Happy New Year everyone! I realized it's been almost a month since my last blog, so I figured I'd check in.
I'm back in school to become a certified nutritional consultant. I figured I've been voraciously reading books on diet/nutrition for years now, so I might as well become certified. Just think about how much more annoying I can become. I can already picture my upcoming arguments which I'll be able to win by simply saying, "Oh yeah? Well, I'm certified." Case closed.
In all seriousness, I am looking forward to studying nutrition on an even deeper level. While I don't think it is the answer to all health problems, I do believe it is our first line of defense, and that proper nutrition could solve a host of health and behavioral problems. Specifically I believe that removing all animal protein/products from our daily diets is hugely significant and helpful.
I've been thinking a lot lately about helping people transition to veganism. I think there are some folks out there who would like to do it, but are either intimidated and/or afraid by it. They think that if they remove animal products they will immediately suffer from malnutrition and get sick. It couldn't be further from the truth. I've heard over the years the comment that "well, I'd like to be vegan or vegetarian, but you have to be so careful." But here's the thing...most of this country is extremely unhealthy and most (by far) are omnivores. You do the math. To me it's obvious that everyone needs to be careful about what they eat. The fact that statistically vegans are healthier as a group than any other I think is no coincidence. It could be simply that when you choose to be vegan you start paying attention to your diet, and begin putting healthier things in your body, but I think it's also that they do not consume animal products. There's tons of research to back me up.
I will continue to blog on this, and to provide tips on transitioning to veganism. In the meantime, if anyone wants to give it a try, it's really simple: stop consuming animal products. You will not die. Orangutangs eat mostly fruit with some vegetation (I learned this at the Sacramento Zoo--pretty fancy, no?), and they're doing just fine, and could kick most of our asses. The earth provides all the nutrients we need (it's where the animals we eat get their nutrients). Eat as close to real food as you can without the animals and you'll not only survive, you'll thrive. You will feel so good within a few weeks (after your body detox's from all the excess protein it's been having to process) that you won't want to turn back. Oprah did her 21 day vegan cleanse, and is regretting not sticking with it...She called herself a cow recently. Not nice. Cow's are healthier.
I wish everyone a healthy and prosperous 2009.
Comments (1)
Have you considered offering vegan cooking and raw classes?
Clearly many factors combine to make significant changes 'easy' for one person (as it sounds it is for you and eating vegan) and less so for another.
A key ingredient I believe is social support and mutlisensory experiences - the very combo by which most of us were very well trained that we must eat meat and processed food. Cooking classes may convey simple information that could be read in a book yet a communal experience of creating food is powerful .
How about offering a week long and/or weekend long retreat where cooking classes are taught? Could even include cooking vegan for your dog?
Posted by Moriah | July 12, 2009 2:39 PM
Posted on July 12, 2009 14:39