#non vegan diets are not sustainable

[headspace-hotel]

I think a critical flaw in the vegan’s user’s argument was that they clearly buckled down on how capitalist exploitation and overproduction factors into milk and meat markets… and then seemed to assume that vegan diets avoid capitalist pitfalls completely.

But you’ve already posted on your blog before about how crop production under capitalism has created huge environmental issues in terms of biodiversity, depletion of topsoil, and sustainability. Meaning even a non-animal diet can (especially on the scale necessary for every human being currently in existence) still create large-scale issues if that diet demands having specific foods in abundance to avoid eating meat.

Like, I’m sympathetic to what vegans want to do, it just feels like they’re ignoring a MASSIVE number of pressing logistical and environmental issues to push that agenda. There’s several intersecting problems here, and claiming humanity as a whole is poised to chuck eating animals completely seems to be jumping the gun.

This is basically exactly what I hope to convey to people. I feel like extremely pressing issues such as topsoil loss, pesticide and herbicide use, and pollution caused by nitrogen fertilizers, not to mention the severe biodiversity impacts of monoculture, are being disregarded in favor of a very simplistic "Meat is killing the Earth" argument.

And I think the "veganism to save the earth" idea is just...distracting, as a movement. I'm glad people are motivated to do it. I don't think it's bad. But we need people to take action beyond just Buy Product. Anyone telling you that the most important action you can take is Buy Different Product does not have your best interest, or the planet's best interest, in mind.

If you're eating a plant based diet, but your only relationship with your food is Buy Product, you are still alienated from the source of your food. You still don't know, and can't respect or care for, the ecosystem or the labor that gives it to you.

My agenda is far more along the lines of "society needs to be organized so more people are directly involved in growing food that feeds their community" than anything to do with animals, but it's clear to everyone who has studied it for 2 seconds that farming needs to change hugely and it's so, so much more complicated than "farming animals is bad, farming plants is good."

Also the fact is that veganism cuts you off from sources of nutrients that have been part of virtually every human society ever, a LOT of people have disabilities, allergies or nutrient absorption issues that mean going vegan isn't possible for them, and people who try to argue with me about this simply Stop knowing how to read when this is brought up. "Some people need animal protein to live" is a reality of the world but people who don't like this straight up refuse to consider it.

I have no food allergies or sensitivities, and I still struggle to eat enough food to live. I lost thirty fucking pounds in college because of stress, the dining hall being shit, and my roommate trying to control my eating habits (long story). Thats like...well over 1/5 of my body weight. Sometimes people Cannot restrict their diet safely.

Like, sure, I 85% agree with the vegans who like to comment on my posts, but the remaining 15% of things they say is completely insane.

And some of them are so out of touch with reality that they will swear up and down that it's impossible for humans to drink milk without someone having to murder a baby animal. They seem to think farming is exclusively some kind of horror show that happens in a warehouse somewhere, and don't understand the concept that "some people live in rural areas" or "it's not uncommon in some places to just keep a few dairy goats that provide milk for your family."

And if they admit this exists, it's like "well, that's not where your dairy comes from, because the INDUSTRY—" thats. that's my point, you can get milk from a farmer who keeps a small herd that is well treated, we should start doing this actually, you can even keep your OWN goat

my ideal world involves "backyard chickens and goats are legal in suburban areas where there's space" because there's literally nothing innately unethical about keeping a couple dairy goats or healthy heritage breed chickens and you can quote me on that and you can even fight me.

That one person (the one who kept bringing up eating poop) (Lord what a sentence to have to write) eventually turned to "Well those sources are wrong because governmental organizations want you to keep eating animal products" which is already well into "conspiracy theory" territory. No thanks.

#weight loss tw

[wildwildwasteland]

reading another paper on environmental diet impact bc I'm sure someone's going to bring it up someday and I intend to be the one person in that convo who has actually read it. However.

I cant even decide if it's worth continuing. Am I really about to read a fucking research paper during non-working hours just to find out that vegan diets are being declared less environmentally impactful due to sustained mild starvation.

#i'm not convinced i'm going to find their methodology sufficient since they did not include standard diets w/ fasting #and it doesn't say so far how or if they controlled for caloric intake at all which kind of defeats the fucking purpose !

[acti-veg]

I am new to veganism, i had been vegetarian for a while before that. I felt it was time to seriously take responsibility and make the change. I am eating a vegan diet, but I am trying to balance sustainability vs veganism. I have a lot of wool and some leather items I wear almost everyday bought pre vegan, they were all bought secondhand though. I still wear these because I cannot afford to replace them, I also think it’s wasteful to just get rid of them. What are your thoughts on this? Is it more sustainable to keep them, do you agree with what some people say about “the animal is already dead, may as well honor it by using the product”? I feel guilty wearing things but I also don’t want things to just end up in a landfill, or not being worn. Maybe it is because I am used to wearing animals products and how normalized it is, I don’t know, I also know veganism is about sending a message, and if I want to advocate for change, it is hypocritical to use these products.

I don’t agree that wearing an animal’s skin is somehow ‘honouring’ them, I think that’s a pretty absurd concept that I’d dismiss immediately, the sustainability and cost are the relevant factors here.

The item that you already own will always be the most sustainable, and if cost is an issue for you then I really wouldn’t feel bad about using these items until you naturally replace them. There is no point in dropping a load of money on trying to replace every non-vegan item you own, and it’s the less sustainable choice. There is an argument to be made about benefiting from animal exploitation even when it’s second hand, but you have already bought these items.

If you do end up replacing them, just make sure that you donate rather than sending them to landfill. There is no reason why a good jacket or belt should go to waste, particularly if they can serve someone who is in need. For now that person is you, and there is no reason to feel guilty about that from my perspective.

