Pierrette Mulumba
The world is full of various diets and lifestyles. From juice fasts to the cotton ball diet that has you swallowing cotton balls when cravings strike. Perhaps the most misunderstood, and often than not ridiculed has to be veganism.
According to the UK Vegan Society, veganism is a set of personal doctrines in which one’s way of living excludes, as far as is possible and practicable, all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose. Although the term vegan may often be used interchangeably with plant based eaters, veganism’s philosophies are more focused on the conservation of and kindness towards animals. Therefore, unlike vegetarians, vegans do not make use of any animal products such as dairy and eggs, nor do they wear leather.
There is a strong stigma attached to the vegan lifestyle. Often than not, vegans are seen as pious and militant due to their strong beliefs. This creates a them vs us attitude which can lead to misunderstandings and unnecessary tension. The best thing to do is to leave communication lines open when discussing a vegan diet with both sides allowing the other side to speak.
Furthermore, their abstinence from eating meat creates a false impression that the vegan lifestyle is unhealthy due to lack of protein. There are individuals who indulge in meat once a week however they are referred to as flexitarians. As for those who continuously maintain a vegan diet, theirs is plenty full of protein at a much healthier dose.
According to Dr. Paul Palmer, who is a Plant-based Nutrition Consultant and Musculoskeletal OH Specialist, animal protein is acidifying to the body and is directly linked to cancer and heart disease. Plant protein, such as sunflower seeds, almonds and kidney beans, is far superior and will allow you to meet your daily requirements provided that you eat enough calories.
Although the vegan lifestyle is not as prominent, there are organisations that cater to it. The South African Vegan Society, an organisation that Dr. Palmer works with, is a volunteer organization that helps individuals who have chosen the vegan path.
Therefore, what would be the best way to steer away from a carnivorous diet? Dr. Palmer says that for those choosing a vegan lifestyle for health reasons, they need ensure that they get the plant based nutrition basics. He also suggests that you start off by swapping your meats with meat-replacement products like FRYs. If you’re in need for some celebrity inspiration, radio personality Grant Nash and Afrikaans Soapie stud Marco Spaumer are perfect.
Thus, if you’re looking to do your part in protecting animals or maybe you’d prefer a healthier way to lose weight that doesn’t include diet pills and liquid fasts, then the vegan lifestyle is perfect for you.
