Going Vegan?
So, you are considering or curious about going vegan? Well let's take a step back, and look at some of the facts with an unbiased opinion.
MYTH BUSTERS
The Myth: If the chickens weren't happy, then they wouldn't lay eggs!
The Truth: When you are feeling depressed or angry, does it stop you from going to the toilet? What makes it any different for chickens?
The Myth: There are vitamins in meat that we need that we can't get from anywhere else, such as vitamin B12.
The Truth: Vegetarian and Vegan food producers specialise in using supplements and healthy alternatives to these vitamins. Even B12!
The Myth: If we don't have milk, we wouldn't get our calcium!
The Truth: Dairy products are not the best source anyway, 'the high protein content of milk actually causes calcium to be lost because the acid that it produces is neutralised with calcium from the bones'. (Viva! It's time to go veggie!) In fact, you can get a high source of calcium from broccoli, dried fruit and Tofu.
The Myth: Vegetables feel pain and plantation screams when it's cut!
The Truth: It is impossible for a vegetable to feel pain because they do not have a central nervous system. As for the screaming plants, when a plant is cut it releases a build up in pressure which forces it to rush towards the opening making a whooshing sound as it goes which has been picked up by electronic equipment and interpreted as a scream. We can assure you, it's not!
The Myth: The animals must be happy because they put on weight!
The Truth: The animals are locked inside a cell where they cannot even turn around, they are constantly being feed all sorts of chemicals to force them to grow at an alarming rate, they have no choice but to sit there and put on weight.
What is a Vegan?
A vegan, like a vegetarian does not eat meat, but they also stay away from any by product of an animal. This includes leather, wool, dairy and eggs, honey, pearls and gelatin. Most vegetarians do eat dairy produce such as milk and eggs, if they are vegetarian for moral reasons, their eggs are generally free range. These people are known as Lacto - Ovo - Vegetarians.
It is also common to find Lacto - Vegetarians, these are people who eat dairy products but avoid eggs, and Ovo - Vegetarian, which is viceversa, a vegetarian that eats eggs, but avoids all other dairy. After that comes Vegan.
Many people claim that they are vegetarian or vegan but they eat do eat this or that. If this is the case then they are not vegan, a vegan will not eat anything that had a face, anything that moved or anything that once had a life of it's own, or anything that came from that life.
Vegan - The healthy Option!
Many people are under the impression that meat and dairy is essential in our day to day diet. But the truth is, it's not, and it never was. In fact it has quite the opposite effect. It has been scientifically proven that meat and dairy have a link to all the following illnesses.
Cancer and CHD
This includes Colon, Breast, Ovarian and Prostate cancers. Vegans generally eat a lot of fruit and vegetables which contain essential vitamins such as E, C and A. These are antioxidant vitamins which destroy free radicals that damage cells, and cause cancer. Milk, and saturated fat contains a substance that encourage the growth of calves into large cattle. It is an insulin growth factor known as IGF - 1, this is thought to be the link between dairy and breast cancer. Cows milk also contains sugars which cause Ovarian cancer. Fruit and vegetables contain no IGF - 1.
Fibre is a vital source to avoiding bowel cancer, it sweeps through the bowel taking with it harmful toxins and reducing the level of destructive bile acids. Vegans lower their levels of saturated fat and have a higher intake of fibre provided protection, this also helps to prevent them against Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) and Diverticular Disease. Prostate cancer however, is the highest risk. 16 men die everyday in Britain alone from prostate cancer as it will go unnoticed until it is too late. Once again this cancer comes from IGF - 1.
Vegans lower their chances of getting cancer by 40% and reduce the risk of a heart attack by 25%
Infertility
Lactose in milk has been known the damage the ovaries and lead to infertility. Obesity also has the same effect, both can be avoided with a healthy vegan diet.
