STAND UP AND BE COUNTED AMONG THE HEALTHY ONES:  LIVING AS A VEGAN. What do people like iconic Indian superstar, Amitabh Bachchan, sexy Richard Gere, Anthony “Hannibal Lector” Perkins, athletic Carl Lewis, Tobey “Spiderman” Macguire have in common? That they are famous and that they are role models? No doubt. But more fundamentally they are vegetarians or vegans.

Tobey, for example, bulked up for his role in Spiderman by eating lots of tofu. He turned vegetarian in 1992 because, he said that even when eating chicken, he would imagine the live bird. Shania Twain, who won the first Sexiest Vegetarian Alive given by PETA, says that she has more energy since she turned vegetarian.

Oprah Winfrey, who has tried numerous diets, and is perpetually trying to lose weight, is now trying a vegan diet after her recently acknowledged and publicly admitted weight gain.

“Once I became vegan, my nails were stronger, my skin was glowing, I lost a lot of weight. … Going vegan is the single best thing I’ve done in my life. I am so much happier and more confident. I made a decision based on my moral beliefs,” says Alicia Silverstone, who is now in the process of getting her book, “The Kind Diet” published by Rodale. The book will include a three-step diet plan and macrobiotic and vegan recipes.

Natalie Portman launched a line of vegan shoes and all the profits from that will go to “The Nature Conservancy” as she is very concerned with ecology and the environment.

It is not just adults who are turning vegan or vegetarian. Now there is an animated series for children called “Veggie Tales” where the animated protagonists are vegetables. The producers have released videos, songs and even a movie. Another movie, The Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything is in the pipeline. This series is pro vegan…

Most people have turned vegan or vegetarian (veganism is a sub-sect of vegetarianism) because of their moral values do not allow them to eat non-vegetarian food. As Tobey said that he would imagine a live chicken when trying to eat chicken, similarly vegans face an ethical dilemma and that is why they switch.

Also non-vegetarian food is generally high cholesterol, high fat and includes trans fats, all of which contribute to obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular ailments and other health problems. Add to this sweetened, empty calories junk food and it is no wonder that obesity has reached epidemic proportions.  People are therefore turning vegetarian and vegan with a vengeance and considering food as a panacea for all ills.

A person who is vegetarian will avoid mostly all animal products; however, some vegetarians will eat fish, sterile eggs, honey, milk, dairy products and even gelatin based products. A vegan will not eat or use anything remotely of animal origin. So he will not indulge in milk and milk based products, honey, and gelatin. A vegan will also avoid all products of animal origin whether it is leather, fur, silk, wool, cosmetics and even medicines which contain ingredients from animal sources. He may not use any products which are tested on animals.

What do vegans eat? Vegans eat all plant-based foods, fruits, berries, nuts, seeds, vegetables, lentils, beans, all legumes, non-dairy milk like soy milk, almond milk, rice milk, oils, tofu, tempeh and more. Some vegans will eat egg and meat substitutes, others won’t – it is a personal choice. Most fine dining as well as fast food restaurants now offer vegan meals. McDonalds has a new veg burger which is vegan, Taco Bell has a burrito which a vegan can have without the sour cream and cheese, Subway has a Veg Delight Sandwich which is vegan if had without the cheese.

Most Chinese, Thai, Indian, Indonesian, Middle Eastern, Ethiopian and other restaurants have foods which are vegan, but check that they have not used any meat or dairy products before ordering. In the supermarket there are lots of vegan products available from breads and cakes and cookies, to sauces, noodles, frozen desserts/ice-cream and frozen or ready to eat foods. The variety is endless.

Dean Ornish, MD, and author of diet books says,  “I don’t understand why asking people to eat a well-balanced vegetarian diet is considered drastic, while it is medically conservative to cut people open and put them on cholesterol-lowering drugs for the rest of their lives.” He suggests meatless meals for long life and protection from ill-health.

“Nothing will benefit human health and increase chances for survival of life on Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet,” said Albert Einstein. That is because a great deal of natural resources is used to provide for meat and dairy and other animal products.

Basically vegans do not like to inflict pain on animals for any reason, they find that the use of animal products is unnecessary, it is more environmentally friendly to eat vegan foods, it is a healthier diet and some people also have religious or spiritual reasons for turning vegan.

Many meat-eaters think that vegan and vegetarian diets are unhealthy because they are not balanced. The truth is that if the vegan meals are well-planned, they can supply all the optimum nutrition that the human body needs. The American Dietetic Association has said that “appropriately planned vegetarian diets are healthful, nutritionally adequate, and provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases.”

There is some doubt about vegans getting enough Vitamin B12, iron, calcium and Vitamin D. While the others can be got from foods, getting enough Vitamin B12 may be a bit dicey. If a vegan does not eat foods rich in this vitamin, he is advised to take a supplement.

As long as meals are well balanced and a large variety of foods are eaten, there is no reason that a vegan would suffer from nutritional deficiencies. For a well balanced vegan diet it is important to eat 6-11 servings of carbohydrates, especially complex carbohydrates which are fibre rich, 3 servings each of fruit and vegetables in the very least, 2-3 servings of legumes for proteins. Omega 3 fatty acids can be got from walnuts, canola oil or flax seeds, so be sure to take these in moderation.

Scientific studies have shown that a plant-based diet is associated with lower cholesterol levels, less heart disease, lower risk of many cancers, lower blood pressure, decreased weight and even stronger bones. Being vegan means being healthy, plus you contribute to saving the planet.

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