Susan M. Levin
Susan M. Levin | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | July 21, 1971 |
| Died | July 29, 2022 (aged 51) |
| Occupation | Dietitian |
Susan Marie Levin (July 21, 1971 – July 29, 2022)[1] was an American registered dietitian, advocate of plant-based nutrition and veganism activist. She was one of the authors of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics position on vegetarian diets in 2016.
Biography[edit]
Levin was born on July 21, 1971, in Montgomery, Alabama. She became a vegan at the age of 24.[1] Levin obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Master of Science in Nutrition from Bastyr University in 2003.[2][3] She received a specialist certification in sports dietetics from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.[2]
From 2005 Levin was Director of Nutrition Education for the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine and did research on the connection between plant-based diets and reduced risk of chronic diseases.[2][4] Levin criticized the media for promoting animal source foods rich in saturated fat which increases the risk of heart disease.[5] She promoted a high-fiber diet of fruits, legumes, vegetables, grains, nuts and seeds. Levin advised parents to remove dairy products and processed sugar from their children's diets.[6] She was featured in the 2017 documentary film What the Health.[1]
Levin argued against the use of many dietary supplements which she felt were unnecessary. She commented that Vitamin B12 is the only supplement vegans need.[7] Levin stated that there is no reason for people to consume dairy products as a plant-based diet is a healthier option to meet calcium, potassium, and Vitamin D requirements. This has been disputed by other dietitians who have argued that it is very difficult to get the Recommended Dietary Allowance of 1,000 mg of calcium per day on a plant-based diet without dairy products or supplements.[8]
Levin was a speaker at the 2021 Istanbul Vegfest.[9] She died on July 29, 2022, at her home in Washington, D.C.[1] The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine created two funds in Levin's honour.[10]
Selected publications[edit]
- Vegetarian Diets and Glycemic Control in Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (with Neal D. Barnard, Mitsuhiro Watanabe and Yoko Yokoyama, 2014)
- Position of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: Vegetarian Diets (with Winston Craig and Vesanto Melina, 2016)
- Association Between Plant-Based Diets and Plasma Lipids: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (with Neal D. Barnard and Yoko Yokoyama, 2017)
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d "Susan Marie Levin". legacy.com. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
- ^ a b c "Susan Levin, MS RDN CSSD". preventionofdisease.org. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
- ^ "Susan Levin, MS, RD". bastyr.edu. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
- ^ "Susan Levin, MS, RD". forksoverknives.com. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
- ^ "Oversaturation of Fat in the Media". nutritionstudies.org. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
- ^ "Dietitian says parents need to do more than Disney to improve kids' diets". tampabay.com. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
- ^ "Vegetarian diet good for people and the environment". news24.com. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
- ^ "The Lowdown on Dairy — A Review on Dairy’s Value in Disease Prevention By Constance Brown-Riggs, MSEd, RD, CDE, CDN". Today’s Dietitian Vol. 16 No. 6 P. 30. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
- ^ "Susan Levin". vegfest.istanbul. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
- ^ "Remembering Susan". pcrm.org. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
