Living Vegan For Dummies - Alexandra Jamieson [167]
Other notable vegans: Cesar Chavez (civil rights leader), Coretta Scott King (civil rights leader), Dennis Kucinich (politician), Nicole Lapin (journalist), Howard Lyman (former cattle rancher turned activist and author), John Mackey (co-founder and CEO of Whole Foods Market), Petra Nemcova (model), Benjamin Spock, M.D. (pediatrician)
Chapter 26
Top Ten Questions (and Answers) about Going Vegan
In This Chapter
Answering top questions you’ll get about going vegan
A quick reference guide for concerned family and friends of vegans
How irritated will you get with the same questions from nonvegans over and over again? Probably very irritated. That’s why this chapter is so important. Here, amid the ten most common questions you’re likely to hear, you can find all the comebacks, educated information, and succinct points of fact needed to make it through what I call the “vegan third degree.”
If you’re still sitting on the fence about whether to become a full-on vegan, this chapter can help you make the final decision. The best part about these savory bits of knowledge is that you just may entice the person asking the question to go vegan too!
Why Would You Do Something Like That?
Going vegan is one of the best ways to protect the environment. After all, raising animals for meat is one of the leading contributors to global warming. Because raising animals for human consumption requires huge amounts of clean water, land, and oil for transportation and refrigeration, it’s better for the environment to be an SUV-driving vegan than a Prius-driving meat eater.
Similarly, the best way to show that you care about animals and other people is to stop eating animal products. By not eating meat, cow’s milk, or eggs, a vegan saves the lives of more than 100 animals a year. Eating meat and dairy takes food and clean water away from starving people around the world. It takes many pounds of grain and hundreds of gallons of water to produce just a small amount of meat or dairy. The more people who live vegan, the more other people can simply eat.
Aside from being an environmentally friendly decision, a vegan diet also will keep you alive! The American Dietetic Association states that vegans are less likely to become obese or develop diabetes, many cancers, or heart disease.
Where Do You Get Your Calcium?
Vegan sources of calcium are everywhere. Dark green veggies, such as broccoli and bok choy, are excellent sources. And soy, rice and hemp milks are all enriched with the mineral — as are many orange and apple juices. Tofu is often processed with calcium sulfate, making it a good source. Soy yogurt, almonds, blackstrap molasses, and tahini also contain substantial amounts.
Several studies have shown strong evidence that people who eat lower-protein, plant-based diets need less calcium than those eating higher-protein diets based on animal foods. Even though vegans may need less calcium to ensure strong bones, they can (and should) get the recommended daily allowance, with natural, cruelty-free foods.
Where Do You Get Your Protein?
A varied vegan diet provides enough protein for both adults and children. As long as you eat enough calories from varied sources of food, it’s easy to get your recommended amount on a daily basis. Vegan sources of protein include whole-wheat bread, nuts like almonds and cashews, seeds like sunflower and sesame, peanut and almond butter, soy and hemp milk, whole grains, beans, and soy foods like tofu and soy yogurt.
An 18-year-old male needs between 55 and 60 grams of protein a day. So, if he eats the following foods in one day, he’s set on his protein: 1 cup oatmeal, 2 tablespoons flaxseeds,