#ask #vegan

[dylanthescientist]

I am doing Veganuary this year, (for those that don’t know it is where you try to go completely vegan for the month of january) and so far I am really enjoying it. Though I want to come on here and voice some of my opinions of things i’ve noticed thus far in my journey. so far i have noticed that much of the vegan rhetoric and discourse is surrounding animal rights activism. while i’m not saying that is necessarily a bad thing, obviously we need dramatic change in the animal farming industries, i don’t notice nearly as much conversation surrounding climate activism or human rights. one major example i want to note is that once i made the switch from vegetarian to vegan i was trying to find some dairy substitutes to use in my cooking. on my hunt i was looking for a vegan butter alternative, but so far every single one that i have found is made with palm oil as its primary ingredient. and though they some companies claim that it is “ethically sourced” (some don’t even bother to mention that at all ) i did some digging and the “certifications” some of these companies received were from non legitimate companies and organizations. i want to ask, how is this more sustainable than just regular dairy butter? palm oil has significant negative environmental impacts just like the dairy industry. which brings me to my next point which is the reliance upon cashews and almonds for dairy substitutes. almonds are the least sustainable of any dairy alternative available. they use so much land and excess water that it’s almost laughable how much the almond cultivation resembles the land and water requirements necessary for dairy farming. not to mention the thousands of underpaid migrant workers who are abused in order to harvest those almonds. i think within the vegan community there needs to be a much larger conversation about sustainability and environmental ethics that focuses the same amount of attention that we do on animal rights activism.

i don’t want this to come off as knocking vegans nor am i trying to offer a solution everyone must follow and i do firmly believe that eating a plant based diet is overall much more beneficial for the environment than not. i am more just trying to bring awareness and open conversations within the community

(side note: i typed this out on my phone at work so apologies if it’s a little rambly or has any errors)

#vegan #veganuary #veganism

[trickstarbrave]

i hate most veganism conversations bc it always no argument against them is ever enough despite how "compassionate" they say they are and it usually goes back to being western "humans are separate from nature" ideologies or racism or pure ableism

"factory farms are bad which is why you shouldnt use animal products"

thank you for education about factory farms, but i feel there is a middle ground between "no animal products ever" and "actively supporting factory farms". stuff like sustainable bee keepers also help plant based ethical agriculture that you need for your food systems. stuff like backyard eggs and sustainable honey are ethical sources of food without death and i also dont have a moral issue with a living animal dying because that happens in nature all the time

"no. thats not good either. no animal LIKES dying and you dont HAVE to use animal products, therefore you dont get to. and honey and eggs are still bad because the animals have been domesticated and bred for these purposes which makes it unethical because humans had a role in it"

you misunderstand the processes of domestication and that if a species wouldnt benefit from it as well it simply wouldnt happen. domesticated animals in ethical, non-factory settings do live longer or safer lives than their wild counterparts. and also no, because of my various health conditions a fully plant based diet is not doing to be possible for me. for example i can't absorb omega-3s from seeds and nuts very well at all and i need to take a fish oil supplement to have any hope of absorbing it well.

"well not everyone in society should have to live according to YOUR needs. fine, you can keep your shit since you apparently "need" it but we should just do away with it otherwise because its bad for everyone else, morally wrong all the time, and bad for the environment"

removing it for everyone else means policing other people's health and bodies to determine whether or not you think they "deserve" it or not because they have no choice or if they should be forced to make due with subpar nutrition because of your moral principles. it will ultimately cause more harm, remove education on nutrition, and make it harder to access these things for someone like me who needs it. and also a lot of cultures have used animal products like eggs and meat and milk for thousands of years without destroying the environment, and trying to ban it for them too is blaming them for western factory farming based agriculture and destroying their cultural heritage in the process.

"no one's culture should involve eating meat"

well it does because humans have been eating meat longer than recorded history. in a lot of places meat is a more reliable source of protein and calories and other essential vitamins and minerals than plants. your lack of respect for other cultures outside of your own makes you a bit of a dick

"okay but that was BACK THEN. we dont HAVE to eat meat anymore. things can change"

you're right, but that abundance of plant based food sources is due to unsustainable agriculture. the same model that made factory farms also makes unsustainable mono-crop fields and run offs of pesticides and over-uses farm land and harms and exploits workers. it causes as much damage as factory farmed meat and the two industries are heavily intertwined with cheap grain bi-products humans cant eat going to feed livestock and livestock manure used in farms or cycled back to feed fish. if you want to truly end exploitation in the agricultural industry and save the environment that will involve giving up the conveniences of having whatever fruit and vegetables you want year round regardless of weather or where you live because shipping that produce from exploited workers is also causing real ethical harm and pollution in the world and is contributing to climate change. where you live it might be easy to sustain yourself only on a plant based diet because you have a wide variety of things you can cultivate for a balanced diet, but for other ppl it will involve some animal products or even a good amount of meat sources ethically and the animal used as much as humanly possible from organs to bones to skin and fur.

this is also usually supplemented with claims and facts taken out of context (like saying livestock eat way more grains than people do in the US especially--when livestock are eating grain by-products from ethanol production or stuff human beings cant or wont eat), or a false equivalency time and time again of factory farms = all animal agriculture or hunting ever, or insisting you are having cognitive dissonance because "its human nature to love and care about animals therefore if you kill and eat them you're a psychopath"

anyways tumblr stop with the "BASED ON YOUR LIKES" thing youre making me mad

[lesvegas]

that guy says theyre not privileged and then says supplements are affordable... as someone who's not vegan and has a genuine medical need for supplements due to dietary restrictions, WHERE??? how can anyone not privileged write off the cost of supplements as trivial? (there's also the glaring "if your completely voluntary non medically necessary diet requires heavy nutrient supplementation its probably not as healthy or sustainable as you think" issue but yk im just blown away by the financial privilege on display here)

oh my god i didnt even think about the cost of supplements youre right. truly a certified vegan moment

[mulberrytreegranola]

Why Quinoa Flour is Your New Gluten-Free Go-To

Quinoa flour is a bit of a newcomer but is already proving to be a popular choice amongst those in the know. For those navigating the world of gluten-free cooking, getting to grips with gluten-free flour can sometimes be a daunting task. Packed with all the goodness of quinoa, this flour is a game-changer for those on a gluten-free diet. In this post, we will explore everything you need to know about this fantastic flour alternative. And, for good measure, throw in some tips about how to use it in your favourite recipes.

