A vegan diet means making a big commitment

By Bill Delaney

No animal products... No problem.  At least that's what vegans are saying.  A vegan life excludes the use of any animal products, including all dairy.  Nutritionists and advocates of the lifestyle say being vegan has numerous benefits for the environment and personal health.

A 2008 study by the Vegetarian Times says that 3.2 percent of U.S. adults are vegetarian with approximately 0.5 percent being vegans.

Evelyn Kimber, president of the Boston Vegetarian Society, said her journey to become a  vegan started more than 25 years ago.  "I started to become involved in animal advocacy," she said,  "and the more you learn about the issues the less you want to eat animal meat."

Kimber said she feels that she is not only doing a great thing for animals and the environment, but also feels that she is healthier. She noted there are a lot of benefits of plant-based living. Research studies show that vegans can have lower risk for heart disease, cancer and strokes.

There are, however, disadvantages to the lifestyle.  Former vegan Alicia Davidson says, "I found it difficult to go out to a restaurant and avoid animal by-products, mostly cheese and chicken/beef broth."  Davidson said eating at home was easy, but the meals were typically very boring.

Vegan Cristallina Tharaldsen said she believes what you give up is worth it for the results. "It feels cleaner and you feel a lot lighter on a vegan diet," she said. "Meat and animal products feel heavy in your stomach."

Tharaldsen said being a vegan forced her to think about her nutrition. She says, "As a vegan you pay attention to everything that goes into your food, so you are less likely to just munch mindlessly on junk foods."

Davidson and Tharaldsen both agreed, however, that they feel much cleaner on a vegan diet.  Both women say they were able to lose weight adhering to a meatless, dairyless diet.

Another drawback to a vegan diet is that it can lack certain nutrients important to a healthy

diet.  Nutritionist Mitali Shah said,  "It definitely lacks protein. Not enough calcium and not enough vitamin D, and that is something that is a big missing factor."

Shah said she sees a lot of vegans who come in with vitamin deficiencies.  Shah encourages people on a vegan diet to use "protein supplements because people on a vegan diet are really missing out on those important nutrients." 

Kimber said the only thing vegans would need to take as a supplement is B12 and that "everyone vegan or non vegan needs to be careful to get enough vitamin D."

Former vegan Davidson said she felt very deprived of proteins at the start of her diet.  Yet Davidson found ways to meet her protein needs.  Davidson said, "After the first month when I began eating other forms of protein, nuts, beans, my body felt awesome."

Davidson is no longer a full-time vegan, but she still eliminates animal products from her diet one week every month because she said it makes her body feel cleaner.

Kimber says she sees a lot of people like Davidson who can't give up meat completely but try and eliminate meat when they are able.  Kimber said she realizes the diet and lifestyle of a vegan is tough and not for everyone, but she encourages people to do what they can.

Davidson said the reason she could never fully commit to being a vegan is because she found herself craving meat.  Davidson said, "When the summer came around, the smell of the barbecue pulled me back."  Davidson was a vegan for nine months and was a vegetarian for a year, but she said it was just too much of a commitment to live that lifestyle.

Kimber said if people do have cravings while being a vegan, they have non-meat options. "There is a vegan version of basically anything you can buy, from ice cream to burgers."