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6 Reasons to Consider Veganism

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Koya Webb
Below is a guest post by the ridiculously beautiful Koya Webb. I remember the first time I saw a picture of Koya Webb. The article was discussing healthy diets and promoting healthy lifestyles.  When I saw Koya’s picture, I thought, “Just give me what she’s having.”

I know you’ll put aside all preconceived opinions about veganism and read the article with an open mind. It’s only when we have ALL the facts that we can make the healthiest decisions in life.  ~ Joi

Unveiling the Vegan Lifestyle: 6 Points to Ponder

by Koya Webb

Dietary veganism—the practice of abstaining from eating animal products—is a lifestyle rife with mystery, myths and misconceptions, and is often erroneously regarded as a dietary regime for extremists.  In fact, amid copious health and wellness benefits, the vegan diet is far more mainstream today. This is exemplified by the number of vegan restaurants, and vegan dishes at traditional restaurants, increasing exponentially as well as the high profile personalities that have adopted a vegan diet.

Perhaps the vegan diet officially “arrived” when Oprah Winfrey went on a vegan diet for 21 days in 2008, and in 2011 asked her 378 production staff to do the same for one week, as well reported*. Reports also note that Former U.S. president Bill Clinton adopted a vegan diet in 2010 after cardiac surgery, while his daughter Chelsea was already a vegan. In November 2010 Bloomberg Businessweek stated that a growing number of American CEOs were becoming vegan, such as Steve Wynn, Mortimer Zuckerman, and Russell Simmons. A list of other notable vegans can be found on Wikipedia.

Here are 6 “vegan revelations” to provide fundamental key facts and clarify misconceptions about the vegan diet and lifestyle*:

 

  1. Vegan food is flavorful! Most people think a vegan diet means tasteless food and poorly-disguised fake meat. While in the past this may have been true, vegan recipes have evolved and today there is a wealth of vegan fare bursting with flavor, from barbecue classics and chili to lasagna and other Italian favorites that are prepared with a heightened health factor since fresh vegetables, fruits nuts and seeds are often key ingredients.  Spices, herbs, sauces, fresh ingredients and inspired culinary vision have made the modern vegan diet quite tasty!
  2. It’s a fruit feast. Those trying to reduce dietary sugar are reluctant to eat a lot of fruit, but the vegan diet allows for as much fruit as you desire. If you minimize or eliminate the consumption of complex carbohydrates like bread, rice and pasta, which all break down to sugar, you can add more fruit to your diet—also beneficial since fruit also contains fiber and enzymes that help you maintain and regular functioning system, while the starchy carb counterparts can clog you up and slow your metabolism.
  3. Meaty matters. It’s been shown that releasing meat from your diet—as vegans do—can protect you from many degenerative diseases. Meat quality remains an issue in the marketplace, while issues of toxicity, contamination and excessive hormones and chemicals abound. Even if you happen to eat the best quality meat products when dining at home, fast food and other restaurants are generally not as discriminating.
  4. Eco-friendly epicure. The vegan lifestyle causes less environmental damage and consumes fewer resources. Organizations such as PETA point out that animal agriculture is linked to climate change, water pollution, land degradation, a decline in biodiversity, and that a commercially available animal-based diet uses more land, water, and energy than a strictly vegetarian one, as cited on Wikipedia. With this in mind, a striking report out of the University of Chicago found that switching from the standard American diet to a plant-based one reduces more greenhouse emissions per person per year over switching from standard sedan like a Toyota Camry to a hybrid Toyota Prius, proving that what you choose to eat could do more to offset greenhouse gas emissions than what you choose to drive. So, if you want to reduce your carbon footprint go vegan…even for just 10 days.
  5. Go ahead and indulge!  The vegan lifestyle is not about deprivation.You can still enjoy favorite treats like ice cream, cheesecake, and many other desserts. Of course, as with any wellness regime, those with a sweet tooth must still heed the calorie and fat consumption.
  6. Body benefits abound. The vegan diet tends to be higher in dietary fiber, magnesium, folic acid, vitamin C, vitamin E, iron, and phytochemicals, and lower in calories, saturated fat, and cholesterol. Eating vegan has proven to control allergies, PMS, and depression. This is helped, in part, by avoiding the hormones, antibiotics, and antidepressants among other chemicals found in meat products. The vegan lifestyle also promotes healthier hair, skin and nails since mineral absorption is optimized with an animal-free diet. And, it’s been well-reported that eating more fresh fruits and veggies reduces the risk of breast cancer, colon cancer, heart disease and other deadly conditions.

