Vegan questions?

redraidergirl2009

I suppose you weren't eating enough iron? I get most of my iron from beans and greens. If you're not a fan of eating greens plain or in salad make smoothies where you can't taste them.

I was also hypoglycemic but that seems to have gone away with a healthy vegan diet, as well as my acne. I can't really help you much further unless you give us some ideas of meals you used to eat as a vegan?

redraidergirl2009

If you have a protein deficiency I would highly recomnend wheatgrass tablets(or a shot but tastes nasty peas, beans, legumes, broccoli, brown rice, chlorella and spirulina.

Her previous posts -

I think all of you should know: my food options are seriously limited because I go to a college in which we have a dining commons and I can't afford to go out and get food on top of that, so that really limits selection.

Generally, there is some lettuce, and some salad options, but it's not really fresh food, and the only other "healthy" options are a baked potato, which is probably not good to eat at every meal, and some form of sugar free jell - o. It has different stations with different options but the only things that get stocked and replenished regularly are things like pizza and french fries.

What should she she do for B12, Iron, calcium, etc?

If she can't afford real food, how will she afford supplements. And if they aren't offereing brown rice, brocolli, beans and legumes now, where will she get it?

She should speak to her school about accommodating for her diet.

3dogsrunning

She should speak to her school about accommodating for her diet.

She should, but unforunately this changes aren't always easy or quick. Plus, she is not currently a vegan.

neanderthin

Thank you and yes my mom has lost weight. It's nicely reflected on her face. I don't track my vitamins anf minerals or my calories. That's another good thing about being vegan you don't have to worry about sugars or calories or saturated fats, trans fats etc..

Glad your mom is feeling better. What do you mean you don't have to worry about sugar, calories, saturated fat or trans fats, those are all found in a vegan diet?

Maryt1961

From what I understand, absolute vegan includes not only all the dairy products/meats/cheeses etc...but also honey, and then there are all of the non-dietary aspects which is a whole different lifestyle component....but for those of you who have practiced for a long time, what are some of the other food items that one wouldn't normally consider...just curious...

abrahamsitososa

Thank you and yes my mom has lost weight. It's nicely reflected on her face. I don't track my vitamins anf minerals or my calories. That's another good thing about being vegan you don't have to worry about sugars or calories or saturated fats, trans fats etc..

no problem. What matters is she's doing better. Here is my question to you now, did the vegan diet help her, or did the weight loss help her?

Both. The vegan diet is what made her lose weight and lower her blood pressure. She doesn't have to take her doctor's recommend drugs anymore. Thank God.

abrahamsitososa

From what I understand, absolute vegan includes not only all the dairy products/meats/cheeses etc...but also honey, and then there are all of the non-dietary aspects which is a whole different lifestyle component....but for those of you who have practiced for a long time, what are some of the other food items that one wouldn't normally consider...just curious...

Yes honey is the only non-vegan food I like to consume. It's very healthy.

3dogsrunning

From what I understand, absolute vegan includes not only all the dairy products/meats/cheeses etc...but also honey, and then there are all of the non-dietary aspects which is a whole different lifestyle component....but for those of you who have practiced for a long time, what are some of the other food items that one wouldn't normally consider...just curious...

There are tons of foods not considered vegan because of things added to them or how they are processed. Some sugar is processed using bone char. There are dyes that contain traces of animal, like shellac and carmine. Gelatin is not vegan. Beer and wine can be (not all) processed with things that are not vegan, like isinglass (from dried bladders of fish). Soy cheeses, which would appear to be vegan, can have rennet in them.

This is in no way an exhaustive list.

abrahamsitososa

Thank you and yes my mom has lost weight. It's nicely reflected on her face. I don't track my vitamins anf minerals or my calories. That's another good thing about being vegan you don't have to worry about sugars or calories or saturated fats, trans fats etc..

Glad your mom is feeling better. What do you mean you don't have to worry about sugar, calories, saturated fat or trans fats, those are all found in a vegan diet?

