Have you ever thought about doing a vegan diet?

No

No

No.

I was a vegetarian for a bit once...and now find that I only eat red-meat on rare occasions.

I do eat a good amount of Chicken and seafood...but easily eat a lot more vegetables and really enjoy them.

A vegan diet just seems far too restrictive with not much of an overall benefit to switch or try it.

No. Humans are omnivores.

Hell no!

Nope!

Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the
intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well
preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways,
chocolate in one hand, champagne in the other, body
thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming
“WOO HOO what a ride!

absolutely not.

the lovely mrs. VeV suggested we try it for a week at one point. I agreed. By the end of the week she said she felt amazing and it was all due to the wonderful diet we've now adopted. When she asked me the secret to making all those vegetables taste so good i confessed - homemade stocks (chicken/beef/pork/venison/duck/etc) and either bacon or duck fat. I was surprised she didnt notice the small bits of pancetta in her peas.

We went back to our usual routine the following week.

PURPLE and I did it for 1 year.

quote:

Originally posted by wineismylife:
PURPLE and I did it for 1 year.

What was your impression? Any effects?

I was mostly vegan for over 5 years. Seafood started to trickle in and rarely had a piece of meat. Then I was less strict but any meat came from small organic sources. I'm going back to the lifestyle of mostly vegan, no dairy, but seafood 1-2 times per week. It makes me feel better, "lighter" and I have more energy. If someone makes a meat dish, I'll eat it and usually really enjoy it, also so I'm not "that f$#&ing vegan guest".

No. I love cooking and eating to much to be limited to a strict vegan diet. That said we eat pretty light these days and probably a third of our meals during the week would qualify as vegan.

No way Jose

quote:

Originally posted by spo:
I have read a book or two and watched some Ted talks with MDs such as Furhman, Gregor, Esselyston, etc. + that Netflix movie Forks Over Knives.

Do you find any of it convincing or worth trying for health reasons?

My wife is vegetarian, but occasionally eats fish. She's into the whole Forks and Knives thing. Has the movie, cookbook, etc. I've read some material on veganism, seen the F O K movie, read Esselstyn's and Colin Campbell's books.

I remember there was a section in Forks Over Knives quoting some of Esselstyn's studies. He covers Norway during WW2, and attributes a large drop in cardiovascular disease to war time rationing of meats, dairy, and butter. There is a fancy graph with a swastika at the top when the Nazis invaded, then a sharp drop off in heart related diseases.

There has been a lot of criticism of this claim. He leaves out that when meat and dairy was cut, there was also a 80% drop in sugar, large reductions in wheat flour, and increases in fish, especially cold water fish rich in omega fats. There was also an average 25-30% caloric drop.

It's just as likely the incidence of heart disease went down because of these other factors. That is my problem with Campbell's (China Syndrome), Esseltyn, and others who make these claims. Simply the drop in caloric consumption will reduce obesity and heart disease. There is no way to scientifically claim the reduction in meat and dairy caused the drop.

Whatever diet you choose should help you keep a healthy weight, and insulin, glucose, cholesterol, etc in check.

I will say my wife makes recipes often from the F O K cookbook, and they've all been good.

Per recent reports, men's average sperm count has declined by 50% from 1973 to 2011. Per capita consumption of beef in the US peaked at 94.3 pounds per person in 1976 and fell to 54.1 pounds in 2014, a decline of 43%. Coincidence? ... I think NOT!

quote:

Originally posted by vinole:
Per recent reports, men's average sperm count has declined by 50% from 1973 to 2011.

Speak for yourself!

quote:

Originally posted by Rothko:

quote:

Originally posted by vinole:
Per recent reports, men's average sperm count has declined by 50% from 1973 to 2011.

Speak for yourself!

As of today, I will have 3 in college at the same time, so I am paying for all that virility.

No.

Sure. I've been either vegetarian or pescatarian since the late 80s, and was vegan for about two years in college. Going vegan is certainly sustainable, and can be a really healthy decision, but it takes some work to get certain nutrients, as you probably know.

I eat the way I do for health, and ethical reasons.

Funny, over the past year or so I've significantly reduced my red meat intake, and practically eliminated pork products from my diet, and over the last 3-4 months I've also significantly reduced my chicken intake.

I didn't make a conscious decision to do any of it, and it certainly isn't a matter of principle to me.

I just started finding that my body simply didn't feel as good after consuming a lot of red meat, and pork actually tends to give me heartburn (sacrilege as the son of Cuban-Americans). At that point I started eating tons of chicken, which eventually made me dislike chicken.

That leaves me with fish (love eating fresh fish) and a lot of veggies, beans, cheese, pastas, rice, greens, fruits, etc.