 

Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veganism
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_vegans
http://satyamag.com/feb07/eshel.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQDNTGYiSPg

Koya Webb
Koya Webb
Koya Webb is an internationally recognized holistic health and wellness expert, author, motivational speaker, and consultant who is helping revolutionize the vegan cuisine and holistic living landscape. Her book “Koya’s Kuisine: “Foods You Love That Love You Back!” helps individuals make positive lifestyle changes that maximize their ability to lose weight, increase energy, reverse life-threatening conditions, and experience optimal health and vitality through a fit, active lifestyle. Reach Koya online at www.koyawebb.com.

Find Vegan Books on Amazon!

Making Healthy Changes in Your Family: One Step at a Time

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Colorful Vegetables

I recently had a funny e-mail conversation with an online buddy about healthy foods. She’s a regular visitor to my recipe blog and, good-naturedly, made fun of my inclusion of turkey bacon on my Current Top 10 List of Healthy Foods and Drinks. She said something to the effect of preferring to have her face ripped off than to ever eat turkey bacon.

Silly girl. That’d hurt.

I finally got her to admit that she’d never even tried turkey bacon and, I think, she kind of sort of maybe consented to give it a go this week.

I’m just glad to see more people taking charge of their health in the most important place: In their own kitchen. When you stop and think about the diseases that can be avoided, and even improved, by eating the right foods and drinks – you can’t help but want to eat a healthier diet.  Don’t listen to your inner negativity – healthier food isn’t always more expensive, it most certainly doesn’t taste bad, and you won’t even miss the unhealthy alternatives.  In fact, you’ll probably start feeling so good that many of them will sort of gross you out!

I’ve actually been quite successful at introducing healthier foods to my family.  They love grilled and baked fish and chicken, steamed vegetables, green tea, oatmeal, fruit, and didn’t even through me out of the house when I served Sweet Potato “fries.”  My husband crinkled his nose when he saw them, but he actually seemed to really like them.

The following are a few things you might want to keep in mind when trying to get anyone (including yourself!) to eat/drink healthier:

