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Vegetarian/Vegan Lifestyle: Help Please

Posted July 19th, 2009 by Will

I am an active 78-year young guy with the very good fortune of being in excellent health. For my entire life I've been a meat eater--nothing like a good steak. Most recently I've been doing considerable reading about nutrician, in particular about plant-based diet vs animal-based diet. I've reached the conclusion that the best way to prolong my active life style is by moving to a vegetarian diet, or even to vegan, I would be grateful for comments from others. For instance, is there any great advantage to vegan over vegetarian? Are there dangers for someone my age to make such a shift? In making the change is it best to do it "cold turkey" or gradually over a period of time?
I have ordered a book on the vegan/vegetarian lifestyle and a couple of recipe books but hearing directly from others carries much more personal meaning.
Thanks in advance for any comments.

Vegan

On July 27th, 2009 pam_chpmn says:

Hi Will,
You might want to check into the C.H.I.P Program. Many cardiologists are encouraging their patients to change their lifestyle and eating habits and are recommending this program. I have seen it work very successfully in the Walla Walla Valley. If you want more information you could check out The General Hospital (in WW) website or call their health care teaching department at 509-525-4860. Ask for the CHIP program director. I think they have literature they can send you or a website. It's definitely healthy eating and cooking.
Pam

The Myths of Vegetarianism

On July 24th, 2009 Manette Loudon says:

Hey Will,

Here is a good article on the "Myths of Vegetarianism". The article was originally published in the Towsend Letter for Doctors and Patients and lists 15 Myths. You can read it in your spare time!

http://www.westonaprice.org/mythstruths/mtvegetarianism.html

All the best!

Response to Myths

On July 25th, 2009 Will says:

Thank you, Manette

You suggest I read the article in my spare time. Considering its length, you must think I have a ton of spare time :-).

 To be serious, this article is exactly the kind of opposing literature in which I'm interested. The following excerpts from the article pinpoint something that I've wondered about since I first considered a vegetarian diet. It is really a vital consideration.

 

"Biochemical individuality" is a subject worth clarifying. Coined by nutritional biochemist Roger Williams, PhD, the term refers to the fact that different people require different nutrients based on their unique genetic make-up. Ethnic and racial background figure in this concept as well. A diet that works for one may not work as well for someone else.
 
Further, due to peculiarities in genetics and individual biochemistry, some people simply cannot do a vegetarian diet because of such things as lectin intolerance and desaturating enzyme deficiencies.

Vegetarian

On July 22nd, 2009 Manette Loudon says:

I was a vegan for 16 years. A few years ago a nutritionist, PhD put me back on meat -- that is organic - grass feed beef, chicken, lamb...There is a whole movement away from vegetarianism and toward eating meat and healthy fats. I basically follow the Weston A. Price Foundation and Sally Fallon's advice on diet (except no form of sugar, vinegar, most grains). I am a much healthier, stronger woman today than during my veggie days. Of course I eat lots and lots of green organic veggies, too. You can check them out online if you're interested. All the best Will and yes, you do look mahvelous - I'm impressed!

You look Mahvelous!!!

On July 19th, 2009 Robert and Sandy Waters (not verified) says:

Remember Will "It's not how you feel, it's how you look!" And, You look Mahvelous. Absolutely Mahvelous!!! LoL!!!

Thank you for the generous

On July 20th, 2009 Will says:

Thank you for the generous compliment.
Looking "mahvelous" is very nice.
But I intend to feel as mahvelous in 20 years as I feel today!

Green Smoothies

On July 19th, 2009 Rhonda Brunett (not verified) says:

Pineapple and Dandelions add plain yogurt and blend this is my personal favorate smoothy. Ed is an expert with these green drinks provides lots of energy for sports(:

Dandelions in my drink???? Oh

On July 20th, 2009 Will says:

Dandelions in my drink????
Oh well, guess I will need to become accustomed to eating strange stuff.
Oh my gosh!!! I've been killing all the dandelions in my lawn. Now I know the solution to that lawn problem: eat them.

Funny

On July 20th, 2009 Rhonda Brunett (not verified) says:

You crack me up! Look though Laurette Janak's PPT.
Green Smoothie slides(:

Laurette's Presentations

On July 20th, 2009 Steve Janak says:

Laurette's Presentation can be found here: http://www.autismone.org/content/minimizing-parental-health-risks-what-p...

I find slide 64 particularly enlightening when in consideration of what we "ought" to eat. I am a very active vegetarian. At home I have a vitamix machine that I use every day. It is the industrial blender that many of the smoothie places use. Typically, I will through in a bunch of very dark greens such as dyno kale, chard, etc along with a lemon, ginger, and a banana.

When I went back to being a vegetarian almost 2 years ago, I was finding that I was getting tired very frequently with how active I liked to be. Adding in nutrient-rich dark green has helped maintain a very high level of energy and alertness for myself.

Will, I think you may find getting enough fat in your diet will be a challenge considering how active you are. I have found that avocados, nuts, and cashews work quite well. The way I eat has also changed. Instead of having 3 big meals, I generally prepare snack plates with nuts, bell peppers, cucumbers, papaya, etc, that I eat while I work. Not eating meat, I have found I need to eat much more regularly.

Thanks for the tips

On July 22nd, 2009 Will says:

Your input is helpful, thank you.
I like avacados and nuts (devour them regularly) but bell peppers--ughhh
Will look at the presentation.