Introducing Quinoa Flour

Quinoa may be absolutely everywhere but it turns out that it also happens to make a surprisingly good gluten-free flour. Quinoa flour, made from quinoa grain, is rising in popularity due to its excellent nutritional profile and gluten-free credentials. Made by grinding whole quinoa grains into a fine powder, it has a subtle, nutty flavour and can be used as a direct substitute for wheat flour in many recipes. Its versatility makes it an essential ingredient in gluten-free baking, allowing for the creation of delicious, nutrient-dense food items that cater to the needs of gluten-sensitive and health-conscious individuals alike. Organic quinoa flour Organic quinoa flour, as the name suggests, is derived from organically grown quinoa grains. This means they are cultivated without the use of synthetic pesticides, or fertilizers, and are non-GMO, ensuring you get the purest form of this nutritious superfood. By choosing organic quinoa flour, you are not only making a healthier choice for your body but also supporting sustainable farming practices that benefit our environment. Check out our organic quinoa flour

The Nutritional Value of Quinoa Flour

You don't need us to tell you that quinoa is really really good for you, but just in case here's a recap. Rich in Protein Quinoa flour stands out in the world of gluten-free alternatives primarily due to its high protein content. Quinoa is in fact made up of 22% protein. Unlike many other actual grains, quinoa is a complete protein, which simply means it contains all nine of the essential amino acids. Pretty exceptional for a plant-based protein! Each serving provides a substantial amount of protein, making it an excellent choice for vegetarians, vegans, or anyone looking to add more plant-based protein to their diet. Unlike traditional grain flours, this high protein content also contributes to the feeling of fullness, making meals more satisfying and aiding in weight management. This powerful little pseudo-grain is a particularly potent source of the amino acid lysine, which aids in tissue repair. Vitamins and Minerals Quinoa flour is not only protein-rich but packed with a variety of essential vitamins and minerals. It contains significant amounts of B vitamins, a wide spectrum of E vitamins, plus a host of minerals including iron, magnesium, potassium, and calcium. A  rich source of silica, it can help keep skin strong and elastic. It also has powerful antioxidant properties provided by the E vitamins and flavonoids that appear in high concentrations. Omega-3 and Fatty acids Also rich in essential fatty acids, and particularly anti-inflammatory omega-3s, quinoa flour is a rich source of oleic acid which is thought to help lower LDL cholesterol. Fibre Content A fantastic source of dietary fibre. Fibre not only keeps everything moving along nicely but also helps to control blood sugar levels by slowing the absorption of sugar into the bloodstream. Plus, high-fibre foods like quinoa flour can help to manage weight by promoting a feeling of fullness and reducing overall calorie intake. So, not only does it provide a gluten-free, protein-packed alternative to traditional flours, but can also contribute to digestive health, blood sugar control, and weight management with its high fibre content. Gluten-Free And of course, one of the best things about quinoa is that it is gluten-free. Is Quinoa Low-Carb? Quinoa is often thought to be a great choice for those following a low-carb diet. Yet it is important to understand that while quinoa is lower in carbs than some types of grains, it is not strictly a low-carb food. A cup of cooked quinoa contains around 40 grams of carbs, which is more than the daily intake suggested by some low-carb diets. That being said, it's a complex carbohydrate, which means it digests slower than simple carbs and offers sustained energy without causing a rapid spike in blood sugar. Therefore, while not a low-carb food in the strictest sense, it can still be a healthier choice compared to many other grains and is enjoyed by many people following a balanced, healthy diet.

Cooking and Baking with Quinoa Flour

So, while it is good to know just how nutritional this stuff is, what we really want to know is how to cook with it. Right? We will be looking at these things in more detail over time, but here's a quick overview to get you started. The basics of cooking and baking with quinoa flour In the realm of gluten-free flour, quinoa flour is high in protein and has a high absorption rate. If you remember from our in-depth guide to using gluten-free flours, these flours can be grouped into two categories. These are protein flours and starches. High protein flours often have more pronounced flavours than starches but they do lend strength and elasticity to a bake. Starches, on the other hand, contribute little in the way of flavour yet they add a fluffy light texture to the heavier protein flours. Just as some quinoa can be slightly bitter, but not all, the same goes for its flour. Again, the flavour can range from profoundly earthy to pleasingly nutty. As with most gluten-free flours, this flour is best used alongside other varieties to get the best balance between texture and flavour for your particular recipe needs. That said, your choice of flour will depend very much on what you are making, so there are times when you can directly substitute for all-purpose wheat flour. Substituting quinoa flour in recipes Getting to grips with using gluten-free flour is always a bit of a baptism by fire. Recipes and suggestions should be used as a guideline only, largely because such flours can be wholly unpredictable. There is nothing more frustrating than a tried and tested recipe that does not deliver results. There will be some cases where it is safer to begin with a 1:1 substitution for wheat flour than others. Remember that the protein content makes it denser, and also means it will absorb more water. Gluten is required to build strength, elasticity, and structure into a bake so it is really important in bread making yet can lead to toughness in a pastry. Cakes need little in the way of gluten, yet also require a certain amount of bulk and fluffiness. And then there is flavour. Quinoa flour has a pronounced flavour. If you find that it tends towards bitterness, then it can be toasted in a moderate oven for about 10 to 15 minutes before cooling and using. So, whilst you may not want to make a delicate Victoria sponge with quinoa flour, it could be perfect for that parmesan pastry you have in mind. Or a more robustly flavoured banana muffin. So our advice is to begin with a 1:1 ratio in recipes where it may seem appropriate. Like a pastry or a muffin. If you find it too dry, then use a little less flour, or a touch more liquid. Sauces and batters rely more on the liquid content of the recipe. So substitute your flour slowly, gradually adding more until you reach the desired consistency. Tips for cooking and baking with quinoa flour Test small batches first: Before using quinoa flour in large quantities, consider trying it in smaller recipes. This allows you to understand its unique characteristics and adjust your main recipe accordingly. Blend with other flours: Quinoa flour alone may not suit all recipes. Try blending it with other gluten-free flours to create a balance of flavour and texture. Adjust liquid levels: Quinoa flour tends to absorb more liquid than wheat flour. Keep an eye on your batter or dough and be prepared to add extra liquid if it seems too dry. Store properly: Keep your quinoa flour in an airtight container in a cool, dark place. Proper storage preserves the flour's taste and extends its shelf life. Cooked quinoa flour: If the flavour of quinoa flour is too strong, try toasting it in the oven for 10-15 minutes before cooling and using. This can help to reduce bitterness. Use in savoury recipes: Quinoa flour can be a wonderful addition to savoury recipes like flatbreads, pizza dough, or pasta, where its unique flavour can shine. Healthy baking: Use quinoa flour in recipes where health is a priority. It is protein-rich and offers a nutritious alternative to traditional flour. Quinoa flour in bread-making It's a whole other subject, but the protein content of quinoa flour makes it an excellent contender in the gluten-free bread stakes. It will need to be used alongside other flours though so we will explore this more fully at a later date. To sum up, it would certainly seem that even for those without gluten-related disorders, quinoa flour offers a change of pace from traditional flours, allowing for experimentation with diverse, nutrient-rich alternatives in the kitchen. Have you seen our other gluten-free flours?

