Veganism 101: Where do I get my protein?

[Greenvegan828]

Do you get stopped on the street and confused with Danny Partrich?

[ShayandPatrick12]

I HATE it when people ask me how I get my protein! Ugh! It's sickening what the meat/dairy industries have people believing nowadays. Even one of my DOCTORS said that since I'm vegan I should eat some sort of animal protein. A DOCTOR. Pretty pathetic.

[theyforcedmetosignup]

Yes Semen has lots of protein, it's a vegan fave

[lovesipeels]

salmon is 61% protein. you might want to read up on the detrimental effects of grains and legumes (and particularly wheat gluten "meat" and quinoa) on your digestive/immune health; and lastly doritos are not food!!!!

[GabrielleBiggs]

I have a suggestion for your beautiful videos. Subtitles! What just occured to me is how many hard of hearing individuals would like to know what one is saying. Ha.

I love the universe unconditionally. Peace! (Literally.)

[xKAMRONx]

Check out my veganism vid at /watch?v=b_BgsLYnsaI

GO VEGAN!

[MrMZaccone]

Plant sources of protein are only workable for humans when consumed as an isolate. The human digestive system is unable to separate plant protein from the fiber in which it's bound. As for the sources of protein you cite, none are sufficient to provide the 30% of calories from protein necessary for proper endocrine function in the human animal. Yes, that's what I said, 30% ... get over it. As for your analysis of the canned salmon, WHAT? try again. 16% by what standard?

[HeartlessArchAngel69]

how many of your protein sources contain soy, nuts, or other legumes??

im sorry I realise this video is really old but like, ive never found a wide enough variety for my already limited diet due to alergies, with the added effect of veganism.

I have actually tried being vegan before, but ended up feeling like total shit which is when I discovered I couldnt eat legumes, and some nuts.

[TheLoserKingdom]

Get some spirulina and read the protein content of that.

[RAM4486]

i know where you get your protein.........burger king...I saw you eating a double whopper yesterday. and im telling all your vegan buddies......jk have a nice day, yay for vag !

[rspurdue]

Hi, I'm vegan also...I did wonder about your percentages though...are you saying the foods you mention are x% protein, or do you really mean that they contain x% of the RDA (Recommended Daily Amount) for adults? Here in the USA, labeling is percent/RDA-based, not simply percent of each item. However, our labeling only shows the actual grammes of protein in a 'standard serving.' I assume your labeling is different in Australia? Thanks for your vids.

[vaguelyhumanoid]

I'm on a specific carbohydrate diet where I can't have any sort of grain products, including rice and soy. What would I eat for protein as a vegan? I'm guessing beans, seeds and nuts, am i right?

[conker033]

@vaguelyhumanoid PM me i'll fill you in.

Anyone wants to know bout this whole protein myth, and other shit just PM me.

[Trollhaut]

what about eating felsh or cheese? idiots

[HatoburekaSutajio]

Pro Tip: Doritos may occasionally contain chicken fat.

[LILPIXIEVEGAN]

im vegan.. how long u been vegan?.. was u veggie 1st?.. :)

[LILPIXIEVEGAN]

how long u been vegan now? were u veggie b4?.. x

[SycoticReaperMk]

i didnt even watch the video, all i could think of is you get protein from cum in your mouth xD

[iwillskinyoualive]

Interesting how most Vegans think Veganism is a diet, and what they eat or don't eat makes them a Vegan.

[ANZO89]

@iwillskinyoualive haha true.

[tinimpajko]

please tell me where do you get your essential amino acids for example cistein/methionin, as those are lacking in plant food.

i am a medical student and i was REALLY interested in the vegan diet as a heathly way of life. read a lot about it..

dont mean to offend anyone, but it is just slightly healthier then the regular omnivoar meat eating diet.

the heatlthiest by far is vegetarianism. just the right amount of everything.

...dont get me started on amino acids

peace

and

take care

[iwillskinyoualive]

@tinimpajko With all due respect, talk to the head of admissions at your school and ask for your money back. "cistein/methionin, as those are lacking in plant food." This stamen is further proof that the average american doctor only receives 3.5 hours of nutritional based classes.

[SpamSpamNEggs]

You are a bit misinformed about the % labels on food products. The % is % of daily nutrition, not the % the product is made of. The salmon has MUCH higher % of product of protein than any vegetable. The serving size of the salmon is so small that it only contains a small % of daily need of protein.

I am not attacking vegan-ism, just the information you presented in this video.

[alli080808]

logos, I get 25% of b12 in rice milk for just 1 cup and I have 2 cups a day.

[Icewolf16]

even seaweed has b12

[almostmidnightdesign]

The doritos with the salsa and if you want to add spicy beans. It would give you enough protein supplement for at least one meal. Yeah you can get your protein without meat.

[logos2600]

Explain how to get B12 from a vegan diet without supplements or other artificial nutrient-crutches like fortified foods.

