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<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Hi
Donovan & Other Visionaries,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Thanks
for your response and for the opportunity to provide accurate information.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<pre><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>First, b</span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>ecause improving the nutrition available for all children who eat meals at school is very important to me, I renew my request that folks take this opportunity to contact </span><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>the USDA to encourage that vegetarian meals and non-dairy beverage options be incorporated into The Child Nutrition Act revisions currently being drafted (for those who may have missed my original post, please scroll down or go to <a
href="http://mailman.fsr.com/pipermail/vision2020/2008-September/056598.html">http://mailman.fsr.com/pipermail/vision2020/2008-September/056598.html</a>).<o:p></o:p></span></pre>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Second,
the study you cited has nothing to do with the topic I was posting about,
although through no fault of yours, no one would know that from reading the
links since the study itself wasn’t identified in the links you provided.
In case there are other science junkies like me here, feel free to check out:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><a
href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18779510?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum">http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18779510?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>OR<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><a
href="http://tinyurl.com/4e65uu">http://tinyurl.com/4e65uu</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Vitamin B12 status and rate of brain volume loss in
community-dwelling elderly.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>With
permission, I’m sharing the response I received from my contact at
Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, who has given permission for it
to be shared to anyone who may be confused:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Headlines
claiming that vegetarian and vegan diets cause "brain shrinkage" have
received quite a bit of attention recently. These headlines are based on a
recent study conducted by researchers at Oxford and published in the Journal
"Neurology". This was not a study of vegans or vegetarians. Unfortunately,
this sound research study on vitamin B12 status in older adults has been
mistakenly misconstrued by a few members of the popular media.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><a
href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18779510?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum">http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18779510?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>This
study looked at older adults, who are much more likely to be deficient in
vitamin B12 compared to younger adults. This allowed the researchers to see the
differences in brain atrophy, or "shrinkage," between groups of
people with low B12 levels vs. normal B12 levels. In fact, the researchers
found that older adults with lower B12 levels lost more brain mass over a
five-year period compared to those with higher B12 levels. But this does not
necessarily have anything to do with their diet, and because dietary intake was
not measured, there is no evidence of a relationship between a vegetarian or
vegan diet and brain volume. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>The
most common cause of B12 deficiency actually has nothing to do with diet. Rather,
some people simply cannot absorb it adequately. Normally, cells in the stomach
produce a compound called intrinsic factor, which combines with vitamin B12 and
allows it to be absorbed in the small intestine. Some people cannot make
intrinsic factor, because of various stomach disorders. They need monthly B12
injections or very large oral doses (1,000 - 2,000 mcg per day). Also, certain
medicines for acid stomach, such as omeprazole (Prilosec), esomeprazole
(Nexium), ranitidine (Zantac), or famotidine (Pepcid), interfere with the
body's ability to absorb B12. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Vegan
diets need to be supplemented with B12. However, the National Academy of
Sciences recommends that everyone over age 50 take a B12 supplement or use
B12-fortified foods, and some have suggested that this should apply to all age
groups. The reason is that about 15 percent of older meat-eaters-and some
younger ones as well-are low in B12. So, the bottom line is to take a multiple
vitamin or a B12 supplement. This is not a reason to add meat to your diet;
that would lead to far worse problems. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>The
