Hallelujah Diet Associated with Poor Vitamin [B.sub.12] Status - Brief Article

Vegetarian Journal, July, 2001 by Reed Mangels

The Hallelujah Diet is a type of vegan diet that is based on raw vegetables, fruit, nuts, seeds, carrot juice, and a limited amount of cooked whole-grain products. The diet does not contain vitamin [B.sub.12]. After being on this diet for 1-2 years, the majority of people studied had low blood levels of vitamin [B.sub.12] or other signs of poor vitamin [B.sub.12] status. Vitamin [B.sub.12] supplements and vitamin [B.sub.12]-fortified nutritional yeast were both effective in improving vitamin [B.sub.12] status. These results strongly support the need for regular use of a reliable source of vitamin [B.sub.12] for those following the Hallelujah Diet, other raw-food diets, and other diets that do not contain animal products.

Donaldson MS. 2000. Metabolic vitamin [B.sub.12] status on a mostly raw vegan diet with follow-up using tablets, nutritional yeast, or probiotic supplements. Ann Nutr Metab 44: 229-234.