Vegan Diet

violetismysoul

Has anyone had experience being on a vegan diet? I would just like to know the key points of the lifestyle, the struggles that come with it, and most of all if it is unhealthy restricting your body of needed proteins and if their is a compromise of protein within the diet.

So basically, all about a vegan diet:)

jldunn713

I eat vegan and love it! It is absolutely the healthiest thing you can do for yourself... If you make the right choices. There is a ton of protein to be had out there without animal products. Beans, nuts, seeds. And vegetables have protein too. You just have to really eat a lot of them. Can't just cut animal products out and keep eating what you've been eating. Be adventurous and try new things! Start blog surfing and you will find tons of new recipes.

Dawnhasajeep

I agree it’s the healthiest thing you can do for your body. I went plants strong as I like to call it after watching a movie called Forks over knives (on Netflix and Amazon). Changed my life adn my husbands.......I should say saved out lives. I never thought I would like eating Vegan I hated vegetables. But I really love it now, lots of new great tasting foods and my health and just the way I feel has improved dramatically.

I love and have learned a lot from the “Happy Herbivore” cook books by Lindsay Nixon she is also on facebook as “Happy Herbivore”. Also on facebook “Jeff Novick, MS, RD” and “Dr. Caldwell B. Esselstyn, Jr.” Dr. Esselstyn has a great book “Prevent and reverse heart disease”. By actually cutting out animal protein you can reduce your risk of some cancers, cure type 2 diabetes and reveres and prevent heart disease. I wish I had known this years ago. I try and stay clear of pre packaged highly processed vegan protein. Some of them are just Vegan junk food and high in sodium. Focus on Bean’s, lentils, soy beans, some and fresh veggie protein. I do drink processed soy and almond milks.

Good luck!

TheNewDodge

This thread should kick *kitten*!

peachyxoxoxo

I love being vegan. I feel good about my health and good about the effort I'm making to avoid cruelty to animals. There are many vegan complete proteins - tofu, tempeh, quinoa are some biggies. And foods like beans and rice can be combined to get all the necessary amino acids.

violetismysoul

Thanks you guys! I've been looking into this for a while and am liking the facts that research is revealing and am thankful for the responses. One question though...are eggs out of the question? because technically chickens naturally produce those(hopefully crossing fingers)

oh! and I was wondering if there are any health "hazards" that could be in question with the vegan lifestyle?

SanFranFrisky

Eggs aren't part of the vegan diet. Sorry about that.

I've been vegan for about six years now and I can't imagine ever going back. The only thing you need to worry about deficiency wise is probably vitamin B12. Once upon a time, so I read, it was available from plants (before industrial agriculture when the soil was richer) but now isn't. Protein and iron shouldn't be a problem if you're eating your beans and leafy greens.

Frustrating things? When I started out it felt like I spent a lot of time reading the ingredient labels on every darn thing in the grocery store. After a while you get the hang of it. I try not to be a pain in the neck when going out to eat, but I will ask about what's in the food. If you're near a Whole Foods their prepared stuff is awesome because they always post all the ingredients on the label.

The best thing I did was learn to cook for myself. It got me away from living off Boca burgers and Oreos. Isa Chandra Moskowitz' cookbooks are my favorite (Vegan With A Vengeance, Veganomicon, and Vegan Cookies Invade Your Cookie Jar). They're well written and don't rely on a lot of processed packaged (expensive) stuff.

Good luck and welcome to herbivore land!

vade43113

Thanks you guys! I've been looking into this for a while and am liking the facts that research is revealing and am thankful for the responses. One question though...are eggs out of the question? because technically chickens naturally produce those(hopefully crossing fingers)

oh! and I was wondering if there are any health "hazards" that could be in question with the vegan lifestyle?

look up, ovo-lacto vegetarian it is the vegan diet with eggs and dairy

jofjltncb6

This thread should kick *kitten*!

Indeed...

...but not necessarily in a good way.

Happy Fourth of July, everyone...enjoy the fireworks.

tiggersstar

why dont you try being veggie for awhile first. ease yourself into it!

:flowerforyou:

violetismysoul

[/quote]

look up, ovo-lacto vegetarian it is the vegan diet with eggs and dairy
[/quote]

yay:) I will definitely look into that. I'm already pretty much a vegetarian, I just didn't realize it until my friends asked me if I was because of my change in diet...obviously they think eating healthy with a mindfullness is the equalivalent of being vegetarian...teenagers(jeez).