[trinh19862009]

tofu has protein and fish

[slicingwater]

So says the nutritionist.

[BeekersSqueakers]

I thought miso has bonito in it. Well miso soup does. Maybe it's different with miso paste.

[truth2748]

FACT. to all you clueless vegans. Veganism is not a diet, it is a way of life.

[Icewolf16]

actually its both ^_^

[truth2748]

Okay, then I'm no longer a Vegan.

[LuisWolf]

Eat a Big MC and STFU

[raglantrick]

fail.

[woreno]

shaolin monks don't eat ginger and probably nor doritos

[HawxSmokedTempo]

there is more protein in beans! when you eat meat, the protein inhibits other things such as calcium, moreover meat has a lot of fat in it...

[Zane325]

Rock on!!! thanks for video

[ThowHilton]

your ugly bitch

[fnatr]

shes actually good looking ;)

[TheresNoTimeLikeNow]

Your spirit is ugly which is the worst sort, Arrogance & ignorance go hand in hand welcome to your personal world of ignorance. Judgment of others draws it 2 yourself. Lets see a pic of your oh so gorgeous self posted so you can brag @ your beauty. R you a super model? What happens to peeps such as yourself is you end up being horribly disfigured so you become the ugliest of all! Then you must learn to love yourself as a monster & then love others. The many's the ONE the ONE is the many.

[ThowHilton]

and your a fuckin hipocrate , cause you obviously don't know me and think you can judge me from my single comment. YOU KNOW FOR A FACT MY SPIRIT IS UGLY? you must know a lot of people like that to even call me arrogant and ignorant. your a hipocrate cause i called this chick ugly and you had to call me ugly hearted when you clearly dont know me so that makes you no better then what you assume that i am. it seems like you spend a lot of time countering negative people intsead of ignoring them

[DrQuantum27]

@ThowHilton Does it make you feel better about yourself to insult random people online? You must be a coward.

[Freeurmindom]

Another thing is meat supplies a lot of stuff like protein, B12, iron, etc. so the idea is to get all of this in one type of food. I am eating more veggies now (not completely vegan) and learned that B12 is vital to the nervous system. Here is a question that I don't know the answer to : Where does a vegan get B12? It is my understanding that it can only be in meat . By the way, I have lost some weight and feel better since cutting out red meat, eggs, and milk :)

[davidshaw123451]

B12 IS fortified in a number of products such as candy bars.

[ARCDBEACH]

But remember, 'quality' and portion size play in the game as well. I get my protein from beans (Garbonzo, black, northern, b.e.peas, kidney, etc) and good ole peanut butter.

Thanks for speaking on the "complete protein" theory

[GaryNull]

Is that a bass behind you?

I have a Fender Jazz bass.

[TheVeganicWitch]

Tis indeed a bass, a crappy yamaha one. I have a fender rip off too 3/4 size cos I'm small.

[romanempiresucks]

yeah I am a vegan but I eat meat seems like a contradiction. I believe its wrong to eat meat but I dont believe its possible to live without meat confused (this is a parody you wont understand)

[DHP2]

A few years ago I had attempted to join this Bally Total gym, and went in to meet a trainer. He asked me what my diet was like, and at the time I was eating vegetarian and said so. He gave this big sigh of relief like I had just come short of something terrible, and told me I was borderline unhealthy, and that veganism was completely unhealthy. "I'm a nutritionist with a degree, trust me," he said.

Needless to say I didn't join. He's just about the only "nutritionist" I've ever heard say that.

[Alphonzen]

Another thing; some essential amino acids such as leucine, valine and phenyalanine come from non-meat sources of proteins. Meaning, that you need to have a non-meat source of protein in order to stay healthy. This goes for all homo sapiens.

[TheVeganicWitch]

Well thank you very much for that info :-)

[Alphonzen]

I think its ridiculous when someone says that vegans or vegetarians are scrawny and lack appropriate amounts of protein.

Have they heard of the shaolin monks? Thats one example out of a million.

[TheVeganicWitch]

Too true

[Joriahbling78]

were do you get your iron?

[TheVeganicWitch]

Dark leafy greens and beans and pulses.

[Joriahbling78]

thanks..i don't know if i want to go all the way vegan but im not going to eat dairy for sure... i grew up vegetarian and was vegan for a bit, but its tough.

[TheVeganicWitch]

I think dropping dairy is an excellent ethical choice. What have you found the hardest part of being vegan?

[Joriahbling78]

it was hard for me because i played junior hockey, and i lived with random families and there diets were usually pretty terrible. im sure i could have been a vegan but most likely a unhealthy one. so right now i'm just cutting off dairy, and other stuff a little as well. I don't know if i will ever be completely vegan, but if i stand by it im sure ill get some health benefits.

