How can a show my mother that a vegan diet can be a healthful lifestyle?!
Answers: I have been vegetarian (for 5 years) but have great suspicions that I am lactose intolerant due to stomach damage because of my wheat allergy. She says that if I test positive for lactose intolerance then I have to start eating meat again. I could never ever do that but she refuses to even debate the possibility of veganism. She thinks that it is a crazy diet that wouldn't give me enough protein to be healthy. Where can I find proof that a careful vegan diet can be healthy (that has scientific backing).
If your mother is freaked out by a vegan diet, then you really need to show her specific examples.
I think the best example is vegan athletes. If your mother is concerned about protein requirements, demonstrating that an athlete (who almost certainly has a much higher nutritional requirement than you) can be at the top of his or her game by eating no animal products might ease her fears. Here is a good starting point: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles... . Also, here is a link to a webstie of a vegan athlete: http://www.brendanbrazier.com/ On a similar note, this site seeks to demonstrate that you really don't need as much protein as conventional wisdom suggests and backs it up with science and anecdotal evidence: http://www.drmcdougall.com/misc/2007nl/a...
The above is a very interesting link. I would advocate in addition reading the articles cited in the site (listed at the bottom of the essay)
edit: DORY- Carl isn't the only vegan athlete, so even if you put all success on 'roids then I still have a valid point. The first link was from a five second search of the web so the asker would have a link to start with and see that the info is out there. A simple internet search yields an abundance of evidence that one can sustain an active lifestyle on a vegan diet. And I believe you are wrong with regards to plant protein being inferior. It really doesn't matter where you get protein. If you eat a varied plant based diet, there are no worries. People tend to have this idea that it matters where you get your nutrients; its simply not true. A simple survey of cultural diets throughout time and space demonstrate that your staple food can range from sago palm pulp to seal and caribou and still allow your body to function. The last link I listed includes a refutation of the inferior plant protein theory, and research will also yield similar information if you look.
There are websites everywhere that talk about vegan diets, how to plan them, their benefits, and why they are healthy as long as they are balanced!
Sorry if I sound unhelpful, but there is a ton of information out there, just use a search engine and you'll find some stuff really quickly.
Good luck. =)
If you are lactose intolerant, there are treatments.
There are lactose-free milk products on the market, Lactaid pills, and you can try taking acidophilus. It's a bacteria that aids in the digestion of milk products (that's what I use). You have options if you can't convince your mother that you want to go vegan. Unfortunately, if you live with her, you live by her rules, whether they're fair or not.
Put together menus and start cooking. As soon as you take an active part in planning healthy meals she will believe you. You could also make an appointment with a dietician at the hospital and let her talk to both of you about what your nutritional need will be and how to accomplish it.
I personally am not a vegetarian or vegan, but if it's protien she's worried about, you can take pills, or have a Power Bar! The Power Bar that tastes best is called Power Bar protien plus, chocolate crisp! Yum! :)
Find a local nutritionist or registered dietitian. If you are lactose intolerant, getting suffienct calcium is the main concern.
A vegan diet is the only diet that can actually reverse atherosclerosis, which is the building of plaque in the arteries that causes heart disease and numerous other health problems.
The VIT/MIN you should be concered about are VIT B12, iron, and calcium. Take a multivitamin and you should be fine.
Protein is fairly easy to get. You get protein in everything you eat - in whole grains, even in fruit and veg. Throw a little tofu in your stir fry each day, or a handful of beans or lentils, or even eat a cup of quinoa, and you've got plenty of protein. More problematic are iron, zinc and vitamin B-12, but if you eat fortified breakfast cereal a couple of times a week, and a serving of fortified vegan 'analog' meats or B-12 supplements, you'll be fine.
You can find a good resource for going vegan and the different vitamin/mineral etc. needs here:
http://www.vrg.org/nutshell/vegan.htm
For a more 'official' site, the American Dietetic Association and Dietitians of Canada have put out a position paper on the benefits of vegetarianism, including veganism. Your mum might want to read it.
http://www.dietitians.ca/news/downloads/...
There are lots of people with beef allergies. It affects around 5 percent of children. Same for chicken allergies.
As for humans not consuming grains, that's true for non-domesticated grains, but people have been collecting wild einkorn from at least 16000 years ago, if the finds at Abu Hureyra from the dig in 2000 are correct.
Honestly, I'm not a vegetarian, but if someone wants to become one, and asks for information, just answer the question, don't give him or her your own personal opinions, "Mike."
"Where can I find proof that a careful vegan diet can be healthy (that has scientific backing)."
Unless you swallow as many vitamins per day as you do lentils, you can't. A vegan diet is unhealthy and unnatural for a human being.
You might be better off getting over your squeamishness and start eating meat and cutting out grains and dairy altogether. Mankind did not evolve eating grains and consuming dairy - those both came with agriculturte about 10,000 years ago. Mankind evolved eating meat and fish supplemented by some tubers, berries, fruit and nuts. I have never heard about anyone with a beef allergy, have you?
Check the link below. It was written by several ex-vegetarians and ex-vegans (and a few practicing lacto-ovo vegetarians) regarding raw food veganism and human health.
Yes you can get Protein from a Veg. source but it in no way,equals a lean meat source! It is about the bodies ability to absorb these Proteins, and do your research, before you become a Veg. Other-wise you will lack the nutrients to be totally fit and healthy! Our bodies need lean protein first, the Good carbs, and healthy fats!
Abby J, we are talking PROTEIN, Not CARL'S STEROIDS! Come on!
Most people are lactose intolerant. That's the reason you must consider for soy milk. If you say "start eating meat again"...what nutrition you talking about.
Unfortunately most medical practitioner around us are with outdated nutritional background and self-centered.
There are tons of resources on vegan diet...you just pick them up, or worst to come...play the footage of animal cruelty which is always you against with. No one should force you eating a cruel meat, involving violence, cruelty, slain and captivation...are you?
Finally, eventhough you may decide to eat meat, but NO ONE (even a doctor) CAN GUARANTEE YOU WILL STAY MUCH HEALTHIER than now. It will not necessarily solve your problem!!
Agree to kingtobra.
I born to a typical meat-eating parents, but now...me, 2 kids & my wife are vegan more than 6 years. We saved most medical and household expenses. Nowadays, we seldom visit the doctor as what we used to do before becoming vegan. My husband maintained "zero" medical leave for pass 6 years, and an "Healthy lifestyle award" winner in his department.
Your issue is "lactose " and "protein", therefore just fix this problem.
Someone out there non-vegetarian suffer in worst cause, don't you see? Be courageous.