  • If you don’t buy it, it won’t be eaten. Leave the unhealthy foods and drinks on the grocery store shelves.  Hold food accountable before putting it into your cart.  If it doesn’t have any nutritional value, let it stay where it is.  Roll your cart and your health on down the aisle.
  • Kids, kids, kids. Big and small kids can be difficult to navigate around when it comes to healthy foods.  But, not only CAN it be done – it MUST be done. Their health depends upon it. If a child is given healthy food, he or she will eat it.  Of course, the adult can’t be sitting beside them making all kinds of horrid faces about it – it’ll scare the wits out of them!   If you have fruit, cereal bars, little cups of apple sauce, mixed fruit, smoothies, and such on hand – your kids will eat them.  What’s more, they’ll like them.  Allow them to pick out their favorite healthy foods.  Fortunately, many food manufacturers are making it easy on parents by making the packaging more attractive to kids.
  • Start out with small changes. Have dried fruit in the bowl that once held candy.  Dried banana chips and pineapple are most excellent.  Instead of potato chips, offer up air-popped popcorn and nuts (except for very small children, of course).  Introduce a new type of vegetable at different meals – repeat those that are liked, revamp those that are ignored.  Replace soft drinks with fun pouches of fruit juice.  Kids love them – but make sure little ones don’t run through the house with those little straws.
  • Navigate the Grocery Store like a pro. Stay completely out of the aisles that bring nothing but trouble – potato chip aisles, soft drink aisles, the bakery aisle for crying out loud… or maybe I should say for gaining out loud!  Become a regular grazer in the produce section as well as the Health Food department.  Also, try out different Lean Cuisine and Healthy Living frozen meals for lunches.  Again, allow kids and spouses (after all, they aren’t totally unlike children, are they?!) to pick out their own.
  • Read those labels – some are horror stories. Often you think you’re doing well by cutting calories only to realize that you’re consuming enough sodium to make a replica of Lot’s wife.  Biblical refresher course:  She looked back. She turned to salt.  Moral – if God says GO, GO and don’t look back. Don’t focus on the calories as much as the nutritional value, or lack thereof.
  • When given the choice between white or brown (bread, rice, pasta..) – go with brown. In order to turn products white – fat is added.  Ick.  I have to admit, wheat pasta can take a little getting used to.  For me, it isn’t the taste as much as the smell – it just smells different.  Fortunately, I use a lot of herbs and garlic when I cook, so I can outsmart my nose.
  • When eating out, always go for grilled or baked rather than breaded or fried. Also, falling in love with Subway has done wonders for many people. Frankly, I love Subway as much as any fast food restaurant.  It always smells so fresh and amazing inside and the food?  Delicious.
  • The more color on your plate, the better. I’ve always loved serving really colorful meals to my family – even before I fully registered the health benefits.  Always serve up plenty of dark greens, rich reds and oranges, purples, and yellows.  Eating a variety of fruits and vegetables will reward you with a healthier body.  Not only will you be healthier and look better – you’ll feel better, with more energy.  Suddenly you’ll feel years younger!

Read on to find out my Current Top 10 Favorite Healthy Foods and Drinks.

Surprising Health Benefits of Surprising Super Foods

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Lady Alice Apples

We all know how healthy certain foods like apples, kale, salmon, blueberries, and spinach are – but there are other super foods that are just as nutritious and unspeakably delicious. Some of these super foods are foods we don’t often associate with great health – as much as we simply associate them with great taste.

For  example, according to the American Association for Cancer Research, eating more grains, nuts and meats, may help prevent bladder cancer. The reason? A non-metallic trace mineral known as Selenium. Studies linked higher rates of selenium with a lower occurrence of bladder cancer.

Other Super Hero Foods with Powers to Fight Off Disease:

  • Pistachios can lower the risk of heart disease.  They boost enzymes that help remove unhealthy cholesterol in the bloodstream.
  • British scientists have genetically engineered a purple tomato that’s getting a great deal of attention.  This purple tomato has been proven to help prevent cancer in mice.   Apparently the tomato carries nutrients similar to dark berries (super hero foods in their own right).
  • Researchers have found that snack-sized amounts of walnuts impede cancer growth in mice. Walnuts include Omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants and components called phytosterols.  Each of these are known for producing anti-cancer effects.
  • If you suffer from chronic sinusitis, load up on honey.  A Canadian study has found that honey gets rid of the bacteria that causes all the suffering in the first place.
  • I love the Italians.  Italian scientists report that eating a small square of dark chocolate each day will help prevent inflammation of the heart and, ultimately, heart disease.

I’m all over that last one.  I made a New Year’s Resolution years and years ago to eat chocolate and drink coffee every single day.  I did it half-jokingly, telling my daughters that I was going to make a resolution I’d never, ever break.

Success!  Even last year when I had the flu from inner hell, I somehow managed a lick and or sip of each.  I wasn’t about to let the flu rob me of my record along with my dignity.

Final thought about food: If we’re going to eat each day (and we most definitely are), shouldn’t we make as many bites as possible do us good rather than harm?

Now if you’ll excuse me, where’s that chocolate…
~ Joi