This article was reproduced on this site with permission from operafoods.com.au the “Gluten Free Flour Suppliers”. See original article:- Why Quinoa Flour is Your New Gluten-Free Go-To Read the full article

#glutenfreebaking #glutenfreecooking #glutenfreeflour

[engagedtobefree]

It's really strange to me how some people only criticize plastic through the lens of it being "vegan plastic", as if non-vegans aren't also using plastic products, including fake leather. The same with slave labor and crops. Like I've literally seen someone say how harmful vegan vegetables are in agriculture and I'm just like, do you only eat meat??? Do you not eat vegetables??? I just don't understand the whole "if you're vegan and not using animal products then you love slave labor and plastic". Consuming animal products doesn't automatically mean you're not using plastic or buying anything that was produced from slave labor in the same way that being vegan doesn't mean animals aren't getting killed somewhere along in the process of you getting food on your plate. Also, using animal products doesn't automatically mean good for the environment, cuz usually somewhere along the way there's some type of harmful process being used.

I think maybe people don't realize just how ingrained plastic is. It's not some evil vegan villain wearing head-to-toe pleather that is upholding the plastic industry. Take a look around the room and identify everything you see that is plastic. Then think about all the plastic you don't see. And is it really only vegans buying from shein, temu, forever 21, etc? For some people, that's all they can afford, but for so many other people that isn't the case. Is it really so hard to acknowledge that it's literally an exploitative, capitalistic world that has done all of this and NOT vegans? Is it so hard to acknowledge that we all take part in these harmful practices in some way because they've been so interwoven into our society that there's no way to avoid it? What is so difficult to understand about any of that? At this point, I'm half-convinced some billionaires got together and brainstormed on "Who can we blame" and then collectively decided on vegans, and unfortunately some people actually took the bait.

Also, these arguments constantly erase poor people unless it's framed in the context of the vegan diet not being affordable to everyone. Organic, sustainable, fair-trade etc etc products are not cheap. It's not only vegan products that can be non-affordable.

This whole moral superiority (and also flat-out cruelty to each other) can be on BOTH sides and it's really frustrating that the one side won't admit it. Eating meat doesn't automatically make you a saint and non-complicit in harmful practices in the same way being a vegan doesn't either.

It's just...people. People are the worst. The only way to save the planet is for us to literally go extinct.

#Also no one ever admits they eat factory farmed meat #Everyone on all of the posts and threads I've ever been on claims to get local meat #And there's just no way #I know every country has different practices but it can't be that all of the comments I've seen were from people not in the USA #Also idk why people automatically assume a vegan mentioning animal cruelty is automatically an attack on indigenous practices?? #I know there's probably vegans out there who do attack them #But I've only ever seen people bring it up when literally not a single person on either side mentioned indigenous people #I think most people regardless of lifestyle choices really just want natives to be able to practice in ways they want to #I also never see meat-eaters acknowledge that some people can't have animal products #Only ever the other way around #Even before I went vegan I have not been able to have dairy since 2018 #Like I need to use alternative milk #And like back when I was really poor I could barely afford to eat #If my grocery bill went over $20 in a week I had to worry about which bill I was going to have to pay late or skip over #Like my focus was on my survival and not whether something I was buying was harmful in some way #Anyway #It's just so weird to me as I read through comments on posts how people get so angry #Literally read someone say fuck you to a non-vegan person who was only trying to say there's no way to avoid harm on either side #Like what #I see much crueler stuff come from non-vegans than vegans #Even before I went vegan #Honestly people being so cruel towards vegans was a part of the reason I became one #Because I was always led to believe vegans were the worst #But as I started engaging with more posts and whatnot #I realized it was actually not true #Idk if that's happened with anyone else or not lol #And out of all the online vegan communities I've been on #Really the only shitty one was on Reddit tho I haven't checked that sub in a long time #Vegan #Personal

[elbiotipo]

I really dislike how mainstream media here often takes vegans as the face of enviromental activism because 1) veganism is not THE solution to climate change, it's at best one helpful choice that not everyone is willing or able to do, but putting it at the forefront of enviromentalism is disingenious when it's such a multifacetic problem (with regards to energy, transport, deforestation and ecosystem degradation, so much more that are IMO much, much higher priorities) 2) they obviously want to portray enviromentalism as something undesirable "look at these hippies who don't want us to eat meat" I love meat, I love sustainably produced meat, I want people to eat a good balanced diet, but I also recognize that agricultural practices have to change. That does not imply ending animal production or that it's a crime against the planet to eat a fucking asado.

