Going Plant Based Vegan

KarinaGeneva wrote: »

I have recently decided to head in the direction of a vegan lifestyle. Mostly for health reasons, partly for ethical reasons.

Personally, I don't have a problem with eating chickens or eggs, for example, but I refuse to purchase industrially raised chickens / eggs. I think farm animals should be humanely treated to the extent possible (given their ultimate fate) and I think it's irresponsible to raise and eat as much meat as we are, given the fragility of our planet. My views are evolving, so maybe I'll become more vegan in time. But I'm digressing.

I intend to eat grass-fed beef about once a week, and free-range organic chicken once or twice a week. I'll eat some fish, and eggs a few times a week. I eat chickpeas / hummus. I can't eat soy. I can have 2 servings of dairy products per day (yogurt, skim milk or low fat cheese). What other protein options do I have? I saw the recommendation for lentils (above), and I like that suggestion. I'm supposed to be eating 4-5 servings of protein a day (not counting the dairy) and I'm having trouble hitting that target. Any vegan suggestions (esp. low fat) would be appreciated!

janejellyroll wrote: »

geimerst wrote: »

janejellyroll wrote: »

Given what we currently know about human nutrition, I don't think there is any reason to be vegan other than the ethical reasons. We know, from abundant evidence, that eating animal products is not incompatible with human health. If one is going to eliminate these, there must be another reason.

Vegan for 'Ethical' reasons (in my view) are those that avoid all animal products - food including beer (subjugates yeast) and honey (subjugates bees) , clothing, etc, and promote animal rights - at times to the detriment of their own species (human). While I understand that perspective, I disagree with the premise that it is the only reason to adopt that dietary outlook.

Health is also a valid reason for adopting a vegan diet, with the objective being the elimination of animal products. As Forks over Knives documented, and the work of Drs Ornish, Esselstyn Jr., McDougall, Kahn, Barnard, et al, have shown: adopting a plant based/vegan, low fat diet can reverse heart disease as well as prevent future heart disease - still the #1 cause of death in the United States.

CDC: Number of deaths for leading causes of death (2013):
Heart disease: 611,105 *
Cancer: 584,881 *
Chronic lower respiratory diseases: 149,205
Accidents (unintentional injuries): 130,557
Stroke (cerebrovascular diseases): 128,978 *
Alzheimer's disease: 84,767 *
Diabetes: 75,578 *
Influenza and Pneumonia: 56,979
Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome, and nephrosis: 47,112
Intentional self-harm (suicide): 41,149

*Diet plays a crucial role.

Yeast is not an animal. Ethical vegans do not avoid yeast.

In order for health to be a reason to adopt veganism, we would need evidence that animal products are harmful at ANY dose. I am not aware of any evidence showing this. I don't have a doubt that some people have experienced improvement in their heart disease after adopting a plant based diet -- but there is no evidence that their symptoms wouldn't have improved if they had made other dietary changes but still included some amount of animal products in their diet. Keep in mind that your typical "plant based" diet also includes other changes that have been associated with improved heart health, changes that go beyond veganism. There is also abundant evidence that people can lead long and healthful lives while consuming animal products.

Veganism is the solution to a particular ethical problem involving animal exploitation. I am not sure why people are trying to co-opt the word while rejecting the ethical component, but avoiding eating animal products while continuing to exploit animals for pleasure and/or convenience isn't veganism.