About Vegan Eating Right Mentality

By Edward Mitchell


Today, it became popular to be a vegan. Even so, vegans usually have to explain too many things to too many people who simply do not understand this so called vegan eating right mentality. Your life decisions are your own, and you don't have to explain them to anyone. Vegans are happier and healthier people in general, and that should be enough.

Vegan diet is, simply said, based on foods that don't contain animal products. So, no meat, eggs or dairy products. It is definitely much easier to be a vegetarian, because they do eat dairy products and eggs, and it's easier for them to replace some essential minerals and vitamins mostly found in animal products, such as vitamin b12 and protein.

It is really important to get some essential minerals and vitamins. B12, for example, is contained in animal products and has to be replaced with different supplements. B12 keeps your nerve and blood cells healthy, and deficiency leads to tiredness, constipation and weakness. Other symptoms include various problems with nerves or even depression.

Proteins are also quite important. Once consumed, they break into valuable amino acids, the ones your body cells need to be able grow and regenerate. When you don't eat meat, milk and eggs, you have to get proteins from other sources, for example quinoa, soy or lentils. You can calculate your protein needs using really simple formula. You need as much grams of protein as you weigh in kilograms.

Several minerals are highly important, for example calcium. All dairy products contain high levels of calcium, but it can also be found in some other foods, for example in almonds, kale, soy products and many other tasty foods. Milk replacements are generally great sources for calcium, including soy and almond milk. Almond milk can be easily made in your own kitchen.

Iron can be absorbed easily or not so easily, because there are different types of iron in human foods and supplements. The one found in animal products is easier to absorb, but the one found in different seeds, for example sunflower seeds, is equally valuable. It can also be found in different vegetables, mostly in those with dark green leaves. Consume it together with vitamin C to promote the absorption.

Soy is really a great substitute for any animal product, but not if you consume overly processed foods only. Most soy products contain all kinds of additives and it is generally not recommendable to eat overly processed foods. It's much healthier to cook your own food, using soy flakes and fresh fruits and vegetables instead. If you don't have any ideas, buy yourself a good cookbook.

Another thing you should take into consideration is reading all product labels. You might get surprised to see how much strange ingredient you might find there. For example, gelatin based topping in fruity ice cream. Red color in sweets is made by processing dried ants. Lovely color, but really disgusting idea. Vegans are generally much happier people, if you didn't know.




About the Author: