How I wish I could be 100% vegan or even 95%! Had I become vegan instead of vegetarian in 1986, I might not have the health issues today that prevent me from being vegan now. Luckily I can remain in good health on a vegetarian diet including eggs and cheese. My husband cannot be vegan, either. He has a hummingbird’s metabolism. If he doesn’t consume the concentrated energy in meat once or twice a week, he feels awful. It’s not just in our heads: our blood tests show the difference. We understand the inherent cruelty as well as the economic and environmental costs of our diets. It’s a sad dilemma we live with every day.
Dear Bryna, thank you so much for sharing your story with us. I appreciate that you're genuinely trying to be as vegan as you can.
I've read a lot about the nutritional adequacy and healthfulness of plant-based diets over the last years, and I'm honestly not aware of any important health benefits of eating meat, eggs, or cheese. Expert organizations confirm that a balanced plant-based diet can be nutrionally adequate for all stages of the life cycle: https://veganhorizon.substack.com/p/nutritional-adequacy-of-a-vegan-diet
That said, every person is different — and it sounds like you two have already tried many things. Especially with respect to your health issues, I certainly won't pretend that I know what's best for you specifically. From the bottom of my heart, I wish you all the best! Thanks for your interest in veganism, and for stopping by. I appreciate you.
What a kind and thoughtful response. Yep, the struggle is real for us. I would say to younger people considering a vegan vs. vegetarian diet, “Go vegan. The rewards of living in congruence with your values are priceless.”
How I wish I could be 100% vegan or even 95%! Had I become vegan instead of vegetarian in 1986, I might not have the health issues today that prevent me from being vegan now. Luckily I can remain in good health on a vegetarian diet including eggs and cheese. My husband cannot be vegan, either. He has a hummingbird’s metabolism. If he doesn’t consume the concentrated energy in meat once or twice a week, he feels awful. It’s not just in our heads: our blood tests show the difference. We understand the inherent cruelty as well as the economic and environmental costs of our diets. It’s a sad dilemma we live with every day.
Dear Bryna, thank you so much for sharing your story with us. I appreciate that you're genuinely trying to be as vegan as you can.
I've read a lot about the nutritional adequacy and healthfulness of plant-based diets over the last years, and I'm honestly not aware of any important health benefits of eating meat, eggs, or cheese. Expert organizations confirm that a balanced plant-based diet can be nutrionally adequate for all stages of the life cycle: https://veganhorizon.substack.com/p/nutritional-adequacy-of-a-vegan-diet
That said, every person is different — and it sounds like you two have already tried many things. Especially with respect to your health issues, I certainly won't pretend that I know what's best for you specifically. From the bottom of my heart, I wish you all the best! Thanks for your interest in veganism, and for stopping by. I appreciate you.
What a kind and thoughtful response. Yep, the struggle is real for us. I would say to younger people considering a vegan vs. vegetarian diet, “Go vegan. The rewards of living in congruence with your values are priceless.”