Transition to Vegetarianism: An Evolutionary Step [Paperback]

Rudolph Ballentine (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1990

Written by the author of the popular nutrition classic, Diet and Nutrition, this book explores the health issues surrounding vegetarianism and helps the aspiring vegetarian make the transition in a way that provides the greatest health benefits. The book is well researched, easy to read, and an excellent resource for both the seasoned and would-be vegetarian.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

As Americans become increasingly aware of the health hazards posed by a traditional meat-and-potatoes diet, vegetarianism becomes less esoteric and more appealing. The author of Diet and Nutrition: A Holistic Approach here presents information and arguments on how and why one should switch to a vegetarian diet. A medical doctor, Ballentine warns against making the transition too quickly and advocates a gradual withdrawal from red meat, poultry and fish, combined with a gradual increase in other sources of proteins and vitamins. Supported with footnotes and documentation, this book will make vegetarians even more grateful to have changed and may persuade would-be vegetarians to persevere, but it's doubtful whether it will stop meateaters from having another burger.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"A useful and thorough guide, designed for real people in real-life situations." -- John Feltzman Managing Editor, Prevention Magazine

"This easy-to-read. . . paperback should be of real value to nutritionists and to the well-educated public considering the possible advantages of a lactovegetarian diet. It is highly recommended." -- Albert I. Mendeloff, M.D. Editor-in-Chief, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 309 pages
• Publisher: Himalayan Inst Pr (October 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0893891045
• ISBN-13: 978-0893891046
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,285,946 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent info on vegetarian and part-vegetarian diets, October 10, 2000

By 

"pittsburgh_scene" (Pittsburgh, PA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Transition to Vegetarianism: An Evolutionary Step (Paperback)

Most people can't stop eating meat one day and put a red "X" on the plate instead. Unless you live in a culture like India, or eat lots of beans and rice, it takes a bit of adjustment to move to a plant-based diet.

When newly minted militant vegetarian friends reject the idea of starting out by simply eating less meat, this book is the place to turn for support. After twenty years of shepherding people toward a more vegetarian diet, I've seen definite trends that emerge when giving up meat: persistent cheese-eating, a plethora of omelet dishes, a sudden craving for peanut butter, etc. This guide gives sound practical explanations about why these cravings happen; it also gives suggestions for maintaining nutrition without going overboard on fat. Vegans will be unhappy with the assertion that a plant-based diet with some milk products is a typical solution for Americans, but realistically, how many of us are willing to do what it takes to maintain a strictly vegan diet the rest of our lives? And as additional research emerges on fatty acids (such as Omega-3 and Omega-6 oils) there seems to be an increasing number of reasons to consider fish as a practical substitute for supplements like hempseed or flaxseed oil.

Over the years, I've heard countless people wake up to nutrition and tell me they've discovered the "only healthy diet there is." Every one of those diets has been different! Rather than rushing out to try someone else's diet, I'd recommend looking at Dr. Ballentine's set of guidelines first. This is one of the only books on vegetarianism I know that doesn't tell you "here's the best diet." Instead, the author presents the pros and cons of various food options, and gives you a reasonable way to work towards a diet which suits both your body and your life situation.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The pros and cons of a vegetarian diet, February 9, 2001

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Transition to Vegetarianism: An Evolutionary Step (Paperback)

In Transition To Vegetarianism: An Evolutionary Step, Doctor Rudolpf Ballentine presents an informed and persuasive survey of the value and reasoning to a vegetarian diet. Dr. Ballentine's informative text is laced with health relevant information such as meat-eaters having three times as many heart attacks as vegetarians, that a vegetarian diet decreases osteoporosis dramatically, that in endurance tests vegetarians had more than twice the stamina and strength of meat-eaters, and that the vegetarian diet is a time-honored technique for promoting alertness and clarity of consciousness. Ideal for the non-specialist general reader, Transition To Vegetarianism covers red meat, poultry, fish, and the question of milk and eggs in a vegetarian diet. If you are considering the pros and cons of a vegetarian diet for yourself, begin with reading Dr. Rudolf Ballentine's Transition To Vegetarianism.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Very Wise Guide, July 13, 2000

By 

Tom Jones (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Transition to Vegetarianism: An Evolutionary Step (Paperback)

I wish I had this book when I first eliminated meat from my diet - it would have saved me a LOT of grief and prevented some pretty bad dietary habits. It gives a unique and well-grounded approach to becoming a vegetarian or shaping up your diet if you're already vegetarian. It does say that eating dairy can be helpful, which there is some controversy on, but even many experts who are anti-dairy object to milk products mainly because they are packed with hormones, pasteurized, and homogenized. When dairy is pure, organic, and fresh it's a good source of nutrition when used properly and in moderation. Also, the book says you should eat dairy OR fish as a supplement to a vegan diet, which makes sense when you look at the traditional diets of native cultures around the world - I don't know of any that are purely vegan. Rudolph Ballentine seems to be a very wise author with a lot of grounded perspective on holistic nutrition.