We are a group of parents that want to share their knowledge and their experiences with other parents of brain injured children.

Our reviews try to be the most accurate, precise and objective, like an observational study should be done.
We write here our own experiences with Dr. Gunvant Oswal's G-Therapy in the hope that someday, these will be useful for other needy people and give them the hope they need to face their disease.

VEGETARIANISM: WHY THIS SHOULD BE THE BEST DIET FOR OUR CHILDREN

Is it possible that a vegetarian diet improves our health or prevents illnesses?

It’s been many years since researchers demonstrated that a diet rich in animal proteins (especially meat) could be the principle cause of many diseases, first of all cancer, cardio-circulatory problems and gastro-intestinal issues.

Consequently, nowadays more and more doctors are changing their opinions about meat consumption.

Biologists demonstrated that human body is not perfectly structured to digest meat.

Carnivores has a short intestine (3 times the length of their bodies) so that meat, which rots quickly, producing toxins, is expelled quickly as well.

Herbivores has longer intestines since vegetables putrefaction is slower; their intestines are 6 times the length of their bodies. So it is the human intestine.

Many anthropologists say that even if historically man is omnivore, anatomically is herbivore: the teeth, jaws and the digestive system of man are in fact mainly designed for a meat-free diet

Moreover, nowadays, intensive breeding produces a meat that is full of hormones, antibiotics, drugs and medicines. And so we find ourselves eating these substances too, even without knowing it.

Many kind of meat, such as salami and sausages, are full of preservatives, nitrates and flavour enhancer. These substances are well known for their negative effects on human health and on human brain activity.

The excessive consumption of proteins can create toxins and digestive difficulties both in the liver and in the intestine, creating a sense of fatigue and tiredness.

But can a vegetarian diet be enough to provide everything our body needs?

It has been demonstrated that are necessary just 0,8g of proteins every kg of weight.

So, a child of 20 kg, should need just 16 g of proteins, that could be obtained from 50g of legumes and a glass of milk (or a piece of cheese) a day.

And think that 100g of dried fruits (nuts, peanuts, pine nuts, hazelnuts or pistachios) bring to our bodies about 20g of proteins. It’s a huge amount, similar to 100g of meat.

And for what concerns the assumption of all essential aminoacids, now is largely known that the concomitant intake of legumes and unrefined cereals brings to our body all the essential aminoacids that it needs (and that it would also find in a steak).

And with the intake of dairy products, we preserve our bodies from lack of B12 Vitamin, that can be found in animal products only.

Which is my own experience with vegetarian diet?

Before making our daughter starting G-Therapy, we asked dr. Oswal which was the best kind of diet for her.

He is a wise man that always respects everyone's thought and lifestyle, without imposing his point of view. He said that if we wanted to change our diet, it would be better to avoid meat.

So he suggested vegan diet (telling us that according to his point of view, vegans eat also dairy products), just as The Vedas suggest. He follows this kind of diet too, and thinks that this would be suitable for our child.

In conclusion, we have switched gradually to a vegetarian/vegan diet since our daughter is on G-therapy.

Moreover, we try to avoid prepared or preserved food and try to do everything from scratch.

Avoiding artificial flavours, flavour enhancers, preservatives, chemical additives in general and even artificial or natural flavourings is of great importance from our point of view.

So, it has been almost 10 years since we started consuming organic food. If we can find a food that is organically grown and processed, we choose it instead of the “conventional” one.

We generally consume organic fruits and vegetables, organic cereals and pasta and use organic flour for our baking goods.

We try to find cheese made with microbial rennet, to avoid the animal rennet (which involves calves’ death for dairy production).

Nowadays is much easier finding all your food in the “organic version” and also prices are more affordable.

And it’s much easier than you’d think. You do not need to just eat salad. There are so many foods and possibilities that you’d never thought!

Actually, you can eat everything except meat and fish and eggs. Everything else!

Any example?

For breakfast there is milk or yogurt, cookies, cereals or porridge or vegan croissants, coffee, tea, fruit juice or fruit and vegetable extracts…

I tried with success lots of different yummy recipes of cookies and cakes without eggs. Actually I prepare delicious meringues, waffles and biscuits without eggs and milk!

For lunch, as we are Italians, we generally have a main course made of pasta or rice with vegetables (and sometimes also legumes, like rice and peas, pasta and beans, which are dishes typical of northern Italy).

As snack, rice pudding, or milk and cookies, apple pie, dried fruits (almond puree or cashew puree can be mixed with yogurt and fruits for a complete and healthy snack).

For dinner we generally have a protein that could be: legumes (we use lentils, mung beans, cannellini beans, red or black Mexican beans, chickpeas, green peas, azuki beans, sweet yellow peas) or cheese or seitan (note that seitan should not be used for children under 3 years of age) or tofu, with vegetables and bread.

And pizza, of course...is vegetarian! And with a good amount of vegetables over the cheese, is healthier! ;)

There are so many ways you can cook legumes: soups, Indian dahls, hummus, creams, casseroles, quiche or savoury cakes, no-meat meatballs, baked or fried omelette (with legume flour and no egg).

So different things in every meal of the week!

The WHO (World Health Organization) suggests that children under the age of 12 should eat carbohydrates in every meal (so pasta, rice, bread, crackers should never miss our table – better if sometimes we use them with wholemeal flours).

We would love to discuss with you tips and also recipes and exchange opinions about our kids' diet.
Please write us at info@g-therapyreviews.eu and we could build up a section of “favourite vegetarian recipes” on this website with all our ideas!

We are a group of parents that want to share their knowledge and their experiences with other parents of brain injured children.