Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
a species, were never meant to drink the milk of cattle. Scientists
think that when a baby's immune system mounts a response to
this invasion of foreign cow proteins, the baby's own pancreas
may be damaged in the assault, resulting in a diabetic insulin-
dependence for life.
Kids are supposed to grow up healthy—not constantly suffer-
ing from recurrent ear infections, stomachaches, headaches,
and runny noses. Animal products have been linked to childhood
asthma, allergies, and infection. Most parents probably just don't
know any better because, unfortunately, most pediatricians prob-
ably don't either.
Not only may kids who eat healthy vegan diets get sick less of-
ten, veg kids studied in the United States grow up taller and leaner
than their peers, and studies in the United Kingdom even suggest
that veg kids are smarter. Not only have studies shown that veg-
etarian kids tend to develop higher IQs, the reverse has also been
shown to be true: Kids with higher IQs are more likely to choose to
become vegetarian themselves. Smart kids indeed!
Starting children out right gives them an early lead on develop-
ing enduring, healthy eating habits. Studies of vegetarian teens
show that they are much more likely to meet healthy eating goals
of consuming less saturated fat, more fiber, and more fruits and
vegetables, rather than consuming more soda and junk food.
A healthful and humane diet does more than just present a good
role model as children grow older. Research on what's called “fla-
vor programming” shows the remarkable effect that exposing ba-
bies to the tastes of different foods can have on their future likes
and dislikes. Flavors of foods can get into breast milk and even am-
niotic fluid before birth. Eating healthy foods during pregnancy can
set up children for a lifelong love of healthy foods.
People unfamiliar with cruelty-free diets immediately think such
a diet is restrictive in its choices. But, as Leo started on solids, we