Wanting the whole world to become vegan to end climate change is as nonsensical as wanting everyone to become Amish (and given the morality behind veganism, it's not a very stretched metaphor). It's a non-starter. There are ways to produce meat sustainably that complement agriculture and carbon-fixing programs without requiring mass deforestation, it can even be helpful in preserving grasslands ecosystems in many places (and in so many others, it's the main and almost the only food source), it recycles many byproducts of plant agriculture, and people eating steak every once in a while isn't a major factor in global warming when the fossil fuel industry still exists.

see also: media that put the "don't have kids, it's bad for the planet" people as an example of enviromentalism.

#cosas mias

[athenawasamerf]

That post claiming that most people's bodies are not meant to thrive on a vegan lifestyle is not correct. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the world’s largest organization of food and nutrition professionals, said that vegan diets are "appropriate for all stages of the life cycle, including pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood, adolescence, older adulthood, and for athletes."

I'm sure there's a small proportion of people who are allergic to all nuts, grains, beans, and vegetables, and there are native people living off the land in the arctic regions, but is that true for you? And is it true for every non vegan who uses those people as an excuse to not feel bad about not doing everything they can?

That post accuses vegans of having an "us vs them" attitude, forcing our lifestyle on nonvegans. But the "live and let live" philosophy falls apart when you consider the lives and experiences of those that are being harmed and killed. Nonhuman animals a part of "us". There is no "them".

Also, are vegans REALLY "forcing" our views onto others? If we were, everyone would be vegan already! We are still just a small minority though!

You do realise you’re messaging a senior med student, right?

I’m not gonna get into it bc I have to get ready for class and I don’t want to think about biochem at fuck all o’clock, but no, vegan diets are not safe for pregnant and lactating women (without a fuckton of supplements), babies, young children, or adolescents, and will not provide adults with all essential nutrients without supplementation. Some nutrients simply don’t exist in plants. FYI you can be arrested and charged with negligence or abuse if you feed your baby a vegan diet. The academy for nutrition and dietetics is funded by several pharmaceutical companies and food industry lobbying groups, which I would consider a major conflict of interest, and since that’s the case with most American institutions I take most research done in the US with a massive helping of salt.

I’m Egyptian, I literally can not sustain myself on a vegan diet in Egypt - the (expensive) food items required for that are simply not sold in my area. Poor people can’t sustain a vegan diet. America has a massive food desert problem, people can barely find anything to eat that isn’t fast food within a reasonable distance from their homes. Haggard, busy people can’t sustain a vegan diet. The ability to be healthy on a vegan diet is a luxury that you’re privileged to be able to afford. Have some empathy for your fellow humans.

Animals (humans included) kill and eat each other. It’s natural. We are an omnivore species, and far from the only one on earth. I’m against inhumane industrial farming, but that’s not a huge issue in my country and we buy meat from small farms and neighbourhood butchers anyway.

I was a vegetarian for a few years, btw, and it nearly killed me. I’m not willing to discuss this publicly, and won’t be answering any questions about it on this blog.

And yes, vegans who go into supermarkets and restaurants to spill milk and fake blood everywhere while playing animal noises are trying to force their views on everyone else.

Humans are physically and chemically optimised for an omnivore diet. This blog is not focused on animal rights or human eating habits. I’m not going to get involved in any discourse about veganism, and this will be my only response.

Take home message: do not feed your fucking babies and toddlers a vegan diet. You’re an adult and you can make your own choices about your health and what you eat, I won’t get involved. But don’t drag kids into it for the love of all that is holy.

Have a good day.

#ask

[beardedmrbean]

Fake meat is less nutritious than the real thing, according to new research.

Experiments found human cells take in fewer proteins from the vegan versions — because they are harder to absorb.

The discovery could lead to the development of healthier products, ranging from faux fish fingers and faux ground meat or meatballs to "cheats" chicken.

Corresponding author Professor Osvaldo Campanella, of The Ohio State University, said: "The ever growing population on Earth has increased the challenge of providing sufficient proteins from meat without compromising the ecosystem.

"Additionally, concerns about food security and the awareness of a healthy diet have shifted the focus from traditional meat products toward plant protein-based meat analogues (MAs).

"The latter contain abundant proteins and negligible saturated fat and cholesterol, contributing to a reduced occurrence of obesity and cardiovascular diseases.

"Nevertheless, proteins from plants commonly display inferior digestibility compared to their animal counterparts.

"This adds uncertainty to the nutritional value of proteins in MAs unless the gap between digestion and absorption is bridged."

Plants high in protein, such as soybeans, are common ingredients but it's been unclear how much of the nutrient makes it into human cells.

The research team created a model alternative meat made of soy and wheat gluten with a manufacturing machine called an extruder.

To mimic look and texture, plants are dehydrated into a powder and mixed with seasonings. Then, the mixtures are heated, moistened and processed.

They are often considered being better for you than animal flesh because ingredients are high in protein and low in undesirable fats, but the proteins don't break down into absorbable peptides as well. Campanella and colleagues went a step further by comparing their meat with a piece of chicken.

When cut open, the former had long fibrous pieces inside - just like the latter. Pieces of each were then ground up and broken down with an enzyme humans use to digest food. Scans revealed proteins in the meat substitute were less water-soluble than those from chicken. They also were not absorbed as well by human cells.

Campanella said: "It showed a higher hardness but a lower degree of texturization than the chicken breast."