[TheVeganicWitch]

Wow, that would be really hard! Good on you for doing the best you could anyway :-)

[masterdurchgriff]

spinach

[KARINinLaLaLand]

damn ive been vegan for 1 month and the mistake of buying crackers with Glycerol monostearate...i feel so disappointed and a failure =[

but ok now i noe

[TheVeganicWitch]

Don't be hard on yourself, some of these ingredients are pretty obscure. I tend to prefer products that only contant ingredients that sound like food LOL and that makes it easier :-)

I'm strange, I enjoy finding new weird ingredients and looking them up, you find out some weird things that way...and I enjoy obscure facts. A lot of the time the ingredient you look up turns out to be vegan and yet made from coal tar or something gross so you may not want to eat it anyway LOL

[KARINinLaLaLand]

youre right

thank u :P

i guess the simpler the better

[RyanMD81]

Since fat also keeps us warm and protects us from injury (cushion/shock absorber) an optimal level should be the goal. As a rough approximation: men 10-20% and women 15-25%. I also want to mention that it takes endurance exercise (>20 min) to burn fat with aerobic workouts (running, swimming, etc) being preferable.

[TheVeganicWitch]

Right, so I don't need to worry about that as long as I am over 15%, I'm not burning into the essential fat around my organs etc. And 33% was too much body fat like I thought it was LOL

Fancy being so worried about it, hey. But I have been intentionally trying to gain weight because everyone around me always seems concerned, or just wants to draw attention to me. I'm getting up to 60kgs now, the last almost 5 kilos of which I put on by cramming carbs and fat and it seems to have shut them up.

[RyanMD81]

It's a good point that you make about accuracy of body fat %. This is a very difficult thing to measure accurately and it can fluctuate even with consecutive measurements on the same device. BMI is the WHO standard, although this too has flaws (may be innacurrate for athletes, children, elderly, sick). Normal BMI 18.5-24.9, overweight 25-29.9 and obese >30. Essential bodyfat is 25% in men and 1013% in women. Very few people (except perhaps anorexics) get to this range.

[RyanMD81]

I agree with you, most long term veg folks are thin and don't have to worry much about dietary fats. Woman need enough fat for hormone production, if your body fat drops below the teens you'll stop menstruating and producing enough estrogen to keep your heart and bones healthy. Men can go lower, some pro-atheletes (ie olympiads) have single digit body fat %.

[TheVeganicWitch]

Ohhhh I have a question for you I have wanted to ask for ages. Do you think body fat ratios are inflated to allow for obestity becoming more normal? Because when I was overweight my bodyfat was 33% which is just above what is ok for women apparently (according to a website I went to) and I was definately fat, I lost flexibility because when I bent over fat rolls were in the way and I spread out when I lay down LOL. Since going vegan my body fat has varied from 14% at the lowest to 21% (bear in..

[TheVeganicWitch]

...mind I am using impedence scales which I am unsure are 100% accurate). I have tried to run a search on ideal female body fat ratio and I can't find the data. My BMI is 21.5 so I am not underweight but I am constantly surrounded by overweight and obese people (a couple so fat they waddle instead of walking) but they are always pointing out I am thin and it makes me paranoid for some reason LOL

What is your advice doc?

[RyanMD81]

I don't think ratios are inflated in the reputable literature, I think they've been established through evidence based research and are pretty solid. I recommend NIH, NLM, CDC, PubMed as good resources. Obesity is never normal (although it has become more common), it is a disease with increased mortality and associated co-morbidities (HTN, DM, MI, OSA, etc).

[RyanMD81]

"so fat they waddle" LOL, I know exactly what you mean. The biggest patient I've seen was 550 lbs (in my internal medicine clerkship). It's a psychological coping mechanism to view others as abnormal thereby allowing themselves to feel more normal (even though deep down they know they've got a problem).

[RyanMD81]

Fat is an unnecessary macronutrient with one exception. We need Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids (linoleic and linolenic). The media (at least in the US) pushes fish oil, but these can be obtained easily from veg sources (ie flax seed). There is an obesity epidemic in the US and the majority of people here are overweight. Sometimes folks go veg to loose weight, my comments are more applicable to them.

[RyanMD81]

Also, be careful about getting your protein from nuts, there's about the same amount of fat per serving.

[TheVeganicWitch]

Hey, thanks for your comments Ryan MD :-)

I seem to be doing fine, I can build lean muscle easliy through exercise. Gaining weight in muscle quickly whilst loosing fat. My main problem would be that I need to eat a good amount of fat to gain body fat, so the nuts being fatty is a good thing for me. A lot of vegan diets are very low fat by nature so I don't imagine the fat in nuts would be *too* bad. Am I wrong?

With the guys I know I imagine they could eat 6 burgers and ask for more LOL

[RyanMD81]

Certain people especially need protein: atheletes, kids who are still growing, the pregnant, etc. Supplementation gives about 23g per scoop (I use 2 scoops in a shake with Silk and splenda for my sweet tooth). 2 shakes a day gives more than enough protein, and with a pure protein you avoid excess carbs (which can make you fat).

