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QI have a beautiful poinsettia left over from the holidays. I've been warned that it is poisonous and have been reassured that it is not. Which is right?

AI'm glad you asked this question. I'm happy to set the record straight on poinsettias and to tell you about a useful and beautifully illustrated new book on the subject of poisonous plants that is an indispensable resource for hikers, gardeners, parents of small children, pet owners, veterinarians and health-care practitioners. The book, the second edition of the "Handbook of Poisonous and Injurious Plants," is by Lewis Nelson, M.D., and Richard Shih, M.D., physicians who specialize in emergency medicine and medical toxicology, and by Michael Balick, Ph.D., a noted ethnobotanist and tropical plant explorer I have known since my days at Harvard University.

Every year, some 2,500 people call poison control centers asking about poinsettias. Most of these calls concern Euphorbia pulcherrima, the plant we associate with Christmas. While some species of Euphorbia contain latex that is toxic (it can irritate your skin or give you an upset stomach), the familiar Christmas plant doesn't contain strong toxins. If you eat enough leaves, you might vomit, but that's the worst that would happen. Balick and Nelson told me that the undeserved reputation of the poinsettia comes from a single incident reported in Hawaii in 1919 — the 2-year-old son of an Army officer stationed there was found dead after eating a poinsettia leaf. The death was mentioned in a book on poisonous plants in Hawaii written 25 years later by someone who had no firsthand knowledge of the case. From that slender thread of uncorroborated information, the myth of the poisonous poinsettia has flourished ever since.

When I talked to Balick and Nelson about your poinsettia question, I asked them to set the record straight about some other houseplants that generate hundreds, if not thousands, of calls annually to poison control centers:

● Peace lily (Spathiphyllum spp.): These plants can be toxic if you try to eat any part of them. They contain calcium oxalate crystals, which will burn your lips and mouth and can cause swelling and blistering. The symptoms will go away without treatment (cool liquids may help relieve the burning sensation). Other familiar houseplants containing calcium oxalate crystals that can cause the same symptoms are philodendron, devil's ivy (or Pothos), and Dumbcane (Dieffenbachia seguine), also called mother-in-law plant.

● Jade plant (Crassula spp.): These plants contain a sap that can cause contact dermatitis — an itchy rash — but won't hurt you if you ingest a leaf (if your child or pet eats a lot of leaves, be prudent and call your poison control center).

Other plants that cause a similar skin reaction include the rubber plant (Ficus elastica) and the weeping fig (Ficus benjamina).

I review concerns about common garden plants in another article (search for "Danger in the Garden") on my Web site: www.drweil.com.

Q Is the vegan diet healthy?

AA vegetarian diet can be very healthy — vegetarians have a lower than normal incidence of heart disease and cancer and lower risks of obesity and diabetes. But the vegan diet, in which you eat only plant-based foods — no cheese, eggs, honey or any other animal-derived foods — does require you to think about the nutrients you might be missing.

You can certainly get adequate amounts of protein from plant foods — whole grains, legumes, vegetables, seeds and nuts. Soy protein is equivalent to the protein you would get from meat, chicken, fish or eggs. Apart from that, the specific nutrients you should focus on include:

● Vitamin B12: Although this is found naturally only in foods from animal sources, you can get sufficient amounts from fortified breakfast cereals, fortified soy beverages and some types of brewer's yeast. Still, I recommend taking a supplement of 50 to 100 micrograms of B12 in the form of a good multivitamin, sublingual tablet, or nasal spray or gel.

● Iron: Good sources include cereals, grains, legumes, dates, prunes, raisins and greens. You can help your body absorb iron by taking 200 to 250 mg of vitamin C, preferably in divided doses when you consume these foods or by including foods high in vitamin C when you eat iron-rich foods. Do not take iron supplements unless prescribed by a physician.

● Zinc: The best plant sources are grains, nuts, legumes and spinach.

● Calcium: Good sources include sesame seeds, collards, kale, broccoli, sea vegetables and orange juice and soy milk fortified with calcium. Look for tofu fortified with calcium. Women need 1,000 to 1,200 mg of calcium per day from all sources; men need only 500 to 700 mg from all sources and do not need to take calcium supplements. Women who don't get adequate dietary calcium should take 500 to 700 mg of calcium in supplement form in two divided doses with meals (take magnesium with calcium in a 2-to-1 ratio — that's twice as much calcium as magnesium).

● Essential fatty acids: By not eating fish, you're missing out on natural sources of omega-3 fatty acids. Instead, make sure to include in your diet whole or unrefined grain products plus walnuts, freshly ground flaxseeds or hemp seeds. Be aware that the vegetarian sources of omega-3's are not as good as oily fish. Consider taking a fish oil supplement or, at least, an algae-derived supplement of DHA.

● Vitamin D: As a vegan, you won't get "D" from such dietary sources as fortified milk, eggs, salmon, tuna, mackerel and sardines. Some cereals are fortified with D, as are soy milk and fake meats, and our bodies make vitamin D with exposure to sunlight (still, most adults don't get nearly enough). I recommend a daily supplement of 1,000 IU of vitamin D3 — cholecalciferol — for everyone (vegan or not).