Lol I didn't explain correctly. When you are a vegan you get all your sugars and fats etc.. from fruits, vegetables, nuts, grains, roots, herbs etc.. Fruits and veggies contain lots of fiber which help the sugars break down very slow and since they don't metabolize as fast as a processed sugar would then it doesn't make your pancreas produce insulin ay a very rapid pace like it would if you ate some white bread or drink a soda. So that is why I don't have to worry about my sugar levels or the calories I consume or none of that stuff. It's very hard to over do it with the calories because when you eat raw whole foods your get full faster and feel full for a longer period of time. I would have to pull out about 20 different books i've read to find all the information and scientific evidence on this but I think you kinda get the point by now of why I don't count calories or carbs etc..

neanderthin

Thank you and yes my mom has lost weight. It's nicely reflected on her face. I don't track my vitamins anf minerals or my calories. That's another good thing about being vegan you don't have to worry about sugars or calories or saturated fats, trans fats etc..

Glad your mom is feeling better. What do you mean you don't have to worry about sugar, calories, saturated fat or trans fats, those are all found in a vegan diet?

Lol I didn't explain correctly. When you are a vegan you get all your sugars and fats etc.. from fruits, vegetables, nuts, grains, roots, herbs etc.. Fruits and veggies contain lots of fiber which help the sugars break down very slow and since they don't metabolize as fast as a processed sugar would then it doesn't make your pancreas produce insulin ay a very rapid pace like it would if you ate some white bread or drink a soda. So that is why I don't have to worry about my sugar levels or the calories I consume or none of that stuff. It's very hard to over do it with the calories because when you eat raw whole foods your get full faster and feel full for a longer period of time. I would have to pull out about 20 different books i've read to find all the information and scientific evidence on this but I think you kinda get the point by now of why I don't count calories or carbs etc..

Fair enough. Not all vegans exclude bread and soda from their diet or the exhaustive list of processed foods . Any diet that is high in natural foods will have protective effects on the body, some will have a better profile of micronutrients, vitamins and mineerals and eggs and fish would be on my list, where you would leave them off believing they don't.

poedunk65

Read or watch Forks Over Knives.

abrahamsitososa

Read or watch Forks Over Knives.

I've seen this documentary about 3 times. Very inspiring.

now_or_never13

For the OP, it might be best to wait until you are not in school to go vegan. There are far too many things above meat, eggs and dairy vegans do not consume that it will be tough for you to get everything you need in your diet from the dining hall at school.

Vegans don't eat honey, jello, eat only organic apples (the shine on apples is due to shellac which is not vegan), some dyes are excluded, some soy products.. etc. If you want to become a very strict vegan that means cutting out a lot of beauty care items.

Maryt1961

I remember also there was a big controversy a few years ago with McDonald French fries because of some use of beef broth in the preparation...don't remember all the details, but I do remember they changed over that part of the process so it would accommodate vegetarian customers

now_or_never13

I remember also there was a big controversy a few years ago with McDonald French fries because of some use of beef broth in the preparation...don't remember all the details, but I do remember they changed over that part of the process so it would accommodate vegetarian customers

There was also an issue with Starbucks recently as they used a food coloring that was actually made from beetles and hence not vegetarian or vegan.

Moral of the story, being vegetarian or vegan you really need to research and know what is in everything you eat and where it comes from which is very hard to do when someone else decides what you can choose to eat.

Bikini_Beast

I remember also there was a big controversy a few years ago with McDonald French fries because of some use of beef broth in the preparation...don't remember all the details, but I do remember they changed over that part of the process so it would accommodate vegetarian customers

Unfortunately they never did the change over:
http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2104472_2104473_2104489,00.html

The beef flavoring can also be found in the grocery store in some fries and hash brown products.

now_or_never13

I remember also there was a big controversy a few years ago with McDonald French fries because of some use of beef broth in the preparation...don't remember all the details, but I do remember they changed over that part of the process so it would accommodate vegetarian customers

Unfortunately they never did the change over:
http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2104472_2104473_2104489,00.html

The beef flavoring can also be found in the grocery store in some fries and hash brown products.

They did change them... at least in Canada and the UK. The flavouring now is a vegetable source and they are cooked in vegetable oil/canola oil.

secretladyspider

I don't get online for a day, and there has been an entire discussion... hmm.

