Vegan or not to vegan. That is the question.
My aunt, uncle, and cousins are vegan, and they are one of the reasons why I became vegetarian in the first place.
Ever since I was little I have heard the controversy of veganism. Is it good for you? Is it not?
Let’s start off with what being vegan entails exactly. According to Google, it is “the practice of eating only food not derived from animals and typically of avoiding the use of other animal products.” Fun fact: some vegans don’t even eat honey.
Veganism has many benefits such as preventing cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s, and arthritis. It also helps maintain blood pressure and improve digestion. Like all plant based diets entail, becoming vegan means it is essential to take vitamins, whether it is B12, iron, zinc, or calcium. (I know I forgot to take my vitamins when I’m cranky.)
Some vegans eat meat-less products such “chicken-less nuggets,” “impossible burgers,” or even tofu, condensed soy milk pressed into blocks of different firmness, created by a process similar to cheesemaking. Julia Zumpano, a registered dietician explains, “[it’s] best to avoid chicken-less nuggets and plant burgers except for rare occasions when your options are limited.” This is due to the fact that they all contain soy.
Even though soy seems nutritious from the outside, I would consider all the facts. Soy contains isoflavones, which function as phytoestrogens (they attach to estrogen receptors in your body). Isoflavones are beneficial as they improve tiredness, irritability, decrease hot flashes, lower your risk of diabetes, and reduce the “bad” cholesterol (LDL) as well as total cholesterol.
However, isoflavones can have some negative effects as they are likely to increase and worsen breast cancer, potentially lower immune response, cause Kawasaki disease, harm the developing reproductive system, and have negative effects when taken with medications. In addition to isoflavones, soy has antinutrients that lower your body’s ability to absorb nutrients from food.
Soy has its ups and downs, but it isn’t at the heart of veganism. There are many other options that can serve as substitutes for soy products and protein such as beans, nuts, quinoa, grains, and so much more.
To sum it all up, going plant based doesn’t just help your health but it also prevents the harm and distress of animals. There are numerous benefits from becoming vegan or vegetarian, I just wouldn’t be eating a whole tofurky by yourself anytime soon.
Hi Kameron! Thanks for sharing this information about veganism! I did not know that some vegans do not even eat honey. That is so interesting, especially because bees aren’t exactly animals. Unlike some, I love tofu, so I would have things to eat if I were to become vegan. However, I would miss meat and cheese a lot. I agree that veganism, and even vegetarianism, are much better for the environment, and can even improve personal health, too.
I never thought that a vegetarian diet could bring so many benefits. I come from the country where tofu originated, and our diet contains a lot of soy products, and I love soy products. I was shocked to hear that tofu products were used in ancient Chinese alchemy. And I’ve learned that many vegetarian foods use soy products to simulate the taste of meat, which I’ve tried many times and am shocked at how similar it is.
Your blog is so insightful and really gave me a lot to think about when it comes to veganism! I’ve been wanting to cut back on meat and eventually stop eating it altogether by the time I’m 30, and this just gave me even more motivation to take that step. You did a great job breaking everything down so clearly!
Hi! I liked reading your post about veganism. My mom and I are both vegetarian but she is thinking of becoming vegan soon, and one of my closest friends is vegan. I have actually heard of the negative effects of soy from my mom who warned me to not eat too much of it, but the one I’d never heard of was Kawasaki disease! I also had no idea that being vegan could prevent Alzheimer’s. That’s super cool — I’ll let my mom know!! Do you think you would ever go vegan?