Who are vegans, and what makes their diet so healthy? (article with link)

[Guest guest]

This item from the IFU-Veg-News this afternoon.

Best,

Pat.

 

(US-nc) Who are vegans, and what makes their diet so

healthy?

 

[from Charlotte Observer]

 

Ever eat a cheeseless pizza or dunk a cookie into

soymilk?

 

For about one out of every 100 people, avoiding all

animal products --

meat, fish, poultry, eggs and dairy products -- is

second nature. They

do it every day.

 

They're vegan (VEE-gun) -- vegetarians who go a few

steps farther than

the rest. Most vegans also steer clear of honey, and

some even avoid

refined sugar (much of it is whitened with bone char).

 

What motivates people to go to such extremes? Ethics,

usually.

 

Vegans are typically motivated by deeply felt

convictions about

ecology, world hunger and animal rights. They believe

it's wrong to

kill or misuse animals.

 

Any use of animals that exploits them or contributes

to suffering is

off limits, and that extends to clothing and

cosmetics, too. Vegans

don't wear leather, wool, or silk and they avoid

make-up, shampoo and

other products made with animal ingredients or tested

on animals.

....

But perhaps the most important lesson we could all

learn from vegans

is their thoughtfulness toward food. Vegans mindfully

consider

everything they eat. They study the fine print on food

labels and

pepper restaurant wait staff with questions.

 

While most people would consider a vegan lifestyle too

extreme,

adopting a more thoughtful approach to what goes onto

your plate can

be a giant step toward a healthier diet.

 

Suzanne Havala Hobbs is a registered dietitian and a

clinical

assistant professor in the Department of Health Policy

at UNC;

suzanne; www.onthetable.net.

--

full story:

http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/living/food/13986848.htm