What does being Vegan truly mean?

Everyone needs to eat a well-planned diet. It seems strange to call a vegan diet unnatural and a diet based on factory-farmed animals natural. More importantly, just because something is natural does not mean it is ethical and optimal for health. A balanced, well-planned vegan diet will successfully meet the nutrient requirements of almost anyone, at nearly any age group.
When considering transitioning to veganism, it's essential to ponder your morals and why this lifestyle speaks to you. A big lifestyle change is easier to sustain if you wholeheartedly believe in your decision. Think about the standards you hold yourself accountable to and what guides you as you decide what is right and wrong.

There are multiple reasons someone might choose to adopt a vegan lifestyle. Some of the ethical reasons people choose to lead a vegan lifestyle include:

- Animal welfare issues and the objection to using animals as commodities

- Environmental issues directly associated with animal agriculture (such as air pollution and contaminated drainage from factory farming into water supplies) and to help lessen our over-consumption of resources, including land, water, and fossil fuels

- Adopting veganism as a part of the solution to world hunger by more efficiently using our planet's food resources.

There are so many amazing vegan foods out there. You may be surprised by just how many options there are! Here are just a few examples of some of the foods vegans eat:

1) Every type of fruit: apples, oranges, berries, mangoes, pineapple, grapes, papaya

2) Every kind of vegetable: asparagus, kale, broccoli, carrots, celery, zucchini, spinach

3) Nuts and seeds: almonds, cashews, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, peanut butter, almond butter

4) Carbohydrates: potatoes, pasta, bread, bagels, pitas, wraps, rice, quinoa

5) Beans and legumes: tofu, edamame, hummus, black beans, chickpeas, lentils

6) Non-dairy milk: coconut milk, almond milk, soy milk, hemp milk, oat milk

7) Chocolates: many varieties of dark chocolate as well as non-dairy milk chocolates made from coconut, soy, or rice milk

8) Junk food: fries, onion rings, chips, cookies, cake, candy (check the ingredients, many of these products are only incidentally vegan)

9) Dairy alternatives: coconut ice cream, almond and coconut yogurt, coffee creamers, vegan cheese, and cream cheese, vegan butter

10) Meat alternatives: bacon, veggie burgers, deli sandwich slices, vegan sausages, holiday roasts

All animal products are excluded from a vegan diet, this includes meat, poultry, seafood, dairy, eggs, honey, and their by-products.

A vegan lifestyle includes avoidance of animal products in day-to-day life as well as diet. This includes but is not limited to:

>> products tested on animals
animal-derived fabrics such as silk or wool

>>leather, suede, down, and fur

>>personal care products containing animal ingredients (beeswax, keratin, lanolin, etc.)

>>animals as entertainment (circuses, rodeos, etc.


SHOULD YOU USE SUPPLEMENTS?
Vegans are vulnerable to deficiencies in vitamins B12 and D, omega-3 fatty acids, and calcium. But they have higher vitamin B1, folate, vitamins C and E, and magnesium levels. Vegans need to supplement B12 because there is no reliable source in their diet. But B12 and D deficiencies are common in everyone, not just vegans. Doctors recommend supplementation for older people with all diets because our ability to assimilate vitamins weakens as we age. Multivitamins can be seen as a sort of healthy eating insurance. Most of the time, you'll want to do your best to eat a balanced, nutrient-rich diet, but taking a multivitamin will ensure that you aren't lacking any nutrients, even if you aren't eating as well as you'd like to.

Explore the NEODOCS website or download the NEODOCS app. We will make sure you get a comfortable and high-quality health check-up from the comfort of your home.