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Susan M. Levin

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Susan M. Levin
Born(1971-07-21)July 21, 1971
DiedJuly 29, 2022(2022-07-29) (aged 51)
OccupationDietitian

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

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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

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Susan Marie Levin". legacy.com. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
  2. ^ a b c "Susan Levin, MS RDN CSSD". preventionofdisease.org. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
  3. ^ "Susan Levin, MS, RD". bastyr.edu. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
  4. ^ "Susan Levin, MS, RD". forksoverknives.com. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
  5. ^ "Oversaturation of Fat in the Media". nutritionstudies.org. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
  6. ^ "Dietitian says parents need to do more than Disney to improve kids' diets". tampabay.com. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
  7. ^ "Vegetarian diet good for people and the environment". news24.com. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
  8. ^ "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.
  9. ^ "Susan Levin". vegfest.istanbul. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
  10. ^ "Remembering Susan". pcrm.org. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
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