Why I'm "mostly Plant Based," not "fully vegan"

First of all, I generally eat a plant-based diet. I agree with many of the beliefs found in veganism. However, I don't agree on everything. Below are some disagreements I have with some of the more militant vegan activists.

1) We don't know everything. Prior to the discovery of B-12 in 1947, humans have been omnivores for as long as history records. This "ancestral diet" involves many different nutrients, vitamins and minerals. But it also involves interactions - or certain essential pairings for optimal absorption. While our top scientists understand many of these things, I'm also convinced they don't know everything. 

2) "Judge Not" (Matthew 7:1). I prefer a tolerant and understanding mindset when approaching a historically omnivore species (humans). I feel that constant anger is detrimental to one's health. Some vegans can be downright cruel to those who exit the lifestyle. We must understand that dogs, cats, fish, whales, dolphins, birds, humans and many other species are not historically vegan. However, this is not a justification of cruelty found in factory farms or gluttonous lifestyles. 

3) Because of soy, gluten and nut allergies, some people do better on their ancestral diet (which includes animal products). This is where I'd prioritize health over ideology, personally. If someone is truly struggling to be healthy on an entirely vegan diet, I'm OK with them trying out non-vegan options, especially when those options are humanely raised.

Mikhaila Peterson seemed to only improve on a meat based diet. Either I can accept that I don't know everything, or I can judge her. I prefer the first option.

4)  While all of the blue zones were mostly plant-based, none of the blue zones were fully vegan. Yes, there are vegans living among the 7th Day Adventists, who did quite well in the Blue Zones studies. But the five blue zones including Ikaria Greece, Okinawa Japan, Nicoya Costa Rica, Sardinia Italy, Loma Linda California, all included a small amount of animal protein. It's easy to forget that veganism wouldn't even be possible without the discovery of B-12, which happened in the 20th century. DHA omega 3 from algae is another example of a modern breakthrough which allows vegans to be healthy. 

5) Supplements and planning can be pricey, ineffective and exhausting. Yes, I know that B12 is technically the only supplement vegans need for survival. However: zinc, Omega 3 DHA, Vitamin D, Many of the B vitamins, selenium, iodine, choline, iron, protein and many others are often limited on a vegan diet. Maintaining these supplements is an essential part of most vegan diets. 

Much of the world doesn't have access to these supplements. I lived overseas for about 4.5 years (in China) and witnessed true poverty. Many people there work for about a dollar an hour. 

It would be absurd to ask someone in this income bracket to purchase a $30 algae supplement for their DHA omega 3's or a $60 container of pea protein. Also, trusting the quality of these supplements is a huge problem in China and other countries.

6) Even vegan restaurants kill rats and mice, and it's probably a "necessary evil." 

Be honest, do you really want rat droppings on your black bean burger? Landlords generally take care of rodent issues for their tenants, including vegan restaurants. Sure, there's always the remote possibility that the rodents are caught and brought to another place. Is this likely, especially in a city setting? Absolutely not. Landlords are generally too busy to be driving rats and mice around. And dropping these rodents off in a forest is generally a death sentence anyways, according to PETA (Link).

It's also noteworthy that mice and rats will generally do anything possible to return to their homes and families (aka our favorite vegan restaurants or even our bedrooms), even from miles away. 

7) Nobody is 100% vegan. Yes, vegans generally do a far better job at protecting animals than those eating factory-farmed meat. Vegans also generally use less land, since much of the grains grown in the world end up feeding animals for meat.

However, even vegan farms require deforesting, which destroys animal homes and habitats. Simply mowing the lawn kills rodents and insects. Rodents and other animals are killed during combine harvesting. Farms often require pesticides and insecticides that kill bees and other insects. Roadkill is possible for anyone who owns cars. 

8) Some prominent vegans (including "Vegan Gains") call for "culling" or killing predatory animals. This is absolutely absurd in my mind, as it would involve killing most species of fish and birds, who often eat smaller fish. insects or even smaller rodents. The only time I'd be in favor of killing an animal is to use it as food, when other better foods aren't available.

9) I do believe in promoting my own species over other species. While fish often eat smaller fish, they will almost never eat their own species (Link). This "speciesism" is true throughout the animal kingdom.  If I had to choose between the life of a human or an animal, I would protect a human. Some vegans make no such distinction. 