[RyanMD81]

I recommend protein supplementation, I like soy isolate personally (it's also one of the cheapest). The amount of protein you need every day is estimated at 1-1.5 g/kg. There is strong evidence that <0.7g/kg (the current RDA) results in loss of lean muscle. The average (fit) male is around 75 kg and a boca burger has about 13g of protein. It's pretty difficulty to eat that volume of food (6 veggie burgers a day) or the equivalent in other foods (it takes A LOT of beans to get 75g protein).

[RyanMD81]

Calcium is an important supplement to take. There are some plants high in Ca, like spinach, but their oxalates interfere with absorption. It's very difficult to eat enough food to get adequate Ca; adults need at least 1000 mg QD. Ca is very bulky so you will NOT get enough in a multivitamin. Read nutrition labels and you'll see how little Ca you actually get per serving.

[tamica98121]

Yeah I get that dumb question a lot, even from really smart people. Meat eaters are brain washed

[TheVeganicWitch]

You have most probably lost subcutanious fat you did not know you had, and it has nothing whatsoever to do with your bones. You are running and eating an extremely low fat diet, weight loss (especially from your waist, I have no idea why you are so freaked out about that) flows naturally from that. If you want to stop loosing weight either eat more or exercise less. If you are really freaked go to the doctor and they can reassure you :-)

[dlightseer]

Yes, potatoes contain all nine essential amino acids. I am not saying they are a protein dense food as only 7% of the calorie content of a potato comes from protein. Interestingly, by comparison human breast milk has 6% of its calorie content from protein.

[TheVeganicWitch]

But my point is that although you are not consciously monitoring your protein intake in anyway (which is probably fine, human protein requirements are pretty small) you ARE consuming protein in your food...designing a zero protein diet would be close to impossible because even fruits contain small amounts of protein. Go to nutritiondata's website, you can find out the amount of nutrients in almost any kind of food, it's really interesting :-)

[universalJok3r]

on top of that, pretty much all proteins denature when they hit the digestive acid and are broken down into base amino acids anyway.

seeing as amino acids are present in basically every from of life, you'd have to be eating rocks, water and oxygen to have a zero protein diet. but regardless, the human body has its own mechanisms to generate all but 8 base types of amino acids, so realistically you are safe either way.

[universalJok3r]

these other 8 amino acids are widely available from plants, after all, the first consumers in every food chain have to get it from somewhere...

[TheVeganicWitch]

So then you are eating protein, you just aren't worrying about filling your diet with protein rich foods.

Why bother to say "you don't need protein at all" then? Almost every food on this planet contains some amount of protein! :-)

[robdoghurty]

i'd love to cum inside you

[TheVeganicWitch]

Wow, you open an account to say that and then close it. I really feel important! :)

[dlightseer]

Potatoes and spinach are "complete" protein foods. As a bonus, eating them will not cause atherosclerosis like meat does. Frances Moore Lappé revised her book on the subject of complimentary proteins. John Robbins stated in his book that the real danger in Western diets is excessive protein consumption. The only way to have a protein deficiency is by literally starving to death.

[TheVeganicWitch]

Are you talking about "The Protein Myth"?

[yunta51]

A new study done at Oxford on vegetarians and vegans just came out. The study shows that those on a vegetarian diet, besides anaemia and inflammation of the nervous system are susceptible to BRAIN SHRINKAGE. Of course this is due to the fact that they aren't getting the amounts of B12 that they're supposed to. I believe they're not getting many other nutrients as well but B12 is a major one. Check out the study yourselves, it's easy to find on the internet as it just came out this week.

[TheVeganicWitch]

I was sent an article from the Indian Times called "Eating veggies shrinks the brain" it was hilarious LOL

Look, B12 deficiencies will mess you up, everybody knows that. I take more then the required amount of B12 to ensure I am building a good reserve. Luckily supplimental B12 is more readily absorbable then that found in animal foods :-)

[yunta51]

So you believe that suppliments are better absorbed by the body than real food? That's the first time I've heard that. Could you provide a source?

[TheVeganicWitch]

I think it only applies to B12, not all suppliments. It was on the VegRD site, which is run by a registered dietician. I'll see if I can find the exact page URL for you :-)

[yunta51]

I wouldn't trust any "registered dieticians" if I were you. The only absorbable B12 is found in animal sources.

[TheVeganicWitch]

I shouldn't trust dieticians, people trained in advising people on nutrition? Who should I trust in your opinion?

Bioavailable B12 is a bacterial product, I'm talking about the bacterial kind which is the same as that found in animal products, not the kind found in algae and seaweed which is NOT proven scientifically to be bioavailable. I just thought I would clarify that because it could be a cause of confusion.

[TheVeganicWitch]

From the study you mention: "Vitamin B12 deficiency is a recognized public health problem, particularly among older people, so increasing B12 intake could help to reduce the problem. However, a clinical trial would be necessary before a final conclusion about whether giving older people B12 supplements would make a significance difference to their risk of brain shrinkage, said Vogiatzoglou."

