged their cells, tissues, arteries, and entire organs, and led to their deaths.

Yet despite the vast amounts of causal data and conclusive results from these and other research studies that show direct connections between animal-based food and the various diseases that cause death and debilitation, many people in the United States still continue to consume large amounts of meat: red meat such as beef, lamb, pork, and white meat such as chicken, duck and other fowls. To top that, they do not exercise.

Vegetarians do not eat meat but vegans go a few steps further by avoiding all meat as well as dairy and other products from animals, such as cheese, honey, ice cream, milk, yogurt and others. Some also check the contents of manufactured foods to see if they contain dairy products or honey. Others also avoid clothing and other products made from animals, such as fur, hair, leather and bones.

The word vegan was coined about 70 years ago by Donald Watson in England. He wrote that veganism “was a way of living that seeks to exclude, as far as possible and practicable, all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing and any other purpose.”

Books on veganism abound, but this one is focused on the benefits of a vegan diet and lifestyle for women in particular. You will find an entire section of this book (Part II, with chapters four through eight) dealing with matters relating to the health of females. You will also find chapters in other sections that address issues of vital importance to women, such as chapter 11, Preventing Breast Cancer.        

It has four main sections, namely:

Part One: Going Vegan
Part Two: Healthy Eating for All the Times of a Woman’s Life
Part Three: Lifelong Health for Vegan Women
Part Four: Recipes

Among the health and lifecycle issues that this material directed to women deals with are:  birth control, breast cancer, breastfeeding, bulimia, estrogen, fertility, hormones, hot flashes, menopause, menstruation, osteoporosis, ovarian cancer, pregnancy, and others.

It also addresses matters of concern to both men and women, but relate to women in different ways, particularly problems caused by consuming the wrong kinds and quantities of foods and drinks. Some of these are: aging, alcohol, athletics, body mass index, calories, cataracts, cholesterol, dementia, depression, fibromyalgia, lactose intolerance, obesity, weight gain or loss, and other topics.

This book is unique for the fact that it is probably the first or only one out there that relates to women who are either already vegans or are considering to adopt a vegan life style but want to discover its benefits and drawbacks before making that decision. It is written by two women who live, study and write about the vegan way of living, so it is an authoritative guide for you.

Virginia Messina, MPH, RD, writes and speaks on vegan nutrition for consumers and health professionals. She is the author of eight books, and the coauthor of Vegan for Life. (that was also reviewed on www.BizIndia.net, go to: http://www.bizindia.net/?p=1202). She lives in Washington State. Visit her website to learn more: www.TheVeganRd.com

JL Fields is a vegan lifestyle coach, poat-40 athlete, and noted food blogger. She serves on the board of directors of Our Hen House and lives in Colorado. Visit her website to learn more: www.JLGoesVegan.com