Comments on: Are Women Becoming Vegan Just to Lose Weight?

By: June

June — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 17:32:34 +0000

I’m sorry, but as a teenage vegan, whose 3 closest friends were also raised as vegans, you CAN survive on “Cabbage soup” and salads. In any case, haven’t we reached the point where we know that vegans and vegetarians on average live longer than meat eaters and have a much more varied diet than an omnivore? My brother is 20 years old and 6’2. He is a vegetarian and was raised that way. He is buff and healthy and fit, with plenty of energy. And he eats like a truckdriver. Yes indeed, he goes at that spinich and veggie burger like there is no tomorrow. The fact of the matter is, these people don’t know what they are talking about. It’s crap. You grow up learning that milk and eggs and lots of bacon is healthy. Gotta get that protien! People focus too much on the source than the actual nutrient. Where is the cow getting all that protien from, hmm?

By: Caitlin

Caitlin — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 23:28:23 +0000

@Luanne No criticism intended! I know you wouldn’t claim that fish oil was vegan! 🙂

I was actually responding to the part about the “healthiest vegetarians” supplementing with fish oils. I guess it’s a matter of definition. I know some people claim to be vegetarian despite the fact they eat fish. On the other hand, it drives my vegetarian friends crazy as they consider fish to be meat!

But I was actually agreeing with you about fish oil being a useful supplement for “flexitarians”, as you say. I too think the healthiest vegetarians are the ones who are not Ã¼ber-strict. It’s good for the environment and our health to reduce meat but to be flexible about it.

I don’t want to be a herbivore OR a carnivore. I’m a happy omnivore, which means I eat meat and plants. I think that’s true for most of us!

By: Luanne

Luanne — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 15:21:00 +0000

Yes, I can see now, I never said vegans eat fish oil. Hurray. I did mention websites that include oils. But thanks Caitlin for always being on top of the posts. You keep me on my toes.

By: Luanne Bradley

Luanne Bradley — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 20:08:29 +0000

Yeah, the fish oil is often a supplement for those flexitarians like me. Vegans wouldn’t use them and I didn’t mean to suggest that. I do think we are carnivores but don’t have to live that way any longer.

By: Caitlin

Caitlin — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 17:38:12 +0000

I was going to make the same point about fish oils as Rob! It’s neither vegetarian or vegan, but it’s certainly an option for someone who follows a more flexible meat reduction diet and wants to supplement.

I saw Alicia Silverstone’s vegan diet book The Kind Diet in a bookstore the other day. It was actually sort of interesting – I think it gave a lot of info on nutrition. And I love the name! I didn’t buy it though as I’m not keen to become vegan.

By: Luanne Bradley

Luanne Bradley — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 14:43:37 +0000

I totally agree with you, M’lou. I’ve been trying to go the veggie route for the right reasons and I do feel so much better. Getting thinner is another story, and I like your point about moderation.

By: M'lou Arnett

M'lou Arnett — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 12:49:53 +0000

The book “Skinny Bitch” is all about this – – become a vegan to be thin. I think this type of thinking is very short term and not very sustainable. It’s tough to make such radical changes in one’s eating habits for vanity reasons alone. I’d imagine that real benefits to waistlines, health and the environment would come from thinking critically about all food choices and selecting the healthy, local, sustainable, etc foods and doing it all with balance and moderation.

By: Rob

Rob — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 12:03:42 +0000

I liked the fact that you’ve emphasised that veganism is not just about losing weight and that you’ve suggested that people considering it should do some nutritional research (easily available online). However, you mentioned that vegans might be taking fish-oils, which would not be the case! Vegans don’t use any animal products. Also it’s innaccurate to describe humans as carnivore-designed, at the most we’re omnivores which means we can survive on either plants or animals – no one eats only meat!