After simulating digestion by human intestinal cells, soluble peptides in the meat alternative had a higher molecular weight and repelled water - meaning they were less absorbable.

Meat provides all of the essential amino acids our body needs. Animal products are the highest-quality source of proteins.

"The amino acid composition showed fewer essential and non-essential amino acids in the meat alternative than the chicken breast," Campanella said.

The researchers now plan to identify other ingredients that could help boost the peptide uptake of meat substitutes.

"Improvement of the nutritional value of proteins could be fulfilled through formulation or production conditions," Campanella said.

"Future research centered on the comparison of protein bioavailability of meat alternatives and meat using laboratory experiments will be helpful to gather complementary information on the nutritional relevance.

"How does this change with the addition of plant oil and flavor compounds will also be worth exploring in future studies."

The findings were published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry in a study titled "Characterization and Cellular Uptake of Peptides Derived from In Vitro Digestion of Meat Analogues Produced by a Sustainable Extrusion Process."

It is estimated that 14 percent of people in the U.S. follow a meat-free diet, according to Statista.

#nunyas news #this will result in some grumpiness

[oca-rinn-a]

Genuine question: how do you afford to go vegan? Like people always say it’s cheaper but I’ve never seen a more blatant lie like that shit is expensive this is miserable ���

this is a really good question and i felt this way at first, too!

the most productive thing to do, at least if your current way of eating has been financially sustainable for you, is to start by replacing the non-vegan things in your diet with vegan things.

my long standing carb/protein staples:

rice

potatoes

noodles

bread, tortillas, etc obviously

tofu

black beans

chickpeas

soymilk

of course i have other staples like nutritional yeast, apple cider vinegar, all my spices, etc but it's harder to know what to do w/ those or if they even apply to u until you figure out how u live and what u like. pm everything else is circulating and i have fun with. it helps mega that cooking is probably now my favorite hobby (partially due to going vegan).

i realize this is something that's actually better personalized, so if you wanna DM me, i would be delighted to work w/ you around what you like and what's available in your area <3 i swear i won't judge you, even if you're someone i've fought with about veganism on some post or other 😂 idc.

if it interests you, i actually have a little recipe tumblr as well, it's @crumbys-crumbs

#vegan #go vegan #vegan asks #i'm proud of u for making the effort btw! #it's so important

[faustocosgrove]

read this fantastic post about the vegan to ecofascist pipeline yesterday and the OP already has like 50 annoying people in the comments and i’m currently suffering from a bout of can’t shut up disease so i’ve made my own post. and god knows this is already a dissertation and i haven’t even written it yet.

going to be referencing the inspirational post throughout, and i refer to the points in the pipeline as steps 1 through 7 for brevity’s sake.

the OP refers to the crossing from step 3 to step 4 as where the danger starts, but from step 2 to step 3 is where the problems start. they do point out in the description of step 5 that not all animal products are produced in a way that harms the environment, but if you personally decide to not consume any animal products because some or many animal products are produced in a way that is harmful to the environment you’ve already lost the plot. this is terf brand “some men are bad therefore all men are evil” bullshit. like if you want to be vegan for literally any other reason you do you, but there is an element of willfully ignoring sustainable animal farming in the pipeline’s line of thought.

besides, the whole point of not buying animal products because their production is bad for the environment is a boycott. for a boycott to work you’re supposed to go back to buying the product once the company has fixed whatever it is that they’re fucking up. otherwise they’re not going to change. why would they? if you’re never buy beef again the cattle farmer has nothing to gain by not pumping his sewage into the river.

and yeah yeah yeah i know the voting with your dollar thing isn’t the way things work. like y’all remember that post about people in indonesia(?) having no guilt for wearing mass produced t shirts when the factory in their backyard is fucking up their fields? there is another way, vegans haven’t figured that much out yet. the whole idea that “production of X bad therefore i’m not going to buy X” is already signed up to the voting with your dollar individualistic notion of the power of the consumer. but even when you stay within the economic framework this idea comes from, the rest of the pipeline becomes silly.

step 4 is silly because previously, before step 3 vegans had a choice, either they could solve the problems of cafos with individualistic choices or with collective action and they chose individualistic choices. the very next step is collective action, or an attempt at rallying collective action. the whole individualistic thing clearly doesn’t work or else no one would get past step 3. but rather than think about other collectivist things they could do, we’re sticking with the incorrect framework and going with it. gonna whittle that square peg to fit in the round hole. already this is a population of people who cannot handle being wrong about something.

step 5 is more vile than silly because if someone isn’t making enough money to buy the gelatin free supplement pills you need to take while on a vegan diet in order to get all your micronutrients and amino acids that it’s their fault climate change is happening???? or like for food allergies, if nuts and soy are off the table then a person can literally be born with a body that is morally impure and corrupt and contributing to climate change. this step is already eugenics.

step 6 is silly because it was actually algae who first changed the climate on earth by oxygenizing the atmosphere :-) but i digress. like how do you do this entire category of “humans bad” without including yourself??? if you can conceptualize “vegans good, non vegans bad” you have got to have some sort of types of humans categories. not that the sorting of people was good before but like i don’t get how anyone can think this. there is just so much less mental gymnastics you have to do to just say “it’s not the individual it’s the corporations!” but for some reason there’s this clinging to the ideas of personal choice and personal freedom. this step also reeks of catholic guilt.

step 7 is silly because the whole point of bettering the environment is so that it is more habitable for humans. like hello hypothetical vegan who is reading this and frothing at the mouth. you’ve set out to do one thing and ended up doing the opposite thing. you moron. you dumbass.

