Living The Vegan Way
In spite of the different beliefs of different people all around the world, we can always choose a certain way to live our own lives. Everyone can choose what to do with compassion and kindness.
A vegan lifestyle has been hailed as one of the most kind and compassionate way of a food lifestyle. If a person is following a vegan lifestyle, you are pledging not to eat any kind of meat or animal products.
Most vegans (vegetarians) believe that animal farming is a very cruel way to make money. Raising animals and turning them into meat and other products that are beneficial to humans is very inhumane.
A person who decides to be a vegetarian to help decrease the existence of animal cruelty is making a right choice to respect life.
Most people believe that humans need meat products to absorb all the nutrients and vitamins needed by our body to properly function. However, vegetarians believe that being a vegetarian is actually healthier because vegetables, fruits, grains and other plant foods can also substitute the nutrients that we get when we consume meat.
According to the American Dietetic Association, a vegan lifestyle is also attributed to the significant reduction of risk for heart diseases, coronary ailments, obesity, most kinds of cancer such as colon and lungs, and numerous diseases.
What is a Vegan? Generally vegans are vegetarians with some minor differences. Vegans, aside from eating meat, fish, poultry and eggs, they do not also use products that are made from animals or were tested on animals such as cosmetics and drugs. Some people choose a vegan lifestyle for several various reasons but the main issue here is: Is a vegan lifestyle healthy?
With a good planning, a vegan lifestyle is normally healthier than the standard diet meals. In fact, some countries that have the usual American Diet have increased the occurrences of heart attacks, cancer and hypertension among their people.
For example, in a 1996 report of the American Dietetic Association, vegan and vegetarian diets greatly reduced the risk of acquiring heart diseases, osteoporosis, kidney trouble, hypertension, obesity, colon most kinds of cancer such as in colon and lungs.
Advertisement promoting the food industry has resulted in the common belief that we need protein that only animal products can provide. However, we can also acquire protein from certain plant foods such as legume, Soya products and nuts. Whole grains and fruits are also rich in protein. We are required to eat various kinds of protein foods every day.
Fruits, vegetables, whole grains and beans are very low in fat and contain no cholesterol at all. These foods are also rich in fiber and nutrients. Vegans usually get all proteins that our body needs from legumes such as beans and peanuts, grains such as corn and rice. Spinach, lima beans, and broccoli contain fortified juices and Soya milk that are rich sources of calcium. Some vegetables and beans such as chickpeas, pinto beans and spinach are also iron rich and a high source of Vitamin B12.
Some diabetic patients but are also vegan need to be slow in eating sweet fruits and desserts such as fruit smoothies and banana split. You can also enjoy tofu lasagna and other veggie meats such as vegetable bologna, and soy hot dogs but they are rare and you are lucky if you can find them in a health store near you.
