World Vegetarian Congress - Edinburgh, Scotland, Summer 2002 - Ruth Heidrich

The Vegetarian Society
of the United Kingdom

Ruth Heidrich
Friday - 7.00am - Morning run with Iron Lady
Saturday - 7.00am - early morning activity with Iron Lady
Saturday 10.00am - 11.00am : The Calcium Deficiency Myth (Workshop)
Saturday, plenary session - 4.30pm - 6.15pm : " A Race for Life"

Osteoporosis: The Calcium Deficiency Myth, 13 July 10:00 am

Osteoporosis is defined as the thinning of the bones, leaving one
susceptible to fractures. The problem is that since calcium is a major
component in bones, it has been assumed that bone loss is due to
insufficient calcium in the diet. In actuality, bone is made up of at
least a dozen minerals. It is no coincidence that leafy greens provide all these minerals. So what does cause osteoporosis? Loss of bone occurs when the body has to neutralize acidity caused by high-protein (high-acid) diets. The other major factor is lack of effective exercise. Bone will atrophy with lack of use just as muscle does. Conversely, increased exercise increases bone strength and density, again, similar to the effect of exercise on muscle. So, to prevent or reverse osteoporosis, eat a vegan diet with lots of leafy greens and start exercising, preferably running and weight-lifting.

A Race For Life, 13 July 4:30 pm.

Twenty years ago after a deadly diagnosis of advanced, fast-spreading breast cancer, I am still "racing for life" doing road races and triathlons. How do I do this? Twenty years on a vegan, low-fat diet and daily exercise consisting of running, cycling, swimming, and weight-lifting. This regime not only keeps the breast cancer at bay, but it also keeps my risk of heart disease, other cancers, diabetes, obesity, arthritis, osteoporosis, and many other maladies at low risk. Psychologically, there are benefits as well. This is the closest we can come to reversing the aging process and puts aging in a positive light, since every five years I enter a new age group and get to set a whole bunch of new records again. Since we are all responsible for our own health, know that fitness is the other half of the health equation. In summary, eat vegan and get out there and run!

Run With Dr. Ruth with mini-seminar on running, 12 and 13 July

• Biographcal notes - from the Thai99 Congress
• It Took a Truck to Do It -- Ironlady Ruth Heidrich Slows Down (VUNA Views 98/2)
• At the International Vegan Festival, San Diego, USA, 1995 with other VUNA Councillors
• Iron Man/Iron Lady (EVU News, 97/4)
• Ruth Heidrich home page (VegSource)
  

• A Race for Life by Ruth Heidrich: Excerpt from VegSource

Dr. Ruth Heidrich is from Honolulu, Hawaii, USA., and,
Ph.D. in Health Management
Author of "A Race For Life" Lantern Books, 2000
Founding member & Past President of the Veg. Society of Hawaii
Veg News Health & Fitness Advisor
Board of Advisors, Dr. Klaper's Vegan Study
Board of Directors, Vice President, Hawaii Senior Olympics
Certified Fitness Trainer
Winner of 800+ Age-groups Firsts in runs and triathlons
Named "Top Ten Fittest Women in North America" 1999
Completed Ironman Triathlon 6 times
Holder of Hawaii Pentathlon Age-group record (Age 62)
Completed 67 marathons
Co-host on "Nutrition & You" talk-radio show
Runner for 34 years
Vegan for 20 years