I think, though, that for the most part, this was useful. I also talked to a vegan at my school and he was really helpful- if he can do it, so can I. I'll just have to factor in the hypoglycemia somehow.

secretladyspider

So what are some big no no foods to avoid that people don't think about?

endlesoul

I'm not vegetarian or vegan but have found a helpful list of iron rich foods in a vegan diet.

http://www.vrg.org/nutrition/iron.php#table11

" Adding a vitamin C source to a meal increases non-heme iron absorption up to six-fold which makes the absorption of non-heme iron as good or better than that of heme iron .
Fortunately, many vegetables, such as broccoli and bok choy, which are high in iron, are also high in vitamin C so that the iron in these foods is very well absorbed. Commonly eaten combinations, such as beans and tomato sauce or stir-fried tofu and broccoli, also result in generous levels of iron absorption.
Tea, coffee, and calcium supplements should be used several hours before a meal that is high in iron

http://www.vrg.org/nutrition/iron.php#r5
.

Akimajuktuq

So, you want to return to a way of eating that already made you sick?

Eating mono-culture grains is worse nutritionally, politically, environmentally, and ethically than eating animals (that are NOT factory farmed and grain fed). Have you considered spending some time on really understanding where your food comes from? Get to know your local farmers, learn about their farming practices. Perhaps learn to hunt. There's nothing wrong with eating animals as long as they were treated with care and respect. That includes being allowed to graze on grass, like they were meant to, while their manure, and all manner of rotting materials, keep the soil alive and the perennial plants producing.

Don't take my word for anything. Start doing research. Learn about biology (including what lives in top soil, and how plants get nutrients), agriculture, physiology, food politics, history, anthropology, etc.

ChapinaGrande

I'm neither vegetarian nor vegan, but I remember the food court at my college was quite open to new foods. They even put up signs asking for personal recipes that they could increase the servings of and serve if we wanted. Have you considered talking to the management of your dining commons and requesting more vegan options? If you gathered up your vegan friends and had all of them put a slip in the suggestion box, they might add some new options. Just a thought...

now_or_never13

So what are some big no no foods to avoid that people don't think about?

If you want to be full vegan?

Lots of protein bars, jello, certain restaurants fries, a bunch of salad dressings... all not vegan. Yes, jello is not vegan.

Depending on how strict of a vegan you want to be certain clothing and beauty products are out.

Do your reserach on what is and is not vegan. A lot of things will surprise you. McDonalds fries for example aren't vegan in the US as they use milk and beef when making them. Pudding I don't believe is vegan due to the milk but I could be wrong. Cake and pies are not vegan... Cesear salad at restaurants and the dressings sold in stores are not vegan. A lot of cookies, chips, frozen/packaged foods are not vegan.

now_or_never13

So, you want to return to a way of eating that already made you sick?

Eating mono-culture grains is worse nutritionally, politically, environmentally, and ethically than eating animals (that are NOT factory farmed and grain fed). Have you considered spending some time on really understanding where your food comes from? Get to know your local farmers, learn about their farming practices. Perhaps learn to hunt. There's nothing wrong with eating animals as long as they were treated with care and respect. That includes being allowed to graze on grass, like they were meant to, while their manure, and all manner of rotting materials, keep the soil alive and the perennial plants producing.

Don't take my word for anything. Start doing research. Learn about biology (including what lives in top soil, and how plants get nutrients), agriculture, physiology, food politics, history, anthropology, etc.

Do you have research on the grains comment?

Some people have problems with eating meat outside how the animal was treated while alive.

3dogsrunning

So what are some big no no foods to avoid that people don't think about?

Anything that comes from an animal, including dairy, eggs and honey (ie even if the animal doesn't die to provide them)

The biggest problem is the additives and processes that are not considered vegan.
For example, a lot of sugar is processed using bone char so it isn't vegan (white sugar, icing sugar and brown sugar for example) So foods with added sugar are out, unless it specifically states the type of sugar.
Gelatin - not vegan. It's in tons of foods like marshmallows, gummies and jello.
Red food dye - carmine - made from big shells.
Many beer and wine are not vegan due things like isinglass (dried fish bladder) and egg whites in the processing.
Soy cheese - sounds vegan but some brands are made with rennet - not vegan.
Egg and egg whites appear in lots of foods.
There are tons of flavorings and other additives that appear in a lot of our food.

And then you need to look at how food is prepared. Refried beams sound vegan, but can often contain lard. Same with tortillas. French fries are often cooked in oil that was used for meat products (McDonalds used to add a beef extract to their fries so even of they were cooked in their own oil, still not vegan)

Here is a more exhaustive list
http://www.veganwolf.com/animal_ingredients.htm

And, of course, vegans don't use anything animal products. I believe that list covers the things found in cosmetics and other stuff.

TheConsciousFoody

Being vegan seems far too complicated.