Nutritional Pearls: The Health Risks for Vegetarians

Your patient is a 30-year-old woman who recently became a vegetarian. At a recent well visit, she tells you that she made the change after reading about how the diet could lower her risk of heart disease. She asks if there is anything else she should know about the diet, and whether there are any that may be better for her to follow instead.

How do you advise your patient?

(Answer and discussion on next page)

Dr. Gourmet is the definitive health and nutrition web resource for both physicians and patients with evidence-based resources including special diets for warfarin users, patients with GERD/acid reflux, celiac disease, type 2 diabetes, low sodium diets (1500 mg/d), and lactose intolerance. 

Timothy S. Harlan, MD, is a board-certified internist and professional chef who translates the Mediterranean diet for the American kitchen with familiar, healthy recipes. He is an assistant dean for clinical services, executive director of The Goldring Center for Culinary Medicine, associate professor of medicine at Tulane University in New Orleans, faculty chair of the all-new Certified Culinary Medicine Specialist program.