 The
Thaxton case sets a legal precedent of prejudicial action against those
who raise vegetarian/vegan children and follow meat- and dairy-free diets.
Conversely, one could easily bring "dietary abuse" charges against parents
who feed kids a diet heavy in meat and dairy.
These are statements below are from Medical Establishment supporting the Thaxton's dietary/ lifestyle choices: "Vegan diets are appropriate for all stages of the life cycle, including during pregnancy and lactation." American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 1994;59(suppl):1176S-1181S. --"We now live in a world of Salmonella-tainted chickens, Listeria-covered cheeses, and beefburgers laced with estrogenic hormones and residues of potent antibiotics. There are very good reasons why parents would want to raise their son or daughter without fatty and contaminated meat and dairy products pouring through the child's bloodstream each day." Michael Klaper, M.D., author of Pregnancy, Children and the Vegan Diet --1 of 2 Americans will die from heart disease. The excess saturated fat (mostly from animals) and cholesterol (completely from animals) will be the cause in almost every case. The American Dietetic Association claims that vegetarian diets reduce the risk for coronary artery disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, colorectal cancer, lung cancer, kidney disease, and obesity. --One in six teenagers' hearts showed significant blockage and the arteries of five-year-olds were clogged with fatty patches.1999 American Heart Association Scientific Sessions report --Cancer, the number two U.S. killer, is similarly associated with our huge consumption of animal fat and protein. --"Cow's milk has become a point of controversy among doctors and nutritionists. There was a time when it was considered very desirable, but research has forced us to rethink this recommendation...dairy products contribute to a surprising number of health problems (including) chronic ear problems..." Benjamin Spock, M.D., "Child Care," 7th Edition --Cow's milk can cause deficiencies in iron, essential fatty acids, and vitamin E, as well as contribute to juvenile onset diabetes and colic in babies. Cow's milk, with its high levels of insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I), is associated with elevated risks for prostate cancer and breast cancer. World Cancer Research Fund and the American Institute for Cancer Research --"Milk products gave the highest correlation coefficient to heart disease, while sugar, animal proteins and animal fats came in second, third, and fourth, respectively." A Survey of Mortality Rates and Food Consumption Statistics of 24 Countries, Medical Hypothesis 7:907-918
--"Scientific data suggest positive relationships between a vegetarian diet and reduced risk for several chronic degenerative diseases and conditions, including obesity, coronary artery disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and some types of cancer." Journal of the American Dietetic Association, November 1997, 97(1) --Male meat-eaters have a 50% chance of dying of a heart attack. Vegetarian
men have a 4% risk. U.S. vegetarians have cholesterol levels 14% lower
than meat-eaters; vegans (those who don't consume meat or dairy products)
have levels 35% lower. JAMA, 1995;274:894
|
--"At
least 50% of all children in the United States are allergic to milk, many
undiagnosed. Dairy products are the leading cause of food allergy, often
revealed by constipation, diarrhea, and fatigue. Many cases of asthma and
sinus infections are reported to be relieved and even eliminated by cutting
out dairy." Natural Health, July, 1994, Frank Oski, M.D.,Chief of
Pediatrics at Johns Hopkins Medical School