My favorite food is still a cheeseburger, and I have one every few weeks. However, I don't think I've eaten a steak in at least 3-4 months.

I tend to save my "meat eating" for nice dinners out. If I'm eating at home, ordering takeout, going to the lunch spots near the office, etc., I tend to find a meatless option - or at worst a chicken option.

I think forcing yourself into a label (i.e.; "I'm a vegan") makes things really difficult for anyone that enjoys socializing around food. I'm pretty much a vegetarian these days, but if I got get something to eat somewhere and the meatless dishes don't get my attention, I gladly order something with chicken or fish in it, and if I'm in the mood for a piece of beef I don't hesitate to have one.

If I were forced to be a vegetarian I think I'd be fine, provided I can smuggle in the occasional cheeseburger. Strict veganism though, is really impractical if you socialize around food.

Good points jorge, tough to socialize with really restrictive diets. I'm currently doing the Whole 30 plan, and have seven more days to go. I've basically given up going out to eat until next weekend. My vegan friends find it similarly tough to go out to eat with friends. Depends on where you are. In meat-and-potatoes Indianapolis, it's much tougher to dine for special diet plan eaters than it is in big west coast cities, where vegan and restricted diet options abound.

quote:

Originally posted by Rothko:

quote:

Originally posted by wineismylife:
PURPLE and I did it for 1 year.

What was your impression? Any effects?

Didn't care for it myself. Craved meat for a while but mostly got past that (not totally). Didn't always feel satiated. Had to take Lysine for a while for sores in my mouth due to lack of protein. When I did start back on meat was constipated for a while.

It was a freaking blast!

Not for a nano-second. And my ex-wife fortunately had got this out of her system before we got married. Now she eats her meat bloody rare.

I've never done vegan or vegetarian, and I love steak too much to give it up. But I respect those people who choose to do so, based on their moral/ethical reasons.

The fact is, I try not to think of the millions of animals that are slaughtered every year for our benefit, and the living conditions that they suffer until their untimely demise. I can go to a supermarket, buy a pre-packaged steak, and not have to think about what it took to get that steak to my store. I'd rather not think about it.

My wife is basically vegan with the addition of fresh seafood. It does pose challenges sometimes when dining out. If we are out of town I will look at the menu online or call the restaurant to see if her needs can be met. Before this she was vegetarian for many years. I agree here in the midwest it is tougher when dining out than if you are on the west or east coast. Some of the dishes we make at home are dynamite.

IW

A new UK study conducted by the new Bristol University found that vegetarians are almost twice as likely to suffer from depression as those who consumed meat in their diet.

Link

So, basically, by eating meat, I'm preventing depression

Never. Although I am often amazed at what great meals can be prepared without meat. I'm eating significantly less red meat over the years. Not by any design, just have migrated in that direction.

PH

quote:

Originally posted by Pinotlvr:
A new UK study conducted by the new Bristol University found that vegetarians are almost twice as likely to suffer from depression as those who consumed meat in their diet.

Link


So, basically, by eating meat, I'm preventing depression

It's because they are depressed that they can't eat a dry-aged sirloin.

Love a good steak once in a while. Gravitate to fish, chicken and veal

quote:

Originally posted by FL Wino:
Love a good steak once in a while. Gravitate to fish, chicken and veal

Um, isn't veal the same as [beef] steak?

Once I had a strong food poisoning with a seafood. haven't been eating both seafood and any meat for 6 months. Then started look at chicken, then beef, but seafood never wver again. I think I am a meat person, difficult to totally refuse from meat, though it's not what I really need every day.

quote:

Originally posted by Pinotlvr:
A new UK study conducted by the new Bristol University found that vegetarians are almost twice as likely to suffer from depression as those who consumed meat in their diet.

Link

So, basically, by eating meat, I'm preventing depression

I'd love to see a copy of the original paper. I'd wager this is a media misinterpretation of complex research, into a punchy headline and copy that doesn't reflect the source material. Happens all the time.

So you are calling it "fake news"?

quote:

Originally posted by billhike:
So you are calling it "fake news"?

Haha, maybe.
We've all seen the headlines of "Wine is good for you, drink up!!!" in 72pt. type after peer-reviewed research that reports that one glass of wine a day might help lower the risk of heart disease.

No

NO.

if you're "vegan" but eating seafood.

does that mean that because it's seafood, it's then okay to slather it with things like bacon and butter and cheese?

cuz i cant imagine lobster without butter.

quote:

Originally posted by spo:
I have read a book or two and watched some Ted talks with MDs such as Furhman, Gregor, Esselyston, etc. + that Netflix movie Forks Over Knives.

Do you find any of it convincing or worth trying for health reasons?

Not necessarily, but have gone 'plant-based,' for health reasons. Shoot me an email, I'd be happy to share info offline.