Vegan DietBy Colleen Gartin and Sarah Neff

Why it exists

The vegan diet exists for the ethical reasons of the Seventh Day Adventists, Buddhists and Hindus for spiritual, health and ecological reasons.

It also has many health benefits.

Benefits to Vegan Dieting

Vegan dieting is low in fats, saturated fats, and cholesterol; meaning, people on a vegan diet are less likely to develop high blood pressure, contracting heart disease, diabetes and breast and colon cancer

Lifestyle choices

A lifestyle of a vegan includes:Avoid wearing clothes made from animals,

including silk, leather, and woolChoose no cosmetics that contain no by-

products

Maintaining a Healthy Weight

While vegans are able to maintain a “healthy” weight, they are not actually healthy› People need calcium to grow and develop,

vegans do not consume many dairy products resulting in a insufficient amount of calcium

› Foods of animal origin contain vitamin B12, which vegans do not eat

› Foods of animal origin are a source of complete source of protein, however, plants are an incomplete source of protein

Incomplete Protein

Teens need to combine different sources of incomplete protein to get enough protein in their diet

Two sources can be combined that will provide all the essential amino acids needed.› For example, somebody eating a

vegetable burger and a serving of beans.

Supplementing in Vegan Diet

Because of insufficient amounts of protein, calcium, and vitamins without the aid of food from animal origin, vegans must find an alternate source to make up these amounts› For calcium, some vegans eat cereal, fortified soy mild

and nutritional yeast or a calcium supplement to get the amount their bodies need to survive

› For protein, vegans should eat nuts and seeds combined with other foods for sufficient amounts› Vitamin D: D-fortified cow’s milk and soy milk› Vitamin B12: cereal, soy milk, and nutritional yeast

Discussing Choices

Teens who choose the vegan diet should discuss it with their parents, physician, or dietitian

Teens need to get enough protein, vitamin B, and calcium because they are still growing.

Summary

Vegan dieting is a form of vegetarianism that excludes foods, products and by-products of animal origin. It is the strictest form of vegetarianism. Some vegans even avoid honey, refined sugar and beer as well. There are ethical and financial reasons that people become vegans. Vegans must find alternate sources of calcium, protein and vitamins to stay healthy, grow and develop properly.

Works Cited

Internet Information› Garber, Andrea K. "Vegetarianism." The New Book of Knowledge. Grolier Online,

2011. Web. 10 Feb. 2011.<http://go.grolier.com/>.

Picture Resources› "Vegan Food Guide." Vesanto Melina MS Regestered Dietitian. Web. 10 Feb

2011. <http://www.nutrispeak.com/becomingveganvfg.htm>. › "Love a Vegan Diet." Meatout Mondays. Web. 10 Feb 2011.

<http://www.meatoutmondays.org/emails/09-02-16.htm>. › "Pavlina's Going Raw." Vegan Soapbox. Web. 10 Feb 2011.

<http://www.vegansoapbox.com/pavlinas-going-raw/>.

Questions & Answers

What are the reasons for people becoming vegans?Answer: religious and financial

What foods do vegans avoid apart from regular vegetarian diets?

Milk, eggs, yogurt and other dairy products

Vegans do not have enough Vitamin B12 from food and they must find a supplement? True or False?

True