Vegan Diet
A lifestyle that embraces the organic.
BACKGROUND
The Vegan Diet, or veganism, is a modified form of vegetarianism, in that like a vegetarian, a vegan does not eat meat. However, veganism takes it one step further by eliminating all animal products from one’s diet, as well, one's life, including animal based soaps, leather, honey, and dairy.
There are many ethical, environmental and personal reasons why an individual will choose a Vegan lifestyle. Gaining popularity for these reasons, including, but not limited to, weight loss, the vegan diet supports weight loss through the ingestion of whole grains, leafy greens, nuts, legumes and soy/rice milks.
In September 2005, the American Journal of Medicine released a study of participants showing that a low-fat, plant-based diet is more effective at helping people lose weight and improve insulin-sensitivity than an omnivorous (both plant and meat) diet.
In addition, those countries who consume no meat for religious or cultural reasons report lower incidence of heart disease, diabetes, and high-blood pressure.
PRO
- Vegans generally post lower overall weight rates, or BMIs, than omnivores or carnivores
- As veganism grows in popularity, supportive industries are becoming more prevalent, including restaurants and specialty stores catering to the vegan dieter
- Vegans tend to be better informed than the average consumer as to where their food comes from, and are in a better position to support local sustainability for their community at large
CON
- Vegans must be well-scripted as to how grains and legumes combine to make complete proteins or deficiencies may develop
- A vegan must be diligent in uncovering hidden animal products, such as rennet (a coagulator/emulsifier), honey (a sweetener) or gelatin (an emulsifier and/or transporter of vitamins/herbs)
- Generally speaking, a vegan has better success living with other vegans, rather than having to endure the hazing from meat-eaters who feel, erroneously, that they are being judged for eating meat
DIET and NUTRITION
The growing popularity of the Vegan Diet has parlayed into hundreds of websites, books and support groups, providing information via numerous sources to support compliance and convenience.
In a nutshell, the typical vegan diet includes:
- Oatmeal
- Stir-fried vegetables
- Cereal
- Whole-grain toast
- 100% fruit juices
- Peanut butter, nuts and peanuts
- Frozen fruit desserts
- Lentil soup
- Salad bar items like chickpeas and three bean salad
- Fruit
- Pasta
- Fruit smoothies
- Popcorn
- Guacamole
- Chili
- Tofu lasagna, chili, turkey, etc.
- Soy milk and dairy like ice cream and yogurt
- Hummus
- Eggless cookies
- Rice pudding
- Beans and lentils
- Oat nut burgers and vegetable burgers
A quick peek at the grocery store will reveal a plethora of products to support the vegan diet, most of which are even tastier than the meat-based counterparts.
EXERCISE
While there is not a link to veganism and activity per se, Vegans generally have a deep respect of their environment, and tend to eschew fossil fuels. This translates to increased walking and/or utilizing public transportation methods, which in turn increases physical activity.
CONCLUSION
The Vegan Diet is not necessarily a diet, but rather, a lifestyle. Making a decision to be a Vegan is one that creates awareness and promotes responsibility. While diets come in a variety of packages, at their core, they are all a method for increasing awareness about one’s food intake, which will in turn, contribute to weight loss.
Common Misspellings
Veaganism, Veagan, veegan, veghan, vegetarian
Related Diets: Body by God, Makers Diet, The Hallelujah Diet, The Thrive Diet, Oprah 21 Day Cleanse, Raw Diet, Skinny Bitch, The Seven Pillars of Health
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I have dieted all my life and find this the most comfortable for me. I really like it.
Love it...I lost 8lbs already! and I considered myself a "healthy" eater before. BUT...I'm very active and I'm finding a major drop in energy...since I mostly here the opposite is this something that will pass or should I change something??
Its all good and i think i can be a vegan now, i am avegitarian for 5 years now, but i want to go even beyond, this is good what i heard now.
I've been vegetarian most of my life and a vegan for 5 years now... It's the best decision I've ever made... I highly recommend it... My doctors are impressed of how healthy I am (because I'm healthier than them) lol, and not to mention I have tons of energy, and can eat more with worrying about gaining weight!! =)
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I've been vegetarian most of my life and a vegan for 5 years now... It's the best decision I've ever made... I highly recommend it... My doctors are impressed of how healthy I am (because I'm healthier than them) lol, and not to mention I have tons of energy, and can eat more with worrying about gaining weight!! =)
ive been a vegan for only two weeks and i already lost 4 pounds! =D
I have been vegan for a lil over 3 months now. I am following "The McDougall Program for Maximum Weight Loss" This is a great book to get you into being Vegan if you need to loose weight too! He has other books that aren't as restrictive as well. I have lost a bit of weight but the BEST part is my energy level has shot through the roof, my acne is completely gone and my skin has a healthy glow now! I no longer have the daily aches and pains or headaches I used to have either! McDougall tells you how to eat healthier and WHY to eat healthier. He goes into great detail about how eating right makes you healthy and voids you of common health problems and how this solution is pretty much ignored by the medical industry because there is no money in it. His books are a definite read!
I would like to see how this can work for my husband & I. I believe this could be a better way of eating & improve our health.
It is a great idea. I'm no vegan. I eat eggs and cheese. I feel healthier and I'm losing some of this ' fried chicken' weight. Only TVP and beans withraw fruits and veggies for me!
Being a Vegan is a lifestyle choice. I feel amazing and healthy every day. It requires a lot of dedication and can require a lot of planning in the beginning - so it's not for everyone.
I love this lifestyle...but I have a hard time reading the labels...I have made some bad mistakes because I didn't read the labels....But I will continue to try until I get it right...I am a diabetic...so have to watch GI and the oils...
pointless
Protein combining is not necessary. This is an old outdated concept. Also veganism isn't a diet - it's a lifestyle that excludes cruelty to animals, so that involves the barbaric animal cruelty that is used to get wool, silk, leather, and vivisection. Going vegan dropped my monthly food bill by 25% so spend that extra money to buy organic. Vegans need to ensure that they take a vitamin B12 supplement or food fortified with vitamin B12, but that's a hastle that is well worth it when you consider the horrific animal cruelty you are avoiding.
For a list of Vegan Restaurant and Fast Food Chain Menu Options visit: Eating Out Vegan Diet Menu
Food combining to get enough protein is outdated and incorrect. As long as you eat a variety of food, it's almost impossible to NOT get enough amino acids to form protein. Everyone should be as well-versed as most vegans when choosing foods. If only people knew (or cared) what they eat, then maybe the planet would be a little healthier.
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