Things We Will Learn From The Vegan Diet
admin | March 31, 2010A vegan diet is one that consists of all organic plant matter. Not only is being a vegetarian a diet, it is a lifestyle as well. Not only do vegans not eat any animal products, they also don’t use anything that is made from animal products. This would include things like clothing, food and beverages.
Many people turn to a vegan diet for moral and ethical reasons. Their main concern is the treatment of the animals that are being raised and processed for their food. This is not the only reason for veganism, however. Some people become vegans for spiritual or religious reasons, but the main reason is factory farming and animal testing.
A vegetarian is a slightly less strict form of veganism. A vegetarian will use products with animal products, and while they will consume products like eggs, milk and cheese, they stay away from meat. Some vegetarians only refrain from eating red meat, but will eat poultry or fish. It is a much less strict lifestyle than the vegan.
Many people think that just because a vegan diet does not contain the essential vitamins that meats have to offer that it is an unhealthy lifestyle. This is untrue, however. If the diet is properly planned and executed, they cannot only satisfy the palate, but can also satisfy nutritional needs.
Some missing nutrients from a vegan diet are calcium, vitamins B & D and iodine. However, these can be found in nutritional supplements. This is the best way to get the key nutrients you need daily. Make sure when choosing your supplement it does not contain animal products.
It is a concern in some cases that adolescents who become vegans do so because they are trying to mask an eating disorder. However, there is no evidence that the vegan diet causes eating disorders. It is important for the parents of these kids to know why their child wants this lifestyle. Be involved in what they are eating, making sure they take their supplements, and know what they are not eating as well.
Raw veganism and frutarianism are similar in concept to veganism. Raw veganism is a diet consisting of raw fruits and vegetables. It is basically everything a vegan eats, but without cooking the product over one hundred eighteen degrees Fahrenheit. Raw nuts, vegetables, fruits, herbs and fruit juices are high on the list of foods to eat. Uncooked, they retain much of their essential nutrients. The vegan who consumes at least seventy-five percent raw vegan food is considered a raw vegan.
With fruitarians, this diet is the smallest of the niche groups. These vegans maintain fruit as their main diet source. While they do eat vegetables, nuts and grains, the main focus is fruit. Like the raw vegan, those who consume a seventy-five percent diet of fruit are considered fruitarians.
Unlike these smaller niche groups, the vegan diet can have great health benefits if maintained properly. For people living outside the U. S., most cuisines are set up for the vegan. Products like tofu, tempeh and seitan are common ingredients in many East Asian diets. Common cow milk is now being replaced by soymilks and eggs are being replaced by applesauce as a starch in cooking. All of this information just goes to show that those who choose and maintain properly balanced low fat vegan diets can live a healthy and satisfying lifestyle.




