Why Plant-Based Nutrition?
(or go straight to links below)
My background: BSc in Ecology, MSc in Human ecology, worked in nature conservation, musician, life-coach, vegan for 7 years.
It has never been more urgent to face the destructive practices of humanity and choose either a future of extinctions, conflicts and mass suffering or a future of wisdom, healing and fulfilling the positive human potential, There are many ways of creating a more just, healthy, safe, compassionate, peaceful and environmentally sustainable society. However, not all actions are equally effective. Doing an almost a complete plant-based nutrition or reducing animal input to very low levels would contribute massively to the positive world scenario which most people really want. Animal agriculture in it’s present form and the typical western diet are an ecological, health and moral disaster. See links below for reasons.
According to increasing scientific peer-reviewed evidence including studies on long-lived populations and disease reversal, there is no advantage to consuming animal products over plant-based except in areas where there is no choice logistically. Plant-based diet, if done in a balanced way, appears to be the wisest choice, when considering health, morality and sustainability together. Probably on health grounds alone.
If you are open to the ideas above and want to find out more information or try the plant-based nutrition (personal experience is best!) I have provided some links below. Most importantly you should be aware that vitamins B12 and D3 (at high latitudes because of lack of sun comparatively) are needed as a supplement – easily done and non-vegans can often also show deficiencies. See link below. In fact non-vegans consume supplements added to foods like milk or frequently buy them anyway. Getting a balanced vegan diet is pretty simple once it becomes habit! Enjoy the new knowledge and social activities!
One way to get started is to go to vegan events with cooking etc.
(A note about getting to the truth
Because there are a lot of conflicting infos out there it can be difficult to be objective. Especially with diet. However, peer-reviewed research, although not free from abuse, is probably the nearest we can get to it within science at least. The environmental and dietary scientific evidence is on balance very convincing. There is a lot of disinformation that is often propagated by interests of the powerful meat and dairy industries, including through health authorities (Germany, too!) and individuals who are in denial of the rigorous evidence who use non-scientific arguments. Don’t believe everything you read/hear/see including here and please consider that not all bias is equal in amounts, or levels of harm that it causes, or funding! Also badly informed doctors, wishful thinking, and defensiveness play a role in our decisions and what we choose to believe or not. I have included a few debunking links to media as examples.)
LINKS
HEALTH / TIPS / BLOG
A wealth of information from Dr. Greger including recipes
Physician’s Committee for Responsible Medicine
VLOG – Mic the Vegan
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGJq0eQZoFSwgcqgxIE9MHw
a large amount of information, very science-based on all the regular myths to do with nutrition, including evolution of the human species!
Vitamin D3
http://www.naturarzt-ganzheitlich.de/VITAMIN-D.html (German)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pL7_3tahYQw&feature=youtu.be (German)
http://www.vitamindelta.de/ (German)
FILMS
COWSPIRACY – about the wide-ranging environmental destruction due to animal agriculture and the corruption, mistruths in industry and some environmental organisations at the time (the claim of 51% Greenhouse gases was not peer-reviewed – UN says 18% which is more than transport)
http://www.cowspiracy.com/facts/
KNIVES OVER FORKS – health, healing on PBD and industry (haven’t seen it but heard some positive critique)
WHAT THE HEALTH: should be on Netflix. Similar to Knives over Forks.
http://www.whatthehealthfilm.com/facts
Many have tried to debunk What the Health. e.g.
Debunk 1:
https://www.vegan.com/posts/vegan-dietitian-review-what-the-health/
Debunk of Debunk 1:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3xcrw09lik
Debunk 2.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skIGCoopR-g
Debunk of Debunk 2:
EARTHLINGS – What is being done to animals for food
DOMINION – (to be released in a few months?) as above plus evidence using drones and also how many animals in the entertainment industry are treated – kept secret before.
GAME-CHANGERS – (to be released) “ The Game Changers will introduce the world to elite athletes, special ops soldiers, visionary scientists, cultural icons and everyday heroes. Each on a mission to create a seismic shift in the way we eat and live.”
Especially aimed at men, it breaks through the macho meat-eating man myths, including errection tests!
BOOKS
Becoming Vegan – by Brenda Davis (for beginners)
The Cheese Trap: How Breaking a Surprising Addiction Will Help You Lose Weight, Gain Energy, and Get Healthy .- by Neal D. Bernard MD
Dr. Neal Barnard’s Program for Reversing Diabetes: The Scientifically Proven System for Reversing Diabetes Without Drugs – by Neal D. Bernard MD
Power Foods for the Brain: An Effective 3-Step Plan to Protect Your Mind and Strengthen Your Memory – by Neal D. Bernard MD
The China Study: Revised and Expanded Edition: The Most Comprehensive Study of Nutrition Ever Conducted and the Startling Implications for Diet, Weight Loss, and Long-Term Health – by Colin Campbell et.al.
EASY VEGAN MEALS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=In4vTeL2Y5A
I often eat:
Breakfast: porridge with banana and apple and turmeric
Lunch: red-lentil Dal with madras, soup stock (veg. / palm oil free) with different veg. e.g. Chinese Leaves and brown rice / millet
Evening: Large salad with potatoes, tomatoes, rocket, radicio, carrots, cucumber and olive-oil and lemon-juice dressing
VEGAN GROUPS IN MUNICH
(I organize events myself – inform me if you wish to be invited!)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/459413224176443
http://www.vegan-kochen.tumblr.com/
https://www.facebook.com/Vegan-Brunch-M%C3%BCnchen-1613094912279925/