B12 SUPPLIMENTS, even the scientists are talking about them! :-)

[yunta51]

Scientists also think that synthetic vitamin E is effective, as well as enriching bread with B vitamins, etc. You seem to support the FDA when it agrees with your argument, and then you go back to the radical anti-meat stance when it suits. Back and forth. Where I just have to point to the way people evolved eating foods such as animal protein and fats, seasonal greens and vegetables, to show the way it can be done.

[TheVeganicWitch]

You're going back and forth too, saying supplimental B12 isn't absorbable and then when the study you were referring to mentions supplimenting B12 you say the scientists are wrong??? Talk about the pot calling the kettle black! The B12 I'm talking about isn't synthetic, its a bacterial product.

Yes, I do not dispute that humans have eaten animal products for a LONG time, out of neccessity. I simply believe that now we have the technology to enable a compassionate lifestyle we should consider it

[yunta51]

It depends Which scientist you're quoting from. The lead author in the study, Anna Vogiatzoglou said - "Vitamin B12, also known as cobalamin, is *only* found in food of animal origin, including meat, milk and eggs." She also says - "...it is crucial for people to lead a healthy lifestyle with a balanced diet rich in B vitamins and antioxidants.

I see nothing wrong with what she says. There were quotes that said suppliments *may* provide enough B12, but that's a big *may* in my opinion.

[TheVeganicWitch]

The experiment was not run to determine the safety of vegan or vegetarian diets and these issues were not discussed in the editorials I read. Older people in many nations have issues with B12 deficiency due to the reduced ability of the body to absorb B12 as we age and a poor diet with no supplimentation.

B12 producing bacteria is also found in the soil, which is where herbiverous animals obtain it. However, as most people do not eat dirt LOL the scientist is unlikely to note that...

[TheVeganicWitch]

...Supplimental B12 is made through a process of fermentation, similar to how herbivores are able to ferment it in their stomachs.

Well, I have been 100% vegan for almost a year, taking supplimental B12 and consuming it in fortified foods (with little algae and kelp to confuse the readings of bioavailable B12). I'm going in for a health check up around my 12 month anniversary with full blood work and everything. It will be interesting :-)

[TheVeganicWitch]

"...this study suggests that simply adjusting our diets to consume more vitamin B12 through eating meat, fish, *fortified cereals* or milk may be something we can easily adjust to prevent brain shrinkage and so perhaps save our memory, says Anna Vogiatzoglou of the Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics at Oxford University."

Where do you think the B12 used to fortify the cereals comes from, its supplimental B12. Straight from the scientists mouth :-)

[wodaospirit]

Excuse me for hopping in, but I wouldn't trust research, as I wouldn't trust the slander that I see on TV. Only thing left to trust is my own instinct and what my guts tell me. I'm really returning to my fruitarian path, regardless of what ANYONE says.

My body cries out to bring harmony. And so I will return.

[TheVeganicWitch]

Well all the research, including that done in the past by Oxford (who also facilitated the study discussed above) has supported the safety of a vegetarian diet anyway. But I do agree that listening to your body and learning to interpret its signals correctly is invaluable. Best of luck with your fruitararianism, it appeals to me too but I do have some niggling worries about it which I may discuss with you at a later time :-)

[yunta51]

It was the quest for meat that led Homo sapiens to colonize the world. They followed the herds of animals. One kill of a mammoth or other big game could feed many people and lasted for a long period of time; whereas gathering plants and fruits to eat was seasonal. Until the early part of the 20th century there were peoples who lived almost entirely on animal food. For example, the Eskimos of North America and Lapps of Scandinavia lived almost entirely on animal protein and were very healthy.

[TheVeganicWitch]

I am not disagreeing with those points but what does any of that have to do with people who live today in the developed world? I make my choices based on what is happening now and the opportunities now open to me, not on what happened far in the past or what people are doing past the Arctic Circle.

[yunta51]

You may be making choices on the outside but your body is working the same as it did 20,000 years ago. Which means it runs far better on a fuel of animal fat and organ meats than it would on soy-milk and hemp-seeds, which aren't even foods fit for human consumption let alone anything healthy. May I ask what your ancestry is?

[TheVeganicWitch]

For your info my ancestry is (as far as I can trace it back) Scottish and English with a bit of Australian Aboriginal.

In my experience the more animal products that are in my diet the worst I have felt. Prior to going vegan I was eating the most meat I had ever eaten in my whole life and I felt and looked terrible. I was actually embarrassed to be seen because I looked so ill, I have felt the best I have ever felt in my life, and looked a lot healthier too since I went vegan...

[TheVeganicWitch]

...If I was giving my body the wrong fuel wouldn't it make sense that I would feel worse instead of better?

