IASO, the largest Maternity and Gynecology Clinic in Europe is a pioneer once again and creates the first Vegan Department in Greece, with Vegan Maternity Care as its main pillar, which will provide comprehensive information, support and follow-up for vegetarian and strictly vegetarian - vegan pregnant women. 

The new Department is aiming to provide comprehensive information about the Vegan diet, which is based on unprocessed plant-based food, to inspire and motivate more and more people to learn about the enormous benefits of a vegetarian diet and to make the patient realize the enormous power she has in order to achieve the best outcome for her case. Furthermore, it is a known fact that the vegan diet contributes to the smooth outcome of pregnancy and more specifically, by maintaining a healthy body weight, the risks of developing gestational diabetes and preeclampsia are reduced and an increased rate of undergoing a caesarean section is avoided.

We've long known that a diet focused on plant-based foods - fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds - significantly reduces the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and certain types of cancer. Even in the research on the Mediterranean diet, the benefits of the Mediterranean diet come mainly from plants.

In fact, a low-fat, plant-based diet is the only diet that has been shown to actually reverse established coronary artery disease. It has also been shown to reverse type 2 diabetes, enable effective weight loss which is maintained, without portion control or exercise, and suspends the progression of early-stage prostate cancer according to research.

In addition, an unprocessed Vegan diet is able to and actually supports mental health by affecting the health of our gut bacteria, which produce many of the neurotransmitters/hormones that are active in the brain.

The Vegan Maternity Care Department is addressed to:

1. All women who are characterized by open-mindedness and broadened spiritual horizons, who believe that human are psychosomatic entities and therefore the treatment of their health should be done through a holistic approach, in complete harmony of course with the valuable knowledge of classical medicine, so that the best possible result is achieved.

2. Those who follow a vegetarian diet.

3. Women who follow a strict vegetarian - Vegan diet.

The newly established department, headed by Ms. Vassiliki Skalafouri, Obstetrician-Gynecologist, and a team of specialized nutritionists from the IASO Nutritional Support and Dietetics Department, is here to support, empower and encourage the women who turn to us. IASO's contribution to supporting a new generation of citizens who are sensitized and involved in spreading the vegan diet and lifestyle and informing the public by projecting the model and beauty of a peaceful life and diet, is more important than ever. We are here to support the health of patients, personnel and visitors by providing a variety of plant-based meals and education, with empathy for the health and sustainability of the planet.