harm in the popular media's misinterpretation of this study is twofold. First,
reporters have wrongfully implicated vegetarian and vegan diets in causing
brain shrinkage, while research continues to show the health benefits of this
plant-based eating pattern. But most regrettably, we as a community have failed
to acknowledge the value of this study, which clearly demonstrates the need to
prevent, screen, and treat vitamin B12 deficiency in older adults. While these
vulnerable members of our community go unnoticed, they continue to suffer from
preventable cognitive decline, nerve damage, personality changes, and
depression. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Furthermore,
the authors of this article noted that other risk factors for brain atrophy
include hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia. So, PCRM concludes that
those people who follow a low-fat vegan diet and take a vitamin B12 supplement
have a low risk of brain atrophy, as a low-fat vegan diet has demonstrated
improvements and reversals of all of the above risk factors. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Please
see PCRM's fact sheet on vitamin B12 for more information.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><a
href="http://www.pcrm.org/health/PDFs/faq_b12.pdf">http://www.pcrm.org/health/PDFs/faq_b12.pdf</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Best
regards,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Katie
Strong, M.S., R.D.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Staff
Dietitian<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Physicians
Committee for Responsible Medicine<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>5100
Wisconsin Ave, NW, Suite 400<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Washington,
DC 20016<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Phone:
202-686-2210 ext. 338<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Fax:
202-686-2216<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><a
href="mailto:kstrong@pcrm.org">kstrong@pcrm.org</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Saundra Lund<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Moscow, ID<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good
people to do nothing.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>~ Edmund Burke<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>***** Original material contained herein is Copyright 2008
through life plus 70 years, Saundra Lund. Do not copy, forward, excerpt,
or reproduce outside the Vision 2020 forum without the express written
permission of the author.*****<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> Donovan Arnold
[mailto:donovanjarnold2005@yahoo.com] <br>
<b>Sent:</b> Thursday, September 25, 2008 9:25 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> vision2020@moscow.com; Saundra Lund<br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [Vision2020] Care About Healthy School Nutrition for Our
Children?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal>Didn't they just find out that not eating meat shrinks the
brain?<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal>http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/HealthSci/Eating_veggies_shrinks_the_brain/articleshow/3480629.cms
<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><a
href="http://www.nowpublic.com/health/eating-veggies-shrinks-brain">http://www.nowpublic.com/health/eating-veggies-shrinks-brain</a><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><a
href="http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=28622">http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=28622</a><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal>Isn't that something the students need? I sure could have
used a bigger brain in school, now I don't need it that much, but I sure
could have used one back when I was in school.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal>Best Regards,<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal>Donovan<br>
<br>
--- On <b>Thu, 9/25/08, Saundra Lund <i><sslund_2007@verizon.net></i></b>
wrote:<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<blockquote style='border:none;border-left:solid #1010FF 1.5pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 4.0pt;
margin-left:3.75pt;margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>From: Saundra Lund
<sslund_2007@verizon.net><br>
Subject: [Vision2020] Care About Healthy School Nutrition for Our Children?<br>
To: vision2020@moscow.com<br>
Date: Thursday, September 25, 2008, 11:11 AM<o:p></o:p></p>