Diabetes
Due to their diet Vegans are generally slimmer than meat eaters as their diet is usually balanced and consists of plenty of fruit and vegetables, pasta, rice and cereals. These foods help control blood sugar levels and reduces the risk of diabetes by 45% and reduces the risk of Hypertension.
Osteoporosis
Vegans face a lower risk of developing this as plants carry Phytoestrogens which stimulate bone building cells. With higher levels of potassium and magnesium, vegans successfully store calcium better than meat eaters, in doing so, reduce the risk of bone problems.
Strokes
Vegans have lower salt, cholesterol and saturated fat levels, thus reducing the chances of a stroke.
Migraines
Dairy produce is a major cause to migraines, becoming a vegan reduces the risk.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Meat, dairy and eggs could all be triggers of this. Vegan diets will help to alleviate symptoms.
Allergies
Dairy products are linked to so many allergies today that we may not even be aware of. Eczema and dermatitis is an extremely common one. If you are a sufferer switch to vegan alternatives and see if there is a difference.
Lets Go Vegan!
There are hundreds of beneficial reasons to turn Vegan, there are also several obvious reasons. Including, dairy produce was not meant for us!
The milk that the animals produce are for their own young, the same as the milk the human produces, is for our young.
We are the only species, that drinks another species breast milk!
Lets do it! Lets go Vegan!
Where do I start?
Start now! There is no better time to start. Don't think of what you are giving up, think of what you are gaining. A healthy lifestyle, peace of mind and you can rest assured that somewhere on the wonderful planet of ours, you've made a cow and some chickens very happy and one less person is demanding from them what is beyond their producing ability.
What do I eat?
Frequently people say to me that they couldn't become vegan, they couldn't give up their treats like ice-cream or chocolate. You don't have to give up anything. Not ice cream, or chocolate, or milk or cream or cheese. You can still buy it all, just without any animal extract in it. Any health food shop caters for vegans and worldwide supermarkets and local shops are beginning to catch on too.
For a delicious and versatile alternative try Tofu, it's full of goodness, can taste of anything and can be cooked almost anyway and used in almost any dish (for more information see Best Veggie Books section)
Soya milk and cream can usually be picked up in all good local shops. However, you will also find that you can order a lot of vegan foods online including Scheese (an alternative to cheese) and Vegan chocolate.
Keep and eye out for logos similar to this.
What do I wear?
It's ok, you won't have to change your fashion and despite the common misconception, you won't have to wear clothes handmade from grass shoots and leaves! A vegan doesn't where leather (animal skin) or wool (sheep's fur) and most definitely not fur of any kind. (fur is usually skinned from animals in horrific ways).
No matter what your budget is there are plenty of stockists to suit your style and your pocket. From specialist ethical wear companies, to Primark, Accessorize, Northwave (snowboarding), Spalding (for synthetic sports balls), Giali (motorcyclist clothing), Pennangalen (gothic, rock and fetish), New Look, Faith, Marks & Spencer and Woolworths.
So whatever you are into, the vegan alternative is out there! There is no more excuses!
What do I tell people?
Tell them you're a vegan and proud of it... or even better, tell them you're a lifesaver!
What about eating out?
So many restaurants in the world are now beginning to cater for Vegans, and most menus will have information about contents or the green V. But if you're not sure just ask, you'll find that they will quite happily help you find something suitable for your dietary requirements. If not, would you want to eat in a place like that?
What about Sunday dinner?
That's where tofu comes in. Tofu (the miracle food) will absorb the flavours around it, making it taste as delicious as what you are cooking it in. You will still have all your delicious fresh vegetables and vegan gravy is available from all good food shops. (for more see the Tofu section)
What about my children?
Despite myth it is perfectly healthy for you to switch your children over to a vegan diet, providing they are getting their supplements from elsewhere like calcium from broccoli, iron from spinach and protein from tofu. It is also perfectly healthy for pregnant women to become vegan once again as long as she is getting her supplements.
Remember breast milk is the best milk!