I have a video called 'Could this be the easy answer to your health problems' which describes my journey so far, you can find more info regarding my health there.

[yunta51]

"...If I was giving my body the wrong fuel wouldn't it make sense that I would feel worse instead of better?"

Well it depends on what you were eating before wouldn't it? Feeling better is relative. And remember, most modern people don't really know what it feels like to have optimum health anymore. From what I can gather from your video, you (like most vegetarians) are eating a lot of high energy foods year round.

[TheVeganicWitch]

"Feeling better is relative. And remember, most modern people don't really know what it feels like to have optimum health anymore."

I hear you on that one. I am presently addicted to both cigarettes and caffeine, the caffeine addiction used to be so bad I was drinking several energy drinks a day and sometimes felt I was having palpatations, now I just have two or three coffees a day. Since my health improved without me even trying after going vegan I now wonder how much better I could feel...

[TheVeganicWitch]

...if I stopped injesting poison on a regular basis LOL

Read my below comments, the only thing that came out of my diet when I went vegan was the animal products. I have also reduced sugar to some degree (when I am behaving myself that is) but even if I have long periods where I don't watch the sugar I intake I still never feel as bad as I did with animal products in my diet.

I went vegan for animals, not for me...I actually expected to feel worse! It's been lovely to experience the reverse :)

[yunta51]

"I went vegan for animals, not for me..."

This sums it all up. "Veganism" isn't about people making the right health choices, it's not about optimum health in anyway. It based on a different agenda.

[TheVeganicWitch]

Well there are two camps of vegans, those who were inspired mostly by ethics and those who did it for their health. Just because I started doing it for ethical reasons doesn't negate my experience, or the nutritional information my research has yeilded.

[yunta51]

I don't see many people doing this *just* for health. When I talk to people that do this diet, eventually it always ends up with them saying that they feel animals shouldn't be eaten (by people, other animals are aloud to eat them I guess) because they have feelings.

[TheVeganicWitch]

Check out the raw vegans then. I recommend the YT channel ArnoldsWay. Arnold is very much a character so people may judge him on that but he has LOTS of videos from hundreds of people whose health has been improved by dropping animal products and processed foods.

[yunta51]

So you're mainly of Northern European ancestry. Also remember that the traditional native diet of Northern Europeans didn't include - white sugar, refined flour, or *pasteurized* dairy. It *did* include - 100% grass-fed livestock, raw dairy, unrefined whole grains, seasonal greens, and honey (when available). So which diet did you used to eat? It might explain a lot as to why you didn't feel healthy.

[TheVeganicWitch]

I had been on lots of different diets during my life, none of which seemed to suit me. My mother raised me on a normal diet with meat/eggs/milk, she paid a lot of attention to nutrition but the diet was very low fat with no salt. Looking back, from some of the health problems I had I think I had some kind of vitimin deficiency. When I was at uni and moved out of home I couldn't afford much meat so was 'mostly vegetarian' and cooked most of my food from scratch, I did pretty well...

[TheVeganicWitch]

...on that, considering I often went hungry only being able to eat once or twice a day due to lack of money. Once I got into the workforce I started eating meat more regularly (except for one brief stint of pescetarianism which was almost vegetarian, and which I felt better for but stopped when my partner started eating a standard diet again). Over time I got fatter and fatter (not obese but I could tell I was too big for my health) and sicker and sicker. One month into veganism I felt better...

[TheVeganicWitch]

...then I remember ever having feeling since entering adolescence, I felt positive, all my sympotoms decreased or dissapeared (see the vid I directed you to previously for details) and I had a huge amount of energy. This is pretty much what I feel like still as long as I don't eat too many refined carbs or when life is kicking me in the ass (like it is now). It's been 11 months now, I haven't had any issues, I'm enjoying my food and planning further actions to improve my health :-)

[TheVeganicWitch]

I haven't really made any attempts to improve my health so far, I consume junkfood still and the only thing I took out is animal products so that is all I could think that could have been impairing my health that isn't still in my diet. I'm not lactose intolerant so it couldn't have been that. I understand what you are saying about tradtional diets etc but if you listen to and look at vegans they all look better after changing their diet and say they feel better. There must be something there???

[yunta51]

"...but if you listen to and look at vegans they all look better after changing their diet and say they feel better. There must be something there???"

I don't mean to sound like a smart-ass, but you've got to be kidding, right? Don't judge a 19 year old girl that's been a vegan for 1 month (the majority here on youtube). I see them all the time and they look terrible, like they're seriously lacking lots of nutrients. Even the gurus (David Wolf, Gabriel Cousins, etc.) look very, very bad.

[TheVeganicWitch]

Well I'm a 29 year old woman who has been vegan for almost a year, not a 19 year old who has been vegan for a month. I'll have to look up these David Wolf and Gabriel Cousins people, I dont actually know who they are LOL

So, I understand you don't want to be vegan, but some people do and I am here to help them by providing advice and links to information provided by others. I really hope we can be civil on this matter and agree to disagree :-)(some people cannot)

[yunta51]

David Wolf and Gabriel Cousins are the godfathers of the raw foods movement.

