Is A Vegan Diet The Right Choice For You?

Beyond vegetarianism lies veganism, the strictest form of meat-free living. To become a vegan, you really should be committed to more than just weight loss, as there are many facets to the vegan lifestyle that will force you to make significant changes.

Vegetarians, of course, eat no meat. A large percentage of vegetarians call themselves "oto-lacto" vegetarians, meaning that they still eat eggs and drink milk. Vegans would not consider such a thing. They also would not, for example, drink beer that had been purified with albumen, or egg whites. The details can be mind-boggling.

Speaking strictly from a dietary standpoint, there is little difference between the vegan and vegetarian diet. Some vegans extend their philosophy such that they will only eat foods "freely given" by plants. This means they will eat tomatoes and beans, which fall naturally from the plant, but will not eat asparagus, which is cut from the living plant.

Protein sources are limited basically to soy, beans and rice. However, that doesn't mean the diet has to be boring! There are many vegan cookbooks out there, and the world of meat "alternatives" such a soy burgers, "fake" chicken patties and even such meaty mainstays as hot dogs has expanded greatly in both variety and quality. Even mainstream supermarkets now are likely to carry a small selection of vegan-friendly items.

The health benefits of the vegan diet are undeniable. To consume as many calories as you had as a meat eater, you'd pretty much have to eat constantly, and that's not an option. You'll rarely have a day in which you don't get your full complement of vitamins and minerals, and the general orderliness required to maintain the diet will help you monitor your intake.

Most major cities, and even most mid-sized ones, have vegan support groups that meet regularly to discuss issues, work on dietary problems, share recipes and just get to know each other. Often, there will be cooking demonstrations or product reviews that will expand your knowledge and menu opportunities.

By trying a vegan diet, you'll discover new flavors, new ways to cook and probably make some new friends in the process. And all of those are good things to have around! A healthy food pyramid looks like this!

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