If you are considering becoming vegan because it concerns nothing but giving up meat and becoming a vegetarian, think again. While becoming vegan is perhaps the healthiest decision that you could take, it is not merely becoming a vegetarian – it is more than that.
What is a vegan?
A vegan is not about giving up fish, meat and eggs; it involves adopting a brand new mindset. Becoming vegan therefore means that you are adopting the strictest form of vegetarianism and would need tremendous amount of willpower and dedication to remain one.
A vegan is a puritan kind of vegetarian who not only gives up animal products for health reasons but believes in displaying his or her concern for the animal world in the way he or she lives and eats. A vegan would go all out to protect animal rights and would not touch products which have been derived from animal origin like honey, yogurt, milk, cheese, etc.
Becoming vegan also means not using accessories of animal origin like furs, silk, leather or wool. You would not approve of using animals for lab testing even if such tests are done to research or develop healthcare products.
Becoming vegan: what about vegan nutrition?
As mentioned earlier, becoming vegan is a major decision that has a direct impact on your health. Therefore, you should ask your doctor if your present health permits you to give up certain foods. One of the things that usually bother a lot of new vegans is about the source of vegan nutrition. Where do vegans get their nutrients from?
This is a normal query since a majority of us have always believed that the best nutrition in the world has to come from animal sources. The good news is that there is more than adequate vegan nutrition in the foods they eat. Over and above the six main food groups, there are plenty of substitutions available for vegans to include in their diet plans, that not only turn their foods tasty but they are also kept motivated to remain a vegan for good.
For guidance regarding vegan nutrition, a vegan usually relies on the vegan pyramid, which is much like the vegetarian food pyramid, listing out foods and their relevant portion sizes to prepare the daily diet plans. The vegan pyramid is a very useful guide to vegans as it not only tells which foods to have but also in what portion sizes, so that a 100% balanced diet plan can be chalked out.
Typical concerns about vegan nutrition is how to include omega 3 fatty acids, proteins and calcium found so abundantly in animal foods. But such deficiencies can be easily met up with adequate amounts of green leafy vegetables, vitamin supplements and nuts and grains like cashews, macadamias, peanuts and pecans.
Marc MacDonald is an independent researcher who has spent considerable time and effort in studying and collating information about health-related concerns, specifically focused on sleep and nutrition.
He has written innumerable research reports on particular subjects like somnoplasty, becoming a vegetarian, becoming vegan, eating raw food, sleep apnea and weight loss, deviated nasal septum surgery, snoring remedies, and good night sleep techniques.
To learn more about this article's main topic, please visit his website: http://www.becomevegetarian.org/veganism/