People love to tell me what they eat…

Since joining Vegetarian Times as senior articles editor, I've noticed that whenever I tell people what I do, the comeback (usually guilt stricken) goes something like this: "Oh, I'm really trying to eat better," or "I've cut back a lot on red meat," or "I'm a vegetarian, too...mostly." Sometimes it feels like I'm playing a starring role in True (Food) Confessions.

Truly, I can't remember a time when so many people were so concerned about the food they eat--and the food they don't. Unlike the '80s, characterized by a fitness for fashion ethic--"I look great, therefore I am"--the '90s have shaped up to have a much broader approach to health--"I feel great, therefore I am." For the first time since the advent of modem medicine, we, as individuals, are being empowered to take charge of ourselves. As a result, American society has jumped on a bullet train of health awareness that's only beginning to pick up speed.

As we went to press in November, several extraordinary events occurred to drive this point home. First, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) gave its stamp of approval to acupuncture (see p. 20), citing "clear evidence" that it relieves nausea and postsurgical dental pain. In the wake of that now-famous 1993 New England Journal of Medicine study--that found one in three Americans sampling alternative medicine--acupuncture, which has enjoyed centuries of success as a cornerstone of Eastern medicine, has finally found a place within the canon of Western medicine. With the government's blessing, perhaps more insurance companies will now cover it.

Along with consumers' fast-track acceptance of alternative medicine is a growing appreciation that good health starts with a good diet. So we were immensely gratified to see things cooking on the food front as dell. Within a day or two of the NIH's breathtaking statement, the American Dietetic Association (ADA) gave the thumbs up to vegetarianism, citing several studies that show vegetarians have lower rates of hypertension, non-insulin dependent diabetes and coronary artery disease along with a lower risk for lung and breast cancers. Plus, we're pleased to note,' the ADA finally put the protein myth to rest, stating unequivocably that "plant sources of protein alone" are adequate provided one's diet is varied and contains enough calories.

But wait There's more. Indeed our cup runneth over. On the heels of the ADA announcement, came the new Vegetarian Diet Pyramid, introduced at the International Conference on Vegetarian Diets, held in Texas and sponsored in part by this magazine (see p. 18). It was developed by Oldways Preservation & Exchange Trust, the nonprofit group responsible for bringing us the Latin, Asian and Mediterranean pyramids. This is big. Really big. And not just because Oldways has included daily exercise as the very base of its new pyramid (a radical move that clearly underscores the numerous studies that show regular workouts lower your risk of disease). No, this is big news because the Vegetarian Pyramid ultimately validates a lifestyle that hasn't received its due in terms of the huge benefits it conveys. With this endeavor, Oldways celebrates vegetarianism's diversity, promoting a new model for healthful living. I can just hear the slogans now: "We're here! We're not eating steer! Get used to it!"

Of course, at Vegetarian Times, we've touted the Good Food = Good Health philosophy for decades. Indeed, it's a theme that runs through the entire magazine: In this issue, Healing Winter Meals (p. 42) provides recipes to keep illness at bay; Eat To Win (p. 60) tells you how to fuel athletic performance; and 30 Things You Should Know About Nutritional Supplements (p. 66) unscrambles the alphabet soup of vitamins and supplements. Hippocrates said that food should be our medicine; from the looks of things, we're finally heeding his wisdom.

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