The Gist: Good afternoon VegNews Book Clubbers! I know it's still February, but we're going to pretend it's March and begin our discussion of Kathy Freston's new book, Veganist. Before we start, I just want to let you know that we still have signed copies of the book for sale at the VN Store, so get yours today so you can join in on the conversation. Also, I will be making an announcement in the near future regarding a special post with Kathy Freston, in which you can participate, so be sure to check in regularly!I asked you to read the introduction, as well as the first two chapters—or "Promises"—of the book. In the introduction, Freston mainly talks about the vegan diet, and how the book will outline the advantages of adopting a vegan lifestyle, or by being a veganist, if you will. She also mentions that it is very important to lean into this type of change. Not everyone can do it overnight, and that's not what is important. Making the change to a plant-based diet, no matter how gradual, is what's important.
In the first "Promise," Freston talks about how adopting a vegan diet will lead to weight loss. Obviously, the diet can't be filled with processed food, which is easy to do on a vegan diet, but with whole foods, such as vegetables, fruit, beans, and grains. She outlines the research done by Dr. Neal Barnard, and even has a question and answer with Dr. Dean Ornish—both doctors promote a plant-based diet. She finishes up the chapter with Ben Goldsmith's story about how he lost a great deal of weight after becoming a veganist, even though it wasn't the primary reason he adopted the lifestyle.
In the second chapter, or Promise 2, Freston talks about how a vegan lifestyle can reduce your risk of cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. Like the first chapter, she outlines the research of plant-based doctors and nutritionists, specifically Dr. T. Colin Campbell, Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn, and Dr. Barnard in this chapter. She also shares three more success stories: one from Meg Wolff, who beat breast cancer; one from Robert Dew, who overcame heart disease, along with his wife and father; one from Natala Constantine, who cured her diabetes after going vegan.
The Discussion: Here are two discussion points to help get the conversation started. I look forward to hearing from you!
1. Did you go vegan/vegetarian overnight, or did you take a more gradual process? Did you find making the change hard or easy?
2. The success stories of Meg Wolff, Robert Dew, and Natala Constantine are pretty incredible. Do you have a success story of your own?
The Assignment: Please read Promise 3 to Promise 5 of Veganist for our discussion on Monday, March 7.
~VN Book Club Hostess Lyndsay Orwig
1. I became a vegetarian about ten years ago, and that was a gradual transition. I first stopped eating beef and pork, then gradually stopped eating chicken and turkey. Over the years, I greatly reduced the amount of dairy and eggs I consumed. About 20 months ago, I cut out all dairy and eggs from my diet as well, and have been a vegan ever since. Recently, I've started eating more of a raw diet and have eliminated most sugar and processed foods. I think that the more we learn, the more our diets can begin to evolve.
ReplyDeleteSince I was little I've never liked meat. Then there was the issue about having pets but other animals can die and suffer for food, I didn't agree with that. I ate a vegetarian diet when I could growing up. My parents wouldn't allow me to eat a full vegetarian diet because they thought it would be unhealthy. When I got married and moved out of my parents house I became a full time vegetarian; no eggs or seafood included. Almost a year ago I read "Vegan The New Ethnics of Eating" by Erik Marucs. That was an eye opener for me that I wasn't doing enough. To try to make a difference I had to change my whole lifestyle. It was the best decision I have made. I became a vegan overnight. As far as being hard or easy it was about a medium. What got me the most was to find vegan replacements and check lists to make sure it has no animal, byproducts, or animal testing. It's a breeze now. Now only if I could get my family to stop thinking I'm an alien. So far the vegan sweets are helping out. :)
ReplyDeleteFor a story, mine is nothing like Meg who beat breast cancer. I have arthritis in my spine caused by an epidural used for the C Section of my daughter 4 years ago. Once I became a vegan and started to eat healthier I rarely have pain at all. During the winter I used to have to take pain medication alot to make it through. Not anymore I haven't taken one at all. Losing weight was just good bonus.
I've never been a big meat eater, I havn't liked the taste or idea of eating animals. But I gave up all meat and dairy recently. It's only challenging when I see or smell one of my old go to feel good foods. Now I'm learning to replace them with healthier ones.
ReplyDeleteI liked how Kathy talked about not having to be perfect because I have put so much pressure on myself in my life in trying to be "perfect" it never works out how you think. I also like the stories of people recovering from different diseases. I'm in nursing school and just hope that one day we will shift to nutrition more for healing as a country. It's sad to see people loosing thier limbs due to uncontrolled diabetes, some of which could be prevented by a healthy diet.
Hi everyone,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comments so far. It sounds like the gradual approach to adopting a vegan diet was the way to go for you guys. I guess you can say my adoption of a vegetarian diet was gradual, even though it was more back and forth than anything. I thought about being a vegan for about a year, but didn't really change my cheese-eating habits. Once I started reading more information on the egg and dairy industry, I pretty much went vegan overnight. I'm pretty young, so luckily I haven't had any serious problems with my health, but I used to get the flu a whole bunch when I was a child. I don't think I've caught the flu once since going vegan almost ten years ago.
I look forward to reading more comments!
~VN Book Club Hostess Lyndsay Orwig
I haven't had any specific health "success" stories for myself other than not getting sick very often. But I have shared the knowledge I have about nutrition and how it prevents/helps fight disease with others. Just today, I shared Kris Carr's books with someone who had cancer. I've also recommended this to others, and my mom is reading it as we speak. I find that the more knowledgeable I become, the more I am able to influence others
ReplyDeleteI am thoroughly enjoying this book, especially promise 2! I feel that when I try to talk to people about the benefits of the vegan lifestyle, I get very negative reactions.. its hard to dispute scientific evidence!
ReplyDeleteDid I become vegetarian overnight? Well I guess I could say yes, I was born vegetarian and am still today. Did I become vegan overnight?? The first time I tried to be vegan, I failed becuase I cut everything out overnight and had no idea or knowledge on how to substitute, mainly in cooking. The second time around, I slowly started replacing my cream cheese, and such so that by the time I knew enough about everything, I was on my way.. cooking and all! I purchased many great cook books and that has helped alot! Mainly, I feel staying educated is the key.
I do not have any stories about overcoming any diseases.. I feel that my parents did me a great service by raising me in this environment. I have a 5 month daughter, and carried out a perfect pregnancy through a vegetarian lifestyle!
I don't like calling it a diet, becuase its not to lose weight, being vegetarian is how it should be in the first place, so this to me is a lifestyle!
Loving this book club thanks alot!