<pre>If so, then I urge you to contact Mr. Robert M. Eadie, Policy and Program<o:p></o:p></pre><pre>Planning Branch Chief for the USDA to encourage that vegetarian meals and<o:p></o:p></pre><pre>non-dairy beverage options be incorporated into The Child Nutrition Act<o:p></o:p></pre><pre>revisions currently being drafted.<o:p></o:p></pre><pre><o:p> </o:p></pre><pre>You can contact Mr. Eadie by letter, fax, or email at:<o:p></o:p></pre><pre><o:p> </o:p></pre><pre>Mr. Robert M. Eadie, Policy and Program Planning Branch Chief<o:p></o:p></pre><pre>U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service<o:p></o:p></pre><pre>3101 Park Center Drive, Room 640<o:p></o:p></pre><pre>Alexandria, VA 22302-1594<o:p></o:p></pre><pre>E-mail: robert.eadie@fns.usda.gov<o:p></o:p></pre><pre>Fax: (703) 305-2879<o:p></o:p></pre><pre><o:p> </o:p></pre><pre>You can learn more about what we can do to provide healthy meal options in<o:p></o:p></pre><pre>our schools at:<o:p></o:p></pre><pre>http://www.healthyschoollunches.org/<o:p></o:p></pre><pre><o:p> </o:p></pre><pre>For those who don't want to have to reinvent the wheel, below is a copy of<o:p></o:p></pre><pre>our letter:<o:p></o:p></pre><pre><o:p> </o:p></pre><pre>Dear Mr. Eadie,<o:p></o:p></pre><pre><o:p> </o:p></pre><pre>Although neither of us are vegetarian, our daughter took the "Pledge to be<o:p></o:p></pre><pre>Veg" when she was in the seventh grade. She graduated from high school in<o:p></o:p></pre><pre>June, and she remained vegetarian in spite of the challenges school<o:p></o:p></pre><pre>breakfasts and lunches provided throughout the years. And, out of the group<o:p></o:p></pre><pre>of friends who took the Pledge, all 11 of them remain vegetarian today.<o:p></o:p></pre><pre><o:p> </o:p></pre><pre>Many children do not consume animal products due to ethical, religious, or<o:p></o:p></pre><pre>health reasons. Children of color are especially likely to need an<o:p></o:p></pre><pre>alternative to regular cow's milk, due to lactose intolerance. It is<o:p></o:p></pre><pre>***essential*** that the National School Lunch Program accommodate all<o:p></o:p></pre><pre>students! The American Medical Association and American Public Health<o:p></o:p></pre><pre>Association already support efforts to provide vegetables, fruits, legumes,<o:p></o:p></pre><pre>grains, vegetarian foods, and healthful nondairy beverages in school lunches<o:p></o:p></pre><pre>and food assistance programs.<o:p></o:p></pre><pre><o:p> </o:p></pre><pre>We ask the USDA to include these items when the Child Nutrition Act is<o:p></o:p></pre><pre>reauthorized next year:<o:p></o:p></pre><pre>- Nondairy beverage alternatives should be available and reimbursable<o:p></o:p></pre><pre>without a note wherever cow's milk is provided. Offering all students a<o:p></o:p></pre><pre>nutritious nondairy beverage will reduce saturated fat consumption and<o:p></o:p></pre><pre>increase overall program participation. <o:p></o:p></pre><pre><o:p> </o:p></pre><pre>-- Vegetarian meal options should be available every day, as trailblazing<o:p></o:p></pre><pre>states such as California, Florida, Hawaii, and New York have already<o:p></o:p></pre><pre>recommended. Whether a student consumes a vegetarian diet or chooses an<o:p></o:p></pre><pre>occasional vegetarian meal, experts agree that plant-based foods are healthy<o:p></o:p></pre><pre>choices for all children.<o:p></o:p></pre><pre><o:p> </o:p></pre><pre>-- Nondairy vegetarian commodity foods should be readily available to<o:p></o:p></pre><pre>schools. The USDA should provide schools with more fresh fruits and<o:p></o:p></pre><pre>vegetables and plant-based entrées to help meet the demand for these<o:p></o:p></pre><pre>healthful foods. The USDA and Congress should shift federal subsidies so<o:p></o:p></pre><pre>that they support child health rather than agricultural interests.<o:p></o:p></pre><pre><o:p> </o:p></pre><pre>We join the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, the American<o:p></o:p></pre><pre>Medical Association, and the American Public Health Association in asking<o:p></o:p></pre><pre>the USDA to provide healthful vegetarian foods including vegetables, fruits,<o:p></o:p></pre><pre>legumes, grains, and nutritious nondairy beverages in schools. Increasing<o:p></o:p></pre><pre>access to low-fat, cholesterol-free, vegetarian foods will help mitigate the<o:p></o:p></pre><pre>rising prevalence of obesity and other chronic diseases.<o:p></o:p></pre><pre><o:p> </o:p></pre><pre><o:p> </o:p></pre><pre>Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></pre><pre>Saundra & Bill Lund<o:p></o:p></pre><pre><snip><o:p></o:p></pre><pre>_____<o:p></o:p></pre><pre><o:p> </o:p></pre><pre>Saundra Lund<o:p></o:p></pre><pre>Moscow, ID<o:p></o:p></pre><pre><o:p> </o:p></pre><pre>Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.<o:p></o:p></pre><pre>~ Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.<o:p></o:p></pre><pre><o:p> </o:p></pre><pre><o:p> </o:p></pre><pre>=======================================================<o:p></o:p></pre><pre> List services made available by First Step Internet, <o:p></o:p></pre><pre> serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994. <o:p></o:p></pre><pre> http://www.fsr.net <o:p></o:p></pre><pre> mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com<o:p></o:p></pre><pre>=======================================================<o:p></o:p></pre></blockquote>
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