Vegan lifestyle and Awareness about what we're eating!

My spouse and I eat a whole-food plant-based diet (healthy vegan) and it works great for us. There are many things to say about it, but one thing that I think is really misunderstood is the issue of protein. If you eat a whole-food plant-based diet you will get plenty of protein. MFP shows that very clearly. Any unprocessed starch food such as grain, potato, or beans has more than enough protein. Secondly, a starch-based diet is an excellent diet for losing weight. You can't possibly eat enough grain, potato, and beans to over-consume calories. The trick for losing weight was, for us, to eliminate the extra (added) oil. People who say otherwise simply have not seriously tried it. We also eat lots of vegetables. Anyway it works well for us in terms of both losing weight and feeling great.

Unfortunately, this is the answer I always get when I ask about high protein low carb vegan diets: some form of "you don't need as much protein as you think you do." I don't think this post was necessarily intended as a response to my previous post and I don't mean to sound combative, but I think it's kind of a cop out. Many of us, for whatever reason, find the MFP recommendations for protein extremely low for our bodies' needs. As for me specifically, this is not my first rodeo. I know from experience, education, and trial and error that my body responds best to high protein and lower carb (not necessarily low carb). I look better and I feel better. I am jealous that the individual whose post I quoted achieved results they're happy with consuming lower protein and am willing to concede that they may do fine with less.

Currently, I only eat cage-free, free-range animal proteins (plus fish... but I'm not nearly as concerned with the ethical treatment of fish). This has been a way for me to balance my desire to promote kindness to animals with my desire to have a smoking hot body. I would like to cut animal flesh completely from my diet, but as of yet I have not figured out a way to do so without eating 12+ egg whites daily.

I'm getting off topic here, but this has frustrated me immensely. I have great respect for vegetarians and vegans, and anyone else who is opposed to treating intelligent animals cruelly. I just wish I could get a straight answer when I ask about protein. I'm pretty sure the answer is "it's impossible."

@featherandfern: I notice you just joined MFP this month. You may not be aware that they are group forums with people who like to discuss this topic without rancor. Here are a couple: Happy herbivores and Team Vegan.

In my experience, most people who post on the open forums have figured things out for themselves. Most are perfectly satisfied, and may get insulted by someone coming on here and advocating a particular diet.

Please message me if you can't find your way to the group forums.

Yes this^ You will find MFP to be often a bit hostile towards vegetarian and vegans especially when you post to the general boards. But I do think those of us who are vegans/vegetarians would be happy to discuss this topic. So I second the suggestion from the poster I quoted above. Welcome to MFP

I'm honestly surprised that those who are vegan are not offended by the OP's post. If you check her diary, she is clearly NOT vegan and obviously has no clue as to what it means.

Vegans who post **** like this or say **** like this is why people hate vegans.

Shut up and keep your opinions to yourself. If people cared, they would find the information for themself.
It is ridiculous to think you're going to change the world after submitting one "the government is against us, go vegan" post.

Plus I agree, documentaries can be faked, science is debatable between different studies, you're just, you're just making vegans look bad.

I see we added FoK and The China Study overnight.

Good work so far. We're picking up some more of the main points. Keep going.

Cows are pumped up by antibiotics because they are treated so poorly and are milked 20x more than they should be, causing them to have lesions (open wounds) on their utters, which oozes into the milk. Because the environment that the milk is made in is so poor, including coming from unhealthy cows that are inhumanely caged 24/7 and are fed all kinds of crap to make them overweight, the milk has to be pasteurized so much that not only all of the bad bacteria is taken out, but also all of the good bacteria and essential nutrients that we need to digest the milk and the calcium that is in it. Essentially, milk is now TAKING calcium from our own bones in order to digest this liquid nothing/empty calories that we're ingesting. Horrible, right?

And where, may I ask did you get this information. What "research" did it come from? Do you have any peer reviewed studies?

Many different documentaries. I recommend "Earthlings" for you!

Vegans who post **** like this or say **** like this is why people hate vegans.

Shut up and keep your opinions to yourself. If people cared, they would find the information for themself.
It is ridiculous to think you're going to change the world after submitting one "the government is against us, go vegan" post.

Plus I agree, documentaries can be faked, science is debatable between different studies, you're just, you're just making vegans look bad.

A little angry aren't we? You're making yourself look really immature being so harsh in a healthy discussion. And you're the only one that's mentioned any hate towards a specific group. Come back when you think you can express your opinion with more substance and less anger maybe?

I did 'lol at the fact this lady eats eggs and claims veganism. Just need educated I think... unless they are confusing themselves with vegetarianism.