Here are a few pointers and guildelines that will help you in your new resolve to stay Vegan.
- Work towards a whole food, unrefined, unprocessed, plant-based diet. This ensures that you get all the nutrients and satisfaction without excess calories. Such a diet is also likely to reverse long-standing diseases such as obesity, heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, acne, constipation and intestinal problems, menstrual problems, and repeated infections. It can help prevent several types of cancer. It will reduce and eliminate the need for medications. It is also effective in many cases of sleeplessness and mental disturbances.
- Remember that oil, sugar, white rice, white flour (maida) are all refined products.
- A simple way to eat healthy is to get all the newspapers and magazines and see what is advertised. Eat nothing that is advertised. Advertisements entice us to eat things, which we do not need, and believe things, which are not true, like “milk is good for you” or “that eggs are needed for protein”. Essentials do not need advertisements. This is why there are no ads for cucumbers and oranges!
- When you follow the healthy vegan diet only partially be aware that you cannot expect the same results. Someone told us that he stopped dairy and noticed no health improvements. But he had not stopped or reduced meat, chicken, fish or eggs, nor had he stopped eating refined foods! Dairy is similar in composition to meat – high protein and fat and no fibre so stopping dairy alone will not help.
- Stop the tea, coffee, soft drinks, alcohol and other drugs if you want to be a healthy vegan.
- Just because you can’t go all the way, don’t do nothing! Some people say, “I could never leave, say cheese.” Leave everything but cheese and minimize that. You will see that it’s easier to let go after some time. If you still have trouble, please watch videos on what is being done to farm animals or better still visit a commercial poultry or a slaughterhouse.
- People will question your actions. Be well read and well prepared. You should know the answers to “where do you get your proteins?” and “where do you get your calcium?” If you know enough you will be able to challenge them too, with, “where do you get your anti-oxidants?”
- Be aware of your own resistance to change. You may fool yourself into believing something that is not true. For example someone said, “I agree with being vegetarian, but I am not sure about leaving milk. What would the Tibetans do without milk? And what about all the people whose livelihoods depend on milk?” Keep the perspective. Remember that firstly you do not live in Tibet, and secondly, just because you stop something it will not rob anyone of their livelihood because the whole world will take time to change. But it’s a bit like saying what will happen to the butchers if I stop eating meat? Or the smugglers if I don’t buy contraband? Or what about the people in the Arctic? Be real and catch your own resistance.
- Even if you are overweight do not count calories! The beauty of eating what nature meant you to eat is that you can eat all you want. (Did you ever see an overweight horse or elephant?) The fibre helps clean the excesses. Growth, stimulated by growth hormone from dairy and the excess protein will cease. The result? Weight loss.
- If you are underweight or worried about losing weight be aware that you are likely to lose some when you make the change. But your body will adjust and you will come back to your ideal weight.
- B12 is the only nutrient you are likely to lack on a whole food plant based diet. Since this vitamin is stored, the lack of it may show only after three years of switching. Eat plenty of fermented foods like miso, tempeh, idli, dosai, etc and yeast in the form of nutritional yeast flakes and Marmite. At present Nutritional Yeast is not available in India but is available in health food stores abroad. As far as possible eat organic and avoid antibiotics. This combination may help your intestinal bacteria to produce all the B12 that you need. If you feel weak get your blood tested for B12. If needed, take a supplement.
- Learn to listen to your body. Once you start eating the food nature meant for you your body will talk to you and tell you what it needs. Listen! If you inadvertently or willingly eat non-vegan food, then too, listen to your body. After a period of being vegan you will be able to notice what is better for your body.
- Do not be afraid of what people may say about your dietary restrictions. Be true to yourself and explain them patiently the reasons that you are vegan. When you sincerely speak your truth, people will be inclined to follow your example.
- You may find you are hungrier than you used to be. EAT! We can’t emphasize it more. Remember carnivores eat one large meal occasionally, and herbivores eat all day. Milk is similar in composition to meat (high protein and fat, no fibre) so even if you were vegetarian when you stop dairy you may be hungry more often.
- Eating out? It’s not that hard to be vegan. Eating whole foods only may be more difficult though. Choose your restaurant carefully. Apart from the Indian subcontinent, Asian countries do not traditionally use milk. So if you go for Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Malaysian or Burmese, when you ask for vegetarian you will likely avoid dairy. Just check if the noodles or batter contain egg though! South Indian food also has many vegan options. With North Indian it’s more difficult. Naan contains egg unless you are eating in a vegetarian restaurant and almost everything contains dairy so ask before ordering. Italian restaurants often cook in olive oil so they too may be able to make you something vegan by dropping the cheese. Salads are often an option. Breads sometimes contain milk. Most Indian deserts are made with dairy and sugar. You’ll have to make your own but its all the better for your waistline, not to mention your health.
- Never lose memory of why you decided to become vegan in the first place – whether it was for health or the animals or the environment. This will help you keep your resolve.
- Keep reading. The more knowledge you have the easier it is to keep on track.
- You will be challenged. You will hear things like “I would not want to be an extremist. I prefer to stay on the middle path.” “I don’t want to be so rigid, I want to be flexible.” Do not get confused. Just because the whole world is doing something does not mean it’s the right thing to do, especially when it is causes suffering to other beings. Remember that biggest epidemics are heart disease, hypertension, diabetes and cancer and all of these are related to diet. Be wise. Would you say, “I prefer to stay on the middle path” when it comes to drugs? Is it more rigid to stick to your old ways or change when you learn the truth?
- Non vegans defend eating animals or their bodily secretions. However when you say, “I am vegetarian or vegan” many will say, “oh, I am almost vegetarian. I eat meat rarely.” People like to be like others. Don’t be a follower, be a leader.
