If you're going to put your children on your diet (whatever it is), you really have to ensure that they are getting the right nutrients otherwise you are just abusing them. It is the responsibility of the parent to realize that their diet lacks calcium and they should have figured out ways to replace it:
A girl of 12 brought up by her parents on a strict vegan diet has bee en admitted to hospital with a degenerative bone condition said to have left her with the spine of an 80-year-old.(via)Doctors are under pressure to report the couple, from Glasgow, to police and social workers amid concerns her health and welfare may have been neglected in pursuit of their beliefs.
The youngster, fed on a strict meat- and dairy-free diet from birth, is being treated at the city's Royal Hospital for Sick Children. She is said to have a severe form of rickets and to have suffered a number of fractured bones. The condition is caused by a lack of vitamin D, which is needed to absorb calcium and is found in liver, oily fish and dairy produce.
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"But don't you recall the Biblical history of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego? The King's men ate meat and drank wine while these three chosen by God ate vegetables, and after ten days, who was stronger? From a Reformed perspective, even though I really enjoy your column, I have to say you seem perilously close to contradicting Scripture by reporting the "facts" here."
Rob, don't try to do the Reformed perspective, you obviously don't understand it.
As a vegan of only 2 weeks, I must make the comment that yes everyone's diet should be varied, but veganism has nothing to do with ill-health. A lack of meat, dairy and egg can even be more beneficial to the body than eating it regularly as long as each person is sensible...but it goes without saying that if a person rejects medical advice they will get ill.
It's not about being a meat-eater or being a vegan or vege, it's about common sense.
Rob, don't try to do the Reformed perspective, you obviously don't understand it.
Doesn't that make this a teachable moment? I don't understand why you are so rude to commenters and reflect so little humility about your own understanding. It gives a poor impression of your denomination. I thought you wanted to use this forum to help explain Reformed positions and gain a better understanding of others?
As for the merits of your post, I am sure we all agree that parents are responsible for making sure their children get all the nutrients they need and that this is possible on a vegan diet. But what are you recommending here? How should the parents be held accountable? Are you suggesting intervention by the government? Reporting requirements for the doctors or teachers? How would that work?
And, DC, eliciting the teaching was the point of my post. Thank you for recognizing this. I have nowhere claimed to be Reformed, but I welcome a Biblical, or at least consistent, spiritual commentary on this topic.
Would anyone be interested in my perspective as a chemist? Not an MD, RD, or health practitioner, just as someone who works out some of the mechanics of formulating pharmaceuticals for a living? I have co-authored with some well known MDs and RDs and have published on osteoporosis medications.
For people who eat meat and dairy, the problems are typically (1) the gut can only absorb about 1/3 to 1/2 of the daily needs of calcium from any one meal and (2) the hormones that activate the transportation of calcium into bones depend on vitamin K. Don't eat your green veggies at least once or twice a week (and preferably with some kind of oil, since vitamin K is fat-soluble), and you tend to have problems with bone mass as you get older. Calcium isn't enough, phosphate isn't a problem if you eat meat, vitamin K and vitamin D are the limiting reagents, if you'll forgive my expressing the process from my own professional perspective.
For children not given meat and dairy, bone health is, again, possible, because it is possible to get calcium from plant sources. Here the problem typically is phytate in other plant foods blocking the absorption of the calcium. Anything especially fibrous or rich in tannins interferes with mineral elements, but vitamins, other than D, usually aren't the problem.
I commend anyone who pursues a vegan diet on moral principle, Biblical or otherwise. It just requires a lot more planning to make sure kids get nutrients. I have on a couple of occasions, by the way, consulted to doctors on formulating supplements for kids with kwashiokor and rickets--in Atlanta.
Now, I'll leave to those who tell me I just don't understand to translate this into spiritual terms.
mccain is pushing 80. he has the spine of a 12 year old vegan.
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