i tried to google a good picture to celebrate, but all the image results were either pictures of hamburgers or skanky myspace girl pictures... strange. so just imagine my post looks festive!
i hope no matter where you are in the world, y'all have an awesome day today!
part three: common misconceptions about animal products.
source.
can everyone thrive on a plant-based diet?
to answer simply, yes it's possible. will everyone? maybe.
i've talked with many friends who feel like their bodies "just don't work" without meat. but logically, let's examine animal products for what they are: nutrients, just like any other food. anything you can get from animal products, you can get elsewhere. there's nothing magic about them - animals get their vitamins from the same places we do: plants!
however, you must be conscious of what you're doing. research very thoroughly! being a vegan does not equal being healthy - it's not a free pass to go all willy-nilly at the supermarket! it's simpler and requires less effort to eat meat, eggs, and dairy, but it is entirely possible for everyone to thrive without them. your success and health are largely determined by whether you're willing to make the effort responsibly (like so many things in life!).
what about vegans who "go back" to eating animal products?
people give up eating animal-free for many different reasons. mostly, i meet people that don't feel "right" eating vegan, or just don't feel like themselves (like i said earlier). i've felt the same way myself!
the reason they feel off isn't because of an absense of meat - it's the absense of something meat delivered to their diets. remember, meat isn't mysterious, or magical. it could be the fat, the protein, or the nutrients they're missing, but if they add those missing elements back into their diets to regain that balance, they should see dramatic improvements.
whether you eat meat or not, we all have specific needs to help us feel our best. eating meat is not a free pass to thoughtlessness, and neither is veganism. like any life change, it takes your body a while to adjust.
it's also worth saying that veganism is not a trendy diet. it won't solve all your problems, or make you fit in your skinny jeans. it won't move mountains or single-handedly save your life (but maybe!). it's not a religion, and it shouldn't be a source of guilt. people adjust to things at their own pace, and what's on your dinner plate should never be used as a weapon against you to belittle you or humiliate you.
what about supplements?
if you guys are familiar with my story, you know i am a big fan of nutritional supplements. i also believe that since we've become so intent on destroying our environment (thank you pollution/factory farming/BP!), our soil quality has been depleted tremendously. i honestly don't know that even the most "perfect" diet could provide what we need nutritionally anymore, and i think living the lifestyles we do in that environment has only made our nutrient requirements increase.
because of this, i would recommend everyone take a high-quality multi-vitamin. just find the best one you can and be consistent - that's the key. also, if you don't want cancer, please start taking an anti-oxidant supplement.
everyone is quick to point out vegans need b-12, and that's true... but so does everyone else! if you got a good multi-v, it should provide most everything you need, but be sure to double-check. most cereals and breads come fortified these days, so that makes it simple as well.
anything else you may be missing can easily be found in nature. even pain relivers originally came from plants :) all in all, don't take yourself too seriously, and remember the point in all this - achieving your best health!
questions that i forgot?
how do you feel about animal products?
how have you felt about this vegan post series?
-rebekah