and as i sit here staring at the intellectual chasm between steps 5 and 6, the only way i can possibly come up with where someone would think this is if they were experiencing extreme isolation. and there’s also a chasm between 3 and 4 of people minding their business even if they’re not doing logic correctly and the vegans we all hate who do dramatic reenactments of a jehovah's witness on your door step but with a vegan lifestyle. and hold on i’m having a Kronk moment here it’s all coming together. isolation, jehovah’s witnesses, the I in BITE is isolation, that’s right veganism is a cult. the whole thing about vegans being the most annoying people on the planet isn’t for them to convince anyone, it’s to cement them in the cult. like if the recruitment works i’m sure like any cult they’ll take anyone they can get but just like jehovah’s witnesses that’s not the point.

did i mention yet that this pipeline of greased first with don’t kill and eat the cute animals  sentiments then further down with shock images of slaughter houses? the peta aspect is a hook to get people into this. so is the purity hook, i think that’s the reason they bother with arguing that it’s not moral to eat meat from small farms because small farms can still be exploitative. and like *frustrated noise* anything with a purity hook should be so easy to see that it’s fascism!!!!!! like how is this still a problem? we are on the queer and autism website. no one here is “pure” in the way the world outside of this screen wants you to be as a person. why is there no site wide discussion about letting go of purity as an idea? like 5 years ago there was a site wide discussion about ecofascism and ecofascist dog whistles, particularly with captain planet memes. how is there not a “quick guide to not being a fascist on the internet” post????

also have i mentioned that the notes on this post are so good? well the reblogs and tags are anyway. don’t go in the comments. people bring up the racism, the lack of concern for plant agriculture, the overpopulation myth, the fact that you can’t farm on all land and sometimes you’ve gotta use grass and grazing animals, vegan leather really being plastic, the christianity, also the person who tagged it as “capitalism can eat a bag of dicks” made my day.

i need to stop. i know no one has actually read all of this. in conclusion: veganism is a cult, fascism is bad, and i wish i could bang out a thousand words after thinking about a subject for less than 24 hours with my brain in a state where i am simultaneously thinking everything and nothing and i feel like i am vibrating sideways into a different dimension (no i have not taken any drugs shut up) and get a degree from it just like a real dissertation BYE

#shut up fausto #vegans #cults #nazis

[khizuo]

is it possible for me to be vegan when im so picky? i hate most all beans due to texture issues etc but i really wanna be vegan, im just worried I will hate most of the things and struggle to get enough calories

Hi anon! I'm really happy you want to make the choice to go vegan. While I personally never struggled with picky eating, I know that many vegans have, and it's totally possible to be vegan with food-related sensory issues.

Disclaimer: I am not a dietitian, I am just some vegan on the internet reading the opinions of other vegans on the internet. Please do not take any suggestions I make as some sort of vegan nutritional law and make sure to do your own research and, if you need further help, talk to a trusted medical professional (like a vegan dietitian).

Here are some suggestions that I've picked up from my personal research:

If you can identify any foods you like that are already vegan, make note of them and look out for them! Even if that list is tiny, it's a great starting point. Remember, vegan food isn't just vegetables — consider doing some research onto accidentally plant-based processed foods you can find in a store, too!

If there are foods that you like that aren't vegan, try making vegan substitutions for the animal-based ingredients. Some swaps are pretty easy to make—dairy butter for plant-based butter, for example. Some may be a little more difficult and require more experimentation. I can't promise you that every vegan substitution will always taste exactly the same as the non-vegan version, but, keeping that expectation in mind, I think they still may be able to help with the cravings for those foods, and lots of meat/cheese substitutions are pretty good. Also, the options and recipes out there for foods often conceived of as 'non-vegan' (i.e. burgers/cheese/creamy pastas/desserts) are endless. As with everything, take it slow and find what you like!

If cooking is a pain, try looking for convenient vegan foods. I'm personally a big fan of the vegan Nongshim ramen as a quick meal. Lots of store-bought breads are accidentally plant-based—add some nut butter for protein and that's a meal for me. If you're a soup person, look for for vegan ready-made soups.

Take supplements if you need them! Lots of vegans take a B12 supplement. Consider adding protein powder to some dish that you like if you don't like beans and you're worried about your protein intake. (Of course, please stay safe, do your due research, and talk to a doctor or dietitian if you can.)

Finally, this isn't really a tip, but I do want to say that not liking certain foods is something that's perfectly fine. You might try something and dislike it and that's okay. Vegans have no obligation to like every vegan food ever and diet culture can go to hell.

Above all, make the transition in a pace that is sustainable and healthy for you. It's much better for you and for the animals if you make a slow, sustained shift rather than trying to go vegan overnight and getting overwhelmed. Make gradual swaps, do your research, talk to a trusted medical professional, try to cook some vegan versions of your comfort meals, and of course, stay educated on animal liberation and anti-speciesism.

Below are some articles that I read that were helpful when researching this topic:

Here is a pretty straightforward article with tips on going vegan as a picky eater. Fair warning that parts of this article promote the anti-fat and ableist misconception of "vegan for weight loss/health", which is of course harmful diet culture stuff unrelated to veganism's literal stated intent. Fat vegans and disabled vegans are awesome and a vital part of the community. I really wish there was an article with this information out there that didn't promote these ideas, but I couldn't find one, so I will share this article with this heavy disclaimer. Take the good tips and leave the rest.

Here is an article by a vegan woman with ARFID about accommodations she's made to make eating more accessible for her. I know that ARFID is an eating disorder and not every instance of picky eating is ARFID, but I'm sharing this because I still think it was quite insightful and because I'd love to hear more from vegans with ARFID, as someone who doesn't have ARFID myself.

Also, not an article but I read a lot of stories from vegans on reddit who shared their experience going vegan as a picky eater. I'm sure there are also vegans on tumblr who also have food-related sensory issues, and if anyone who has wants to share their experience or add on to this post please feel free. As stated above, I personally did not really struggle with picky eating when going vegan so I'm very much open to receiving constructive criticism and other additions to this post.

#my answers #vegan #veganism

[delphictrip]

Vegan cooking resources that have helped me out a lot

Budget Bytes is amazing. If you have $12 to throw at a printable online cookbook I would recommend it, the cookbook is basically meal planning with weekly grocery lists. If that's not your jam, above is the link for her vegan recipes.