So you haven't eating any animal protein for one year?

[TheVeganicWitch]

Well I'm not a raw foodist, which may explain my ignorance. I checked them out, they both look ok to me, particularly I think it was Gabriel cousins who looks pretty good for someone who is 66.

My veganversary is in the middle of October :-)

[PhoenixWindsong]

Wow, I didn't know that there are a lot of different products that had good sources of protein in them.

[TheVeganicWitch]

Seriously, check out the link at the example of recommended intake for a man and how to get it from vegan sources - really, really easy! :-)

Protein is in almost everything, and you do not need huge amounts of it either.

[Hazmat0357]

this is so stupid.....everyone should eat meat its necesary

[TheVeganicWitch]

Not true.

[montgonova]

um no! humans can easily survive without it

[indieh01]

The only way you can survive without protein is if you are getting your essential amino acids from another source other than protein. Without consuming essential aminos you will get sick and eventually die. In other words protein is essential to live.

[TheVeganicWitch]

Um, protein is MADE from amino acids. All essential amino acids can be derived from plant matter.

[sapperbloggs]

How do you figure that?

My girlfriend is vegetarian. She hasn't eaten meat in over 10 years. She does not take any form of supplement because of it, she's healthier than me (I eat meat).

The only thing stupid here is your assumption

[TheVeganicWitch]

Go Sapps! You speak the truth brother :-) Humans can have it almost anyway they want as long as they are being reasonable. I mean of course you can't live on just lettace sandwiches or just peaches or something rediculous like that but as long as you have all your required nutrients you can eat however you like (within reason) and be perfectly healthy.

[porolita22]

Yeah, as necessary as chocolate chips *SIGH*

[deimuddahh69]

hempseeds has da highest protein amount

[raminidio]

Hello there!

I saw some of your videos and I'd like to congratulate you.

if you don't mind I'll like to ask you about the b12? cuz I used to be vegan for a year and now I'm vegatarian again for like 10 years.

The problem with the b12 is that the only 2 trademarks that I found on the market were did with animal ingredients.

[TheVeganicWitch]

B12 is a bacterial product created using fermentation...I have sent you a message with some information that might help you :-)

[subach]

It doesn't matter whether you eat whole protein or just the amino acids, once the food gets to the intestines a class of enzymes called protease begins to break down any protein into amino acids. An average person could infact live off 15-20 grams of "protein"(amino acids are counted gram for gram as protein on nutrition labels) if it consisted of the 8 essential amino acids the human body can't produce. Of course it would be hard to be that specific.

[subach]

Of course those wanting to build muscle need much more and want large amounts of the amino acids used to build muscle which is why we non-vegans find lean meat so convenient, since it's mostly muscle, the body's enzymes turns it into the exact amino acids you need.

[TheVeganicWitch]

Nutritionists now believe that as long as you eat a varied diet your body can, as you said above, convert that into complete amino acids. Also there are advantages to taking protein only from vegetable sources i.e. no cholesterol, no uric acid etc. From what I have read (its not a main interest of mine) in order to build muscle efficiently it is most important to balence protein to carbs as your body cannot use the protein to create muscle without sufficient carbohydrates.

[subach]

I usually eat fruit to get the carbs, and carrots, broccoli, and tomatoes for fiber and vitamins with my protein.

[TheVeganicWitch]

When I am being good my diet is largely rice and legume based (I tend to mix my legumes to obtain a more complete protein profile) with lots of salad and or lightly steamed vegetables. I have been really into soups with buttered bread at the moment because its cold and I have been on the go a lot. I really need to eat more fruit I think but I find that it doesn't appeal to me much...except for peaches and sometime plums...

[TheVeganicWitch]

I have actually found that I have been able to get that protein overload feeling on a vegan diet as well, you know that sludgy heavy feeling you get when you have eaten too much meat? I got it a bit in the beginning of my veganism when I was really protein obsessed and eating lots of protein heavy foods. It was fine for my partner because men need more protein but it was definately overkill for me. I cut back and I stopped getting that feeling.

[subach]

I don't think I've eaten too much meat since I ate fastfood, which I haven't done for about 8 months now. I avoid that stuff like the plague, that and putting alot of veggies and fruits in my diet has really kept my energy levels up. Really I guess it won't be that hard for me to try a vegan diet, all I'd need to do is replace meat with legumes or vegan 'meats'. But I don't know how that will work once I go back to the military in two weeks. I had enough problems maintaining my current diet.

[TheVeganicWitch]

Yeah I dunno if they would offer vegan options LOL from what I have seen on documentaries at the big bases they seem to be keen on allowing people to have access to familiar foods like burgers and hot dogs, which I think is definately understandable considering the circumstances.