10) Factory farming and gluttony are huge problems. I'm actually in agreement with most vegan ideals and principles. I'm also 100% against the evils of factory farming. Currently, I eat a plant-based diet. That being said, I personally put health and science before any sort of ideology, rather than vice versa.

11) Eating a big fish saves many small fish. Most fish are omnivores, and hunt insects or even other small fish. So for those who eat big fish, they are effectively saving the lives of many smaller fish.

12) "I like whales." The simple statement, "I like whales" is extremely anti vegan. Why? Because whales eat roughly 5,500 pounds of fish PER DAY (2,500 kg) (Link)! These lovable creatures are killing machines, and yet I don't judge them for it. Their natural diet is fish. They are entitled to eat their natural diet, as are humans. 

B Vitamin Rich Foods for Vegans

1) Nutritional Yeast - This is a food I've recently been eating daily with my salads. The more I read about nutritional yeast, the more I think it's a superfood. It's loaded with B vitamins (including B12 if it's fortified). According to Dr. Axe, nutritional yeast is beneficial in preserving immune function, fighting bacteria and viruses, boosting protein, promoting healthy skin, nails and hair and boosting B12 (fortified version only).

 

2) Avocados - Avocados are a great source of many B vitamins, including B1, B2, B3, B5 and B9 (link). Including guacamole or an avocado with your daily salad is an excellent idea.

3) Flax Seeds - Flax seeds are high in vitamin B17, which many people believe is cancer preventative (Link). In addition to B17, flax is also high in B9 (folate), B1 (thiamin), B3 (niacin) and vitamin B-6 (Link). Flax seeds are truly one of nature's super foods.

4) Whole Grain Breads "Rye, white, whole-wheat and French breads each provide between 0.2 and 0.3 milligram of thiamine per 2-ounce serving -- a significant portion of the 1.1 and 1.2 milligrams that the Institute of Medicine recommends daily for women and men, respectively" (Link).

5) Fortified Plant Milks - Fortified plant milks include B12 and often include other B vitamins as well. Choosing an organic, sugar free option is a healthy way to meet your B vitamin needs on a daily basis.

Vegan Meal Plan and Motivation

 Rip Esselstyn has been vegan for nearly 40 years now, and shows what he eats in a typical day. For his meal planner, check out his PlantStrong website here!

Victoria Moran is another successful long-term vegan who promotes a similar approach to Rip Esselstyn. 

Fighting ALS With Diet and Supplements

As a preface, I am not a doctor and am not claiming to cure, treat or diagnose any condition. The below citations and studies are simply for your information and consideration.

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While ALS is generally viewed as a "death sentence," several people have claimed to stop its progression and even reverse some of its symptoms through diet and herbs.

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1) Check out how Pam Bartha was able to recover from MS (similar to ALS) by treating underlying parasitic infections through Dr. prescribed anti-parasite medications. Note that Pam is not a vegan or a vegetarian, but eats whole foods and avoids processed sugars, grains, breads, etc. 

2) Ariel Belloso claims to have beaten peripheral neuropathy - a similar disease - on a raw vegan diet. "The weakness I felt through the muscles of my legs got so bad that at one point that it made standing up very difficult...At the same time, I noticed it was becoming increasingly more difficult to chew certain foods, especially meat. And just to remind you, the year was 2004 and I was eating the standard western diet" (Link).

After doing research online, Ariel changed his diet to a raw vegan lifestyle. "Four months into my new raw vegan diet, all my symptoms of Peripheral Neuropathy were soon receding. I stopped feeling those electric shock pains, and my balance and coordination was fully restored" (Link).

3) "No Egg Craig" is a popular vegan Youtuber who beat a similar, but less severe, condition known as CIPD. This disease also attacks nerve cells and led him to being paralyzed in his bed. Craig says that a fully raw, vegan diet helped him overcome CIPD.

4) Anthony Quan has had ALS for 11 years now. "After being diagnosed with ALS, I soon found myself in a state of total paralysis, or as I called it, 'you’re totally f****, bro.' But I credit my diet of veganism and hardcore juicing with helping me to regain some control of my body" (Link).

Though Anthony is still mostly paralyzed, he's regained some movement in his limbs, which is nothing short of miraculous. Anthony also stays active painting with his eyes, using a technology that allows him to be creative even while in his bed.

