My Opinion on the Vegan Lifestyle

Vegan. Vegetarian. Paleo. Mediterranean. Pescatarian... The list of diet types seems never-ending. I'd like to first and foremost preach my opinion that there is no "one size fits all" diet. There is no single daily meal selection that will provide a solution to all of the world's health problems. I feel that many diets have both positive and negative aspects, but no human should dwell on one specific eating type so heavily that it restricts their food freedom. Life is all about enjoying a variety of nutritious foods based on what your taste buds are craving.

I frequently get DMs about whether or not I follow a vegan lifestyle. I've put this answer in many short photo captions but I think it becomes skewed amidst my copious tofu, veggie burger, and tempeh-filled posts! Haha so to answer the question... NO, I am certainly not vegan and I'm fairly confident I never will be. I enjoy egg whites, greek yogurt, whey protein, fish/poultry almost DAILY and I think becoming completely vegan would detract from my health and goals of increasing my weight and muscle mass. I have no issues with digestion of (most) dairy products so I see no need to eliminate them from my diet

For those confused about its true definition, let me explain veganism more thoroughly. It is a diet which excludes all meat and animal products. I consider it as one step further than vegetarianism, which excludes only meat from the diet. Veganism, however, does not allow for consumption of any meat or animal-based products such as cow's milk, whey protein, dairy yogurt, ice cream, cheese, etc. This lifestyle is commonly taken up for ethical reasons that I completely support but know it would be much too restrictive to fully adopt myself. Factory animal farms HAVE become extremely cruel and horrible environments that I won't explain in too much detail but many resources such as Google and Netflix can provide more information if interested and prepared to be permanently scarred.

Will Going Vegan Make you "Healthier"?

I hear this question SO often and it's very tricky & multifaceted because there is no simple answer. First and foremost, I DO think that most people quickly lose a lot of weight when beginning a vegan diet because they are simply consuming less calories. The volume of food being eaten may be roughly the same but replacing steak for vegetables will certainly amount for a decrease in calories. 

However, going vegan will not NECESSARILY make you healthier or more fit. I see SO many products on the shelves advertised as vegan but are full of artificial ingredients, fillers, coloring, enriched flours, and other less wholesome ingredients. Sure, these products are void of any animal-based products, but do I really want to be regularly consuming genetically modified soy or hydrolyzed vegetable protein?.. People less educated about whole foods or with less time to prepare them may not understand that these items shouldn't fill 99% of your diet. Treats and quick solutions are good to incorporate now and then but a vegan eating only processed/packaged meals likely won't feel or look their best. 

What About the Ethical & Sustainable Arguments?

I believe the vegan diet stands apart because of its substantial beneficial impacts on the environment. THIS argument is probably the most compelling to me amongst the various fights for veganism. Greenhouse gas emissions and water usage from factory farms have skyrocketed in the meat production business. The energy and water levels required for production of tofu, tempeh, and most other meat-replacement options are not even comparable.  

Additionally, the treatment of the animals in these areas is beyond cruel and inhumane. Often times they are locked in close quarters without fresh air, sunlight, or any outdoor access. They are also treated with various hormones and antibiotics to optimize their size and production in dramatic ways. I could go on about the severity of the conditions, but to summarize; they are treated extremely poorly for the company's benefit of maximizing production output.  

I feel I make tiny contributions when buying local eggs, or those in the store labelled as "cage-free" or better yet "free-range". The "free-range" label means the hens are literally able to roam free in an open environment to lay their eggs and is certainly the label I search for most. I've recently read that some major companies are distorting the "cage-free" label and packing thousands of chickens into overcrowded factory floors, arguing they qualify for this label simply because of the lack of any genuine "cages". 

Can Veganism be Done Properly Healthwise?

I think there are definitely proper methods to adopting a plant-based vegan lifestyle. Vegetables and fruits are obviously prominent components of the diet, but proper amounts of protein and fat must also be included. As long as an individual incorporates enough plant-based protein such as tofu, tempeh, lentils, beans, etc.,  AND getting in the necessary vitamins and minerals, I don't believe there should be any health concerns regarding the vegan diet. As stated earlier, the ingredients in processed meals & meat substitutes should be checked over carefully, but there are many good options out there to choose from!  

The most commonly deficiency concern within the vegan diet is that of Vitamin B12. Foods with greatest levels of B12 include: eggs, poultry, fish, red meat, milk, cottage cheese, greek yogurt, etc. - all of which vegans steer clear from. Proper supplementation must be included within the vegan diet to assure B12 is consumed regularly (about 2-3 micrograms per day). Many soy and meat-replacements are fortified with B12 for this exact reason. I'm also HOOKED on nutritional yeast which truly deserves its own blog post itself - but contains Vitamins B12, B6, folate, riboflavin, niacin, thiamin, zinc, pantothenic acid, and MORE. Essentially it's the super supplement. And it has a delicious cheesy flavor... What could beat that?

SO - Should YOU Go Vegan?

To conclude, I am neither a diehard advocate for or strictly against beginning the vegan diet. If you are considering going vegan, just please make sure you properly educate yourself first so that you do not lack and necessary vitamins/minerals, so you eat ENOUGH calorie-wise, and you don't simply fill-up on the processed & ready-to-eat vegan meals. I believe the diet takes time, proper education, and dedication to stick to, but it can most certainly be done. 

However, without any serious ethical concerns or health issues from a normal diet, veganism also may not be absolutely necessary. I would like to re-emphasize that you don't NEED to adopt a vegan lifestyle to be of adequate health. Is it a more sustainable way of living in that it's less impactful on the animals and environment? Yes. Are plant-based products easier to cultivate & theoretically cheaper to live off? Yes - if you look for the right products. AND is eating vegan typically a lower-calorie diet that is commonly associated with weight loss when done correctly? Yes. 

Despite these positives, please know that it is completely attainable to be a consumer of animal products in perfect health. Buy free-range and local/organic when possible if you'd like to make contributions but aren't ready to take the full step of converting to complete veganism. 

I hope you've enjoyed my thoughts and opinions on veganism! Again, I'm not trying to convince anyone of either lifestyle, but instead educate those eager to learn more about the topic. I'm here to help you become your BEST and HEALTHIEST you while trying to do the same myself.😁

Thank you so much for reading, please come again!! Questions/comments/feedback always welcome via comments or DMs. 

XOXO - Coco