[subach]

Well they do actually have veggie burgers of some sort, and they'll have mix of nuts out every other day, but that's it for vegan sources of protein. They do tend to have 3-4 types of veggie out per meal. It would be hard, unless I convinced them to give me separate rations, then I could go buy groceries like normal people. But I can only have a microwave in my barracks room.

[TheVeganicWitch]

Sounds pretty hard, perhaps not completely impossible, but definately a challenge. I would continue to be vegan myself in that situation but I would think it would be harder for you taking food where you can find it, being a male and needing more food overall.

[subach]

Perhaps, think I'll try it just to piss my chain of command off :}

[TheVeganicWitch]

Sounds awesome LOL :-)

[jennykts]

I am very thin too. I'm 4.5% fat, 6 feet tall, and 115 pounds! What irritates me is that people always suggest I start eating meat to gain weight and I tell them that I actually *gained* weight when I became vegetarian and when I gave up drinking milk- allergies were SO much better!

[TheVeganicWitch]

Nuts are very high in fats and protein, and extremely good for you. You don't need meat to get fats and protein :)

[jennykts]

I work at a food co-op with lots of nuts in bulk. My fave are cajun cashews and sprouted almonds (more alkalinizing).

yay! go nuts! lol

[TheVeganicWitch]

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, you just reminded me I have macadamias in my bag!! :-)

[awesomevegan]

Favorite, 5 stars and I am going to add it to my myspace page for vegan resources!

[TheVeganicWitch]

Excellent!!! I have another one that could be useful for you, it's the featured vid on my channel page. It's about iron, calcium, zinc and B12 :)

[solboard]

There is a great myth in the requirements of protein. We need far less than the US RDA.

[TheVeganicWitch]

Yep, you are 100% correct :)

[solboard]

There is a user on Youtube by the of 'runningraw.' He is a raw foodist that avoids protein rich foods like nuts, seeds, beans and legumes. Watch his 'The Protein Myth' video.

[TheVeganicWitch]

I've seen it, it's very interesting! :) I don't know if my body would be happy with that though; when I eat healthy I am very slight in build. As he says in his video he has no body fat; my research shows that I would not be advised to loose any further body fat at this time. I am erring on the side of caution on this issue right now. I do intend to go raw at some stage though :)

[solboard]

I'm very thin too. I tested my body fat with an analyzer and I'm 4.5%!!! I don't and shouldn't lose any more fat or I'm sure my endurance cycling will be affected in some way. I'm already burning muscle--I'm sure--for those long, demanding rides.

I will try going raw soon. I'm just not ready yet ;)

[TheVeganicWitch]

Wow, that is low, but then you are an athelete :) Mine when last measured was 13.5-15% which for a woman is like olymic athelete level, funny thing is I do absolutely no exercise! I feel a burning need to do some though but I was worried because mentally I have come to associate plumpness with health and thinness with illness so I sometimes think of myself as frail. This is silly tho because when I have tested my self I think I am actually stronger and my mother who eats a low fat omni diet...

[TheVeganicWitch]

(cont) is just as thin as I am now. And when I was younger (like 14 years old and younger) and still eating mostly at home without much junkfood I was very thin then too, so I figure this is just me...how I am genetically predisposed to be. I also seem to have to eat fat to put on fat (carbs don't do it), which from some reading I have done may be linked to my Celtic ancestry. I think overall though my body image is just still adjusting to my new body LOL!

[CatCommunication]

Since your in Australia, can you please explain to us how your nutrition labels work?

If you saw "10% protein" -- does that mean that its 10% of the daily amount needed? Or 10% of that object is protein? and so on...

In the USA, protein is generally just given in grams, and I've read one needs .4g of protein for every pound of healthy body weight (so that'd be about .2g for every kilo, if I've got my math right, yeah?)

[TheVeganicWitch]

In Australia there is a section in the ingredients which tells you how many grams per 100g, you can work out the percentage out from that.

What I have heard is that we need approximately 15% of calories from protein rich sources. I think these requirements vary. For example, my partner needs so much more then I do and if I eat exactly the same as him after a few days I feel really stodgy and sluggish. If I reduce the protein a bit then I feel fine again. I don't think anyone can give you an...

[rjbeaman2007]

protine can be found in Pinto Beans,, which i love!,,,, and my wife hates (lol).

[TheVeganicWitch]

I love black eyed beans! But I can hardly ever get them for some stupid reason???

[OMGitsSeppie]

wicked vid :) i hate it when people tell me i don't get enough protein. if i didn't then surely i'd be a bit ill by now..

[TheVeganicWitch]

Well I've been 7 months without protein apparently, so surely I would be dead LOL :) I'm assuming that wouldn't IMPROVE your health!

Someone sent me a link to a hilarious Russian article once that stated that after 6 months without animal protein you die! So perhaps I am nothing but an apparition, the ghost in the machine :-P

[wingedorangeumbrella]

Protein.

Yumm.