Bad Manners is a vegan chef outfit. I have a few of their cookbooks and I love them, although they can be a little hard to follow. I've linked their recipe list and it looks like you can apply filters for different types of meals and ingredients.

Tofu is very versatile. Here's a cool list of marinades that kicks ass. I recommend pressing the water out of firm tofu if you're cooking it. You don't have to marinate but it can help. The flavor of plain tofu has actually grown on me as long as it's not all I can taste in the dish.

To press I typically wrap it in paper towels and then an absorbent dish towel. Then place it between two plates and I put maybe 2-4 cans of beans or whatever on top. Let that baby sit for as long as you want, 30 minutes is generally the recommended time but you can let it go longer or a little shorter if you're super crunched on time.

Freezing tofu is a decent method of preservation if you have too much to eat or it's going to go bad (almost never a problem for us, and it keeps pretty well in the fridge). Do note that freezing tofu completely changes the texture and essentially turns it into a sponge. You can squeeze water out of it with your hands and it soaks up marinades like crazy but it doesn't hold together too well for frying and you can turn it into a giant mess if you try to press it with too much weight (it will fall apart).

A favorite method of cooking tofu is frying it with a cornstarch crust. I don't bother making it fancy, usually just salt and cornstarch is my jam. I wouldn't recommend marinating it first because if it's too soggy the crust doesn't stick well to the tofu. Also do not recommend making this in advance because the crust turns gummy if you leave it sit too long. Super tasty for dinner over rice and stir fried veggies though!!!

This is a pretty decent guide. Also, a lot of the "vegan diets aren't good for you/a good way to get your nutrients" that you hear about people who quit veganism are people who either didn't plan it very well/did not get supplements or did something bananas like a raw food vegan diet and it didn't work out for them. I tend to not plan my food too well aside from "protein, vegetable, grain" and I get my fats and sugars from the oils I use to cook and the sugars that come with the other categories or the junk food part of my diet. Pure junk food vegan isn't very sustainable and neither is raw vegan. If you're going to go vegan you will likely have to do a lot of cooking for yourself. I keep chickn nuggets around for lazy nights but if I have the energy I'm making something with chickpeas and rice or beans and rice or tofu or seitan as the protein of the dish.

Contrary to popular belief you do not have to subsist off of quinoa and avocados. I barely eat either because a) don't really like quinoa and b) avocados suck because I live in Alaska and it's nearly impossible to get good avocados.

Another point is to not beat yourself up if you accidentally use/consume an animal product. It happens to the best of us, best thing to do is to move on with the knowledge of what to avoid in the future.

The more you learn on this journey will likely lead you to conclusions you never saw coming. You may be in less denial about what happens to farmed animals. You will be upset about the little non-vegan parts of foods that could easily be vegan (see: gelatin in cereal for some reason. milk powder in chips.). You will find yourself avoiding leathers and furs. You will find yourself absolutely horrified with standard practices in animal agriculture the more you open your mind to learning about it. You will also find yourself more open to seeing animals in a different way. I was a carnist a little over two years ago. I'm still a rather new vegan, but it's amazing what a paradigm shift I've experienced.

Going vegan helped me in ways I never expected. It helped me emotionally with the trauma around the hobby farm I grew up on. Actually uncovered some memories I had blocked out. It also feels good to know that I'm not contributing to the suffering of industrialized animal agriculture.

Anyways, go vegan! The vegan society defines veganism as "as far as practicable" and for most people that is a lifestyle and diet completely without animal products. Sometimes there are barriers for people and reducing animal consumption as much as you can is still helpful.

#friends not food #vegan btw #vegan #new vegan #for a new friend #but also general.

[hey-high-hello]

I've decided to document my journey of going vegan as a way to keep myself motivated and accountable. Maybe it'll turn into something helpful to others.

I've been reading some literature so as not to dive into it completely ignorant of the bigger picture why, but my main reasons for my decision before any research are:

1. Textures & ADHD: something about meat makes it really hard for me to eat unless cooked exactly the way I like it. Which is usually fried crispy enough so I can no longer discern the original texture, or cleaned and then cooked well enough to be unable to detect any flatty or blubbery texture. I never used to be this picky, and some days are worse than others.

2. The Environment: I strive to make choices that are more environmentally conscious. I've started composting in my apartment, I buy sustainable brands that avoid plastic packaging, I try to buy local, I no longer support fast fashion and prefer to thrift or spend money on products whose companies have sustainable practices. This seems like the next logical step in my journey.

3. Animal Rights/Reduction of Suffering: the more I read, the more this factor plays into my choice. I tried to be vegetarian when I was a teenager and read about the horrid practices of factory farming, but was too young to properly nourish myself and didn't know enough about cooking and diet to sustain myself. I also am 1 of 5 siblings so it wasn't fair to my mom who did all she could to keep food on the table to have another restriction to consider. That's no longer the case though and I feel a lot more confident in my pursuit of reducing the suffering of animals and also more firm in my belief that they deserve the same treatment and compassion we give to one another.

As far as making the necessary preparations and changes in consumption goes, I've already learned a few things in just 2 days:

1. Not all vegan pizzas are created equal. No matter how good the non-vegan version of a pizza joint is, it doesn't mean their vegan pizza is of the same standard. We ordered pizza for New Year's last night from a favorite joint and I was so disappointed, especially having tried a slice of a friend's vegan pizza at another joint awhile back. And this place was one of my top 3 before going vegan.

2. More of a part two to the first, cheese has been the hardest for me to get into the habit of rejecting/replacing. I would be on day 3 of my journey, but on new years eve I accepted a gift in the form of a slice of cheesecake and had the "oh shit" realization halfway through.

Literature I've read/am reading so far:

- Why Veganism? By Peter Singer

- Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer

#veganism #vegan journey