5) Dr. Craig has had ALS since 1995. He says, "Most importantly, my breathing is way better than it was three years ago...I am not meaning to imply that a 100% raw foods diet is the best choice for everyone’s optimal wellness, although I have read enough that has me believing that those who would like to achieve the optimal wellness possible for them to consume a high alkaline diet that is at least 60-80% raw...I use avocado, an abundance of healthy oils and raw almonds as some of my nutrient dense strategies for maintaining weight." (Link).

"Daily [Dr. Craig] drinks lots of filtered alkaline water, juices, and eats a very clean mostly a raw food diet, with plenty of healthy fats and protein" (Link).

Things That Seem To Help

1) Treat Hidden Infections and Parasites - Veterinarians have known for hundreds of years that parasites and worms can cause debilitating neuropathy and eventual paralysis in animals (Link). Doctors are finally discovering that this is also true for humans: 

"Researchers at the University of California-Riverside have shown, for the first time, that infection from the common parasite Toxoplasma gondii disrupts neurotransmitter glutamate function in the brain, potentially leading to neuronal death and neurodegenerative diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)" (Link). 

For fighting parasite infections naturally, check out my post HERE!

2) Take L- Serine - "Researchers have shown that, when treated with L-serine, a non-human primate model of ALS had fewer pathologies associated with the disease" (Link).

3) Focus on a whole foods, plant-based diet.

4) Lion's Mane - "Some research suggests that extracts of lion’s mane mushrooms may encourage nerve cells to grow and repair more quickly. One study showed that rats with nerve damage receiving a daily extract of lion’s mane mushrooms had quicker nerve regeneration than control animals" (Link).

5) Probiotics - "The study published in the journal Clinical Therapeutics found profound evidence suggesting that gut microbiota targeted with natural bacteria products successfully alleviated ALS progression in animal models" (Link).

6) ALA (alpha lipoic acid) - "Alpha-lipoic acid is an antioxidant and also a cofactor for mitochondrial enzymes. In a study with G93A/SOD-1 mice, ALA...showed a significant delay in onset of impaired motor performance, increased survival, and attenuated weight loss in treated mice compared to controls" (Link).

7) Beta Carotene - "The new study showed that people whose diets were higher in beta-carotene and lutein had a lower risk of developing ALS. Lutein is a type of oxygen-rich carotenoid called a xanthophyll, which is found in deep green vegetables like kale and broccoli" (Link). Since raw kale can lead to iodine absorption issues, I recommend adding some raw carrots to your morning smoothie for beta carotene. My favorite smoothie recipe is by the amazing medical doctor Brooke Goldner HERE.

Another study showed that "fruit consumption was negatively associated with the risk of ALS, but intake of beef, fish, and fast food were positively associated with the risk of ALS. In addition, the risk of ALS was negatively associated with intake of plant calcium and beta-carotene, while positively associated with intake of total calcium and animal calcium. Intake of vegetables and other antioxidant nutrients had no effect on the risk of ALS in the present study" (Link).

8) NAC - "Recently, Louwerse reported on a double-blind trial of NAC in 111 patients with ALS. Patients with limb onset but not bulbar onset of ALS had a 50% decrease in the one year mortality rate with NAC treatment" (Link).

10) Tudca - "Research has shown that TUDCA can decrease nerve cell death, a hallmark of ALS, through its ability to act as an antioxidant that prevents toxic reactive oxygen species from accumulating inside cells. The molecule also has the ability to control immune function" (Link).

11) Take wheatgrass. 

One animal study concludes, "Wheatgrass treatment ameliorated the oxidative damage of sciatic nerves by increasing the antioxidant enzymes SOD, Catalase, GSH levels and by decreasing the formation of TBARS in diabetic rat sciatic nerves" (Link).

Here are some personal testimonies about wheatgrass: 

"I have now completed two months of oral wheatgrass extract to see if the wheatgrass would be beneficial to my Multiple Sclerosis... I am astounded by how much energy I now have. I started to notice the change after about 3.5 weeks of taking wheatgrass, and my energy levels continue to increase. I am truly amazed." 

"I am SO happy with the improvement in sensation, and my hair and nails look GREAT! My skin is still really sore but I have much hope that will change soon" (Link).  

