Is anyone on here vegan?

[Anonymous]

i don't want to engage in the prior debate, but i will say that i am a former vegan and now paleo/primal and if my n=1 study means anything, a vegan diet is suboptimal. human are omnivores. we were evolved to eat animal protein. you don't have to gorge on it, but some high quality animal products (and less grains, beans) will likey go a long way to making you feel satisfied, energetic, and healthy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:i don't want to engage in the prior debate, but i will say that i am a former vegan and now paleo/primal and if my n=1 study means anything, a vegan diet is suboptimal. human are omnivores. we were evolved to eat animal protein. you don't have to gorge on it, but some high quality animal products (and less grains, beans) will likey go a long way to making you feel satisfied, energetic, and healthy.

+ 1

Also paleo after veganism made me sick and fat. If you don't feel good and energetic, PAY ATTENTION.

The majority of people who try veganism drop out, and it's not just because bacon is tasty. We have big, expensive brains that are almost entirely cholesterol and require large quantities of preformed nutrients only available in animal-source foods.

Most people don't do well at all as vegans, and only a few really thrive. If you plan to reproduce, it's extra dumb to be vegan for health reasons.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Really? Is that why virtually every culture (save self-righteous urban American hipsters) in the world since the beginning of time eats some sort of animal protein?

So, all human beings around the world have all been doing it wrong for millions of years, until about 50 years ago, when somebody figured out we were supposed to be vegan?

Gimme a break. Veganism is a trend and a stupid one.

Anyone who is a vegan has no clue, and I mean NO CLUE, how food is really produced. If you hate the idea of eating meat, get over yourself and eat responsibly raised chicken eggs. You'll get the protein and iron you need.

Okay first off, we are one of the only cultures today to live primarily off animal protein. Asian cultures do eat some animal proteins, in the form (primarily) of fish, which has a far different makeup than beef/poultry. They also eat fish maybe once a day. That's it. They don't have dairy 3-4 times a day, then a serving of pork, beef, and poultry. Our diets are too heavily animal protein based.

Course there are the many medical studies showing how a vegan diet can reverse heart disease (http://www.happyhealthylonglife.com/happy_healthy_long_life/2008/06/yes-you-can-prevent-reverse-heart-disease---but-are-you-up-for-the-challenge-let-dr-esselstyn-convince-you.html).

Vegan is called a "fad" because it goes against the traditional American diet. We, as humans, have incredible difficulty digesting dairy products. Dairy makes our blood acidic. Having an acidic blood supply would eventually kill us, so our body must neutralize the acid immediately. It uses phosphate from the bones to do this. What's the problem, you ask? That phosphate is chemically bound to the calcium that makes up our bones. When the phosphate is pulled out, so is the calcium. The phosphate is used to neutralize the bloodstream, and the calcium is excreted. Why is it that so many American's have osteoporosis when we consume so much dairy? Correlation?

The reality is that by eating meat, we are filtering our food through the animals body. The animals consume vitamins and minerals from plants, and when we eat their meat, we get a small fraction of those nutrients, plus a whole lot of cholesterol and fat that we definitely don't need. If you want a healthy diet, you need to go to these plant sources directly, and cut out the "middle man".

You might want to do some actual research before you start speaking out of your a$$.

Why are vegans so angry? I only suggested she eat eggs. And I have done a ton of research on this, I used to be a vegetarian, foolish me.

As for "Asians" not eating meat -- hahahahahahahahahahahaha. You are such a typical Westerner vegan! First off, the diet of various "Asians" is as greatly varied as "Asians" are. Like much of the world, much of non-Muslim Asia eats tons of pork -- from oink to tail as in the whole damn pig. Are you really claiming the Chinese, for example, don't eat pork?

As for animals and "filtering" -- you have it backwards. Being at the top of the food chain means we can benefit from the animals who eat grass all day long (such as sheep and cows). We humans only have one stomach, and do not process grass and greens the same way, if you don't believe me, why not spend the day grazing in a field? That way you could cut out the middle man! Instead, humans benefit from getting a condensed form of those nutrients found in grass, not a small fraction, but a larger amount. It comes in a lovely little package called animal meat.

The American Diet is horrible, but it's not because of animal products, it's because of processed foods and sugar (and yes, your soy burger and Morning Star patties are processed food). Factory farmed animals, raised on corn and soy, are also terrible for our health. Grass-fed beef, pastured chicken, wild game. That is what we were meant to eat for our protein, not soy and a vitamin pill.

[Anonymous]

Op, vitronc is an iron supplement which has vitamin c included. I have severe iron issues and this helps.

[Anonymous]

Ugh, OP don't listen to the haters. To the haters - SHE WASN'T ASKING YOU WHETHER SHE SHOULD BE VEGAN. BUTT OUT.

I think that you've gotten great advice. I would definitely hook up a b vitamin, up the protein, and the dark greens.

In terms of cooking with tofu and such, I highly suggest (this is ridiculous I know but it's a great book) Crescent Dragonwagon's The Passionate Vegetarian. Also Professional Vegetarian Cooking is worth reading to learn techniques. Finally, Mark Bittman's Veg book isn't vegan, but it's a great great book for the basics. Those should give you super tofu, tempeh, and other protein meals that are amazing.

And just eat kale constantly

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

eat kale constantly = watch your thyroid.

[Anonymous]

Thank you to the posters with tips and recipe advice. I have heard both sides of the vegan-or-not debate, and all I can say is that it overall is working for me right now, and if and when that changes, I can always change my diet. I don't have to commit to this until I die an early death of thyroid issues. Thanks for the ideas on supplements that might help. Are there any brands you recommend for the vitamin B-12 or the vitronc--or is that the name brand for that one?