Vegan Health Tips with Michael Klaper, M.D.

Michael Klaper, M.D. is the author of Pregancy, Children, and the Vegan Diet; one of only a few books that covers vegan pregnancy on the market today. He has postgraduate training in medicine, surgery, anesthesiology, and obstetrics. He continues to educate people on the benefits of a vegan diet.

Disclaimer: The medical opinions stated here are for educational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease without consulting with a qualified health care provider.

Question:

Is there any data showing the average age of onset of menstruation in vegan girls?

Answer:

No studies of which I am aware specifically examine the issue of age of onset of menstruation of vegan girls. However, anecdotal evidence indicates that vegan girls tend to reach onset of menstruation at a somewhat later age than their omnivore cohorts. This is viewed by many experts as a positive effect, as early sexual maturation is associated with increased emotional stress, sexual promiscuity, teen pregnancy, and breast cancer. It is important to be reassuring for vegan daughters to know that they are healthy and "normal," even though their sexual maturation will occur somewhat later than her schoolmates.

Sponsors:

Got Recipes? We Want Them!
Submit yours today to win a prize!