Veganism - A Lifelong Pursuit

I've been vegetarian now for over three years. I've also limited the quantity of eggs and dairy in my diet, going completely vegan at times. I've struggled with deficiencies and currently supplement, though I still have trouble being 100% vegan, especially because of deficiencies.

The best I've felt in my life has been on a vegan diet, and my goal is to find a way to be vegan without any of my previous deficiencies. The vegan diet brings a sense of positivity that I've never felt otherwise. A low meat diet is one step closer to vegetarianism and a vegetarian diet is one step closer to veganism.

I believe that the important thing for me is to be on the path towards veganism, as close as possible. I feel that veganism is a win-win - animals are treated more humanely as humans become healthier. Of course, concerning skeptics, science also backs up the positive effects of a vegan diet. Yet there is no better teacher than experience.

Is Abortion Vegan?

I've met many vegans who are pro-abortion. One famous YouTube vegan, Durian Rider, has said, "If you want to have an abortion, have an abortion." I usually agree with Durian Rider on most issues, especially when it comes to protecting animals and following your dreams. However, I disagree with him on this issue. How can you protect dogs, cats, dolphins, pigs and chicken's eggs - and then make a careless statement like this about babies in the womb? In other words, why are other animals prioritized over humans?

As a long-term vegetarian, I believe that the idea of protecting animals from pain and suffering is consistent with being pro life. One argument made against eating eggs and milk is, "It's not yours, so don't take it." If milk and eggs are this valuable, then isn't the life of an unborn baby? I believe that unborn babies are fragile, beautiful and valuable. This, to me, is consistent with a vegetarian philosophy which seeks to minimize harm to all animals - including humans.

I am not of the philosophy that says - once a child is born, we can simply ignore it. After living in China for several years, I have witnessed horrible pollution that is cutting lives short, especially because of lung cancer. Therefore, air, food and water pollution issues are also pro-life issues. All creatures will benefit from a more peaceful and toxic-free world. We also benefit from programs and an education system that help lift people out of poverty and violence. Pro-life issues do not end at birth.

Some religious preachers may say, "Human beings are the only valuable species to God. Animals are here for our pleasure." I would rather emphasize that we should view eating meat as a last resort. We should begin to acknowledge the death and suffering that we cause. We should do our best to minimize this pain and suffering, realizing that animals - like humans - experience real pain and real joy.

After putting away the steak knives, we must also put away the abortion knives and  poisons and come to the realization: Abortion is not vegan.

Was Hitler a Vegetarian?

Of the following people, one is not a vegetarian:

 

              Adolph Hitler                                        Albert Einstein     

      Mahatmas Gandhi                                       Alicia Silverstone

 

           Paul McCartney                                                 Beyonce                

Hitler (brilliantly?) promoted himself as a kindhearted animal lover and even a strict vegetarian. He also claimed he was too pure to touch stimulants such as cigarettes or alcohol. But let's look at the facts:

1) "Dione Lucas, [Hitler's] cook before the war, claimed that he was a fan of stuffed pigeon and he was also known to be partial to Bavarian sausages and the occasional slice of ham" (Link).

2) "The Hitler Book" details Hitler's daily routine in 1944: "After midnight [Eva] would direct that there should be another light snack of turtle soup, sandwiches, and sausages" (Link).

3) "The Fuehrer's close associate, Albert Speer, has written that his leader had a weakness for meat-filled ravioli and sausages from butcher shops in Munich" (Link).

4) "The April 14, 1996, Sunday magazine edition of The New York Times, celebrating its 100th anniversary, included this early description of Hitler's diet in an article previously published on May 30, 1937, 'At Home With The Fuhrer.' "'It is well known that Hitler is a vegetarian and does not drink or smoke. His lunch and dinner consist, therefore, for the most part of soup, eggs, vegetables and mineral water, although he occasionally relishes a slice of ham and relieves the tediousness of his diet with such delicacies as caviar ..." (Link).

5) Regarding Hitler being "too pure" to touch alcohol or nicotine? Actually, Hitler preferred the harder drugs, taking over 70 different medications during his dictatorship of Nazi Germany (Link).

6) Hitler often wore leather trench coats, which is something a truly strict vegetarian would never do.