I don't know how to quote two people but also, most people don't have a B12 deficiency, that's more of a rumor than a study. My source of that knowledge is my pedeatrician:)

ItsPheebs

Thanks you guys! I've been looking into this for a while and am liking the facts that research is revealing and am thankful for the responses. One question though...are eggs out of the question? because technically chickens naturally produce those(hopefully crossing fingers)

oh! and I was wondering if there are any health "hazards" that could be in question with the vegan lifestyle?

look up, ovo-lacto vegetarian it is the vegan diet with eggs and dairy

LOL! ^^^ No.

ItsPheebs

I love being vegan. I'm healthier, too.

People say that there are a lot of nutritional deficiencies, but the studies I've read show that the same percentage of people that are omnivores have the same deficiencies (iron, B12, calcium, etc.).

I swear by Vega protein. They have great products. I also take iron (but I'm iron deficient anemic, and was before I went vegan), vitamin D, and B12. It's really all about food choices.

Sorry, but vegans do not eat animal products, period. No dairy, eggs, fish, meat or poultry. If you want to continue to eat eggs, you could just be vegetarian, but not vegan. Just look up pastured eggs. I was vegetarian for 10+ years before I went vegan. There is a lot of support online for the transition, as well as great recipes and supplements.

Good luck! :bigsmile:

tiffanyrose519

I highly recommend ohsheglows.com a fantastic vegan recipe blog. I'm not vegan, but I like to throw different kinds of meals in my weekly menu and I haven't tried a recipe on this blog that I don't like (even my meat loving husband likes these recipes). Angela (the blog writer) always mentions when her recipes are high in protein, iron, etc. to help you begin your journey

Also, chocolatecoveriedkatie.com is a great vegan dessert blog.

vade43113

Please tell me the difference then, between vegan and vegetarian? The two are used interchangeably, where I am from

momtokgo

Please tell me the difference then, between vegan and vegetarian? The two are used interchangeably, where I am from

Vegetarians eat no meat but they do eat animal products: yogurt, eggs, milk, sour cream, etc.

Vegans eat NO animal products at all.

mmreed

the documentary Forks over Knives (www.forksoverknives.com) is one amazing work.

Im trying to get to 100% vegan - stepping down over the next few months. Its gettign easier and easier.

EternalJourney

I was 100% vegan for quite a while. My mind was so clear and felt great.. but I went back to eating normal. Parents are buying my food right now and I don't want to be picky with them since they are big meat eaters.

DaveneGfit

I am a vegan myself and I love it! Definitely forks over knives is a wonderful resource. Engine 2 is also a wonderful website to check out. If you have any specific questions feel free to message me!

Ocarina

I very much love the diet. The only hard part is reading ingredients, figuring out new varied recipes (fun part but can be hard at first) and eating out you have to really dig around to make sure you are eating Vegan. Vacations can be hard as well but if you can hold your ground and do your research/bring snacks you should be fine.

Add me if you like!

CaroseH

bump!

jenslife82

Bump!

sriraw

Once you follow the diet for a while you will actually find it easier than eating meat! When I get together with friends at restaurants, I get what I can that is vegan and eat when I get home if I am still hungry.

My advise would be to take it slow and do what you can. It is better for the environment, your health, and all my vegan friends look 10 years younger than their true age. Can't beat that!

MRJ2di

Thank you for the reference to Engine 2. I found a lot there to think about. I moved away from meat almost two years with the goal of going vegan. I haven't given up occasional pesto, pasta dishes and smoothies with yogurt. I'll get there soon though. I haven't had a burger or lasagna (my favs) since.

msgremmy

I've been vegan for 13 years (vegetarian for 4 years before that), and I'm25. My health is great... aside from the 10 pounds I'd like never to see again These days, I think it's pretty easy to be vegan and healthy. There are so many options, and protein is not even a concern of mine. Some people will tell you to avoid the fake meat stuff, but I like it and it has done me no harm. I do believe in moderation, though, so I try to balance my soy (and everything else, it's just easy to depend on soy) intake-- I drink almond milk instead of soy and vary my protein sources throughout the day/week. In terms of nutrition, the only deficiency I've ever had was B12-- and I fixed that by taking a supplement found on the Vegan Essentials website-- which is a great source for ordering vitamins and food and other products.

Key to success is believing in veganism-- whether for animals rights, your health or something else. Folks tend not to become vegan for the fun of it. It does take more effort because it's new to you. I spent two years reading all the ingredients in the grocery to figure out what I could and couldn't eat. You can still find me reading the ingredients in the aisles because new foods equal possible new options.

Try it out for three weeks. See how you feel.

Oh, one thing, I don't think of veganism as a diet-- those are fads. Veganism is a lifestyle that includes not wearing clothes or using products made from animals.

I'm happy to answer any questions. Good luck!