Friday, January 27, 2012

George Jacobs - On Why it is ok to be a vegetarian.

Note:

If you are keen and have queries, please contact Coach Rameshon at 9100 4369 or you can email him at m.rameshon@gmail.com or swift.rameshon@gmail.com. Please refer to website http://flexifitness.com.sg (for more information on him and his programmes)

By Rameshon
Bsc (Hons) Degree in Physical Education, Loughborough University (1992-1994)
Masters in Education (University of Western Australia, 2005-2008)

George Jacobs has written on why being a vegetarian is a healthy choice after all. I believe that vegetarians are not deprived of any form of deficiency that will make them unhealthy. 

Having said that I feel that vegetarian should eat a balanced diet and they will feel great. In Today's paper, George gave some salient points on how it is ok to be a vegetarian. As for me, being vegetarian has helped me in doing well in running and to the best out of me. Now, let us hear from George himself.

TODAY Paper
WEDNESDAY JANUARY 25, 2012, Page 13. 
By George Jacobs - President of Vegetarian Society.

I refer to the letter “Being vegetarian might not be the healthiest choice’ (Jan 10). The American Dietetic Association took a position in 2009 that “appropriately planned vegetarian diets, including total vegetarian or vegan diets, are healthful, nutritionally adequate and may provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases”.

It said: “Well-planned vegetarian diets are appropriate for individuals during all stages of the life-cycle, including pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood, adolescence and for athletes.” 

Our Health Promotion Board states that “a well-balanced and healthy vegetarian diet” is associated with lower blood cholesterol levels and reduced risk of death from heart disease. 

One of the oldest persons in Singapore was Ms Teresa Hsu, a lifelong vegetarian, who died last year at the age of 113. 

Singapore’s record holder in the marathon, Mr M Rameshon, is a vegetarian. Another Singapore vegetarian, Mr Ang Hwee, has won medals in weight-lifting competitions overseas. One of our top blood donors, Mr Goh Joo Heng, who has donated whole blood or platelets more than 100 times, is a vegetarian. Protein is probably people’s biggest concern when they begin to substitute animal food for plant food. However, many plant foods, including beans, other legumes, nuts, seeds and whole grains, contain large quantities of protein.

Among plant foods, with iron are green leafy vegetables, lentils, legumes and dried fruit. There is calcium in soy products (including tempeh, tofu and soy milk), foods fortified with calcium, green leafy vegetables, broccoli, Chinese cabbage, sesame seeds and almonds. Vegetarians obtain Omega 3 from flax seeds and walnuts.

Millions of people in India have been vegetarians for generations. How can that be if we need to eat fish?

Vegetarians can take vegetarian B12 supplements, which are available at a reasonable cost, and some foods are fortified with B12. 

Health is complicated. Each person is different, and the same person differs at different times in their life, Consultation with a health professional is essential. 
 
www.runningcoachsg.com


Note:

By Narayanan
Rameshon has taught in Hwa Chong Institution, plus several schools, and Republic Polytechnic as well. He has won many accolades and he was awarded Merit Award for 1991 marathon performance in breaking the national record of Singapore, at that time. He has made 22 male athletes do a marathon in sub-3hrs. He has made 7 female runners do sub-4 hours for the marathon, as well. He was inducted to the ‘Roll of Honour’  by the then College of Physical Education, organised by Singapore Olympic Academy, in 1998, for breaking the National record repeatedly 4 times, till he did 2hr 24min 22sec).

He also has a Coaching group and he trains them on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7pm at Botanic Gardens. Those interested can call him at 91004369 for coaching assistance, to improve performance. There is also personal training that he does for many in a week. You can e-mail him at swift.rameshon@gmail.com.