In Robert Payne's biography of Hitler, The Life and Death of Adolf Hitler, he explains why Hitler would benefit from convincing people he was a vegetarian:

"Hitler's asceticism played an important part in the image he projected over Germany. According to the widely believed legend, he neither smoked nor drank, nor did he eat meat or have anything to do with women. Only the first was true. He drank beer and diluted wine frequently, had a special fondness for Bavarian sausages and kept a mistress, Eva Braun, who lived with him quietly in the Berghof. There had been other discreet affairs with women. His asceticism was fiction invented by Goebbels to emphasize his total dedication, his self-control, the distance that separated him from other men. By this outward show of asceticism, he could claim that he was dedicated to the service of his people" (Link).

"They Shall Not Hurt" - God Speaks on Animal Cruelty

Note: Also feel free to check out my other post: "Veganism in the Bible"

Check out this amazing video. "Why did God allow man to eat meat?"

1) "Then the LORD opened the donkey's mouth, and she said to Balaam, 'What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times'" (Numbers 22:28).

2) "A righteous man cares for the needs of his animal, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel" (Proverbs 12:10).

3) Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father's care. (Matthew 10:29)

4) In Job 38:41, God says that He hears the cries of newborn ravens crying to Him for food.

5) According to the Bible, animals were initially created to address humanity's loneliness: "The Lord God said, 'It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.' Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky" (Genesis 2:18-19).

6) The book of Genesis also tells us that animals, like humans, were created as nefesh chaya, which means "living souls" in Hebrew (Genesis 1:29,30; 2:7,19)

7) "You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings." (Psalm 51:16).

8) "But whoever sacrifices a bull is like one who kills a person, and whoever offers a lamb is like one who breaks a dog’s neck" (Isaiah 66:3).

9) "The wolf and the lamb shall graze together; the lion shall eat straw like the ox, and dust shall be the serpent’s food. They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain,” says the Lord (Isaiah 65:25).

10) Because of God's generosity, animals honor God: "The wild animals will honor me, the jackals and the ostriches, for bestowing water in the desert and rivers on the wastelands for my people, my chosen one, to drink" (Isaiah 43:20).

Note: Also feel free to check out my other post: "Veganism in the Bible"

Benefits of a Whole Foods, Vegan Diet

Below is an amazing testimonial of a woman who recovered from cancer on a mostly raw, fully vegan lifestile.

Many studies have proven the power of a whole foods, plant based diet. I feel a lot of people don't find success on a whole-foods, plant based diet because of extra restrictions they add on. For example, "low carb," "low fat," "no oils," "fully raw," etc. All of these rules are not necessary, since a whole foods plant based diet is already quite difficult in a world full of processed foods.

The following pyramid was created by "Doctors Beyond Medicine," and highlights a good diet plan for a healthy diet.

Dr. Elsworth Warham lived to be 104 and was a vegan for the vast majority of his life. He was an active heart surgeon and mowed his own grass until he was 100 years old. He promoted taking a B12 supplement.


Dr. T. Colin Campbell is a world famous scientist and author of "the China Study." He was born in 1934 and has been a vegan since 1990. In the following video he discusses the importance of a plant based diet in regards to overall human longevity.
In the following video, Dr. Dean Ornish discusses the positive effect a whole foods, plant based diet had on people fighting cancer.


Victoria Moran overcame many health problems and obesity by switching to a whole foods, plant based diet. In this video she provides some great insight as to beginning a plant based diet.
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Jay Kordich, "the Father of Juicing," says he beat a tumor in his bladder through juicing.

The next video is an amazing story of how Sarah Ramos claims to have reversed multiple sclerosis symptoms on a plant-based diet, with the help of plant based Doctor Brooke Goldner. Incidentally, Dr. Goldner has an amazing story as well, as she says she recovered from lupus on a plant based diet. This is especially incredible since she was given only six months to live by her doctor.
While many people thrive as whole food vegans, some don't because of deficiencies or other problems, and eventually add animal products back into their diets. If experiencing deficiencies even after supplementing with B12, Omega 3 DHA and vitamin D, free range eggs and grass fed yogurt are a good place to start.

However, I'm personally convinced that a whole foods vegan diet is possibly the healthiest diet for most people, as long as it is supplemented with B12, Omega 3 DHA and Vitamin D. I believe that a plant-based diet has undeniable benefits. Whether you choose to go vegan or mostly vegan, you will definitely appreciate the results!