The American Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND), the most prestigious association of nutritionists in the world, has published the 2016 update of its official position regarding vegetarian diets, issued for the first time in 1987 and periodically renewed
With more than 100 bibliographic references, the current positioning of the AND summarizes the most up-to-date data published in the scientific literature of this field.
In the 2016 position, as in all of the preceding, it ratifies that vegetarian diets (lacto-ovo-vegetarian and vegan diets) are healthy, may provide health benefits for the prevention and treatment of certain diseases, and are environmentally sustainable. These diets are not only suitable for all stages of the life cycle (pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood, adolescence etc.), but also effective in reducing the risk of certain health conditions, including ischemic heart disease, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, certain types of cancer, and obesity.
The vegetarian diet is increasingly seen as an alternative food model based on ethical, health and ecological principles. In this context, the Ibero-American University Foundation (FUNIBER), in collaboration with the Polytechnic University delle Marche (Italy), offer, since the academic year 2010/2011, the Master’s Degree in Vegetarian Nutrition and Dietetics.
This Master’s Degree, unique in Europe, was born of the need to train health professionals that are able to meet the clients’ and patients’ requests with professionalism and human sensitivity. Moreover, it seeks to provide timely and correct knowledge to those who are interested in pursuing this nutritional path with a proper understanding of the theoretical and practical principles that represent the foundations of the vegetarian diet in all its variants, as well as the clinical implications in the prevention and treatment of major chronic-degenerative pathologies.
During these years, the Master’s Degree in Vegetarian Nutrition and Dietetics has responded to the growing demand, offering professionals the tools to respond to their exigencies and to those who prefer this kind of nutrition.
Because it adapts itself to the positions published by international organizations of high scientific level, the Master’s Degree in Vegetarian Nutrition and Dietetics is a reference for nutrition professionals. It provides an agile and effective system of training and competences in this particular field of Food Science.
The AND’s Position Paper of 2016 can be found in the following link:
The official position of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) was first adopted by the United States House of Representatives on October 18th 1987 and reaffirmed on September 12th 1992, September 6th 1996, June 22nd 2000, June 11th 2006 and December 19th 2012.
For further information about the Master’s Degree in Vegetarian Nutrition and Dietetics: