VEGAN DELIGHTS

Constance; in your opinion, what is the best diet for women?

CC: A plant-based diet without hesitation. I am not a fan of gluten, for various important reasons, but namely the stress that it causes the body during digestion. Instead, there are numerous wonderful wholegrains like brown rice and quinoa, beans and legumes such as lentils, chickpeas and black beans: not to mention a treasure trove of vegetables and fruits. All these foods are all rich in phytonutrients which heal and energize the body. What’s good for women is also best for men and children too! The Academy for Nutrition and Dietetics (formerly known as the American Dietic Association) says that, “appropriately planned vegetarian diets, including total vegetarian or vegan diets, are healthful, nutritionally adequate, and may provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases. Well-planned vegetarian diets are appropriate for individuals during all stages of the life cycle, including pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood, and adolescence, and for athletes.” I think that’s says it all.

What are the great advantages of going vegan?

CC: In my opinion, there is nothing better (provided that the diet is varied and nutritious). By the end of the first week of eating vegan, you’ll find that your weight starts to drop significantly. By the second week, your blood pressure and blood sugar levels will have gone down. And by the third week, your cholesterol will have gone down significantly. You might be interested to know that cholesterol is found only in animal foods and is significantly associated with living a shorter life, whereas fiber, which is found only in non-animal foods, is significantly associated with living longer. Only animals (humans included) produce cholesterol. If you eat animals, you also eat their cholesterol. Instead, eat a plant-based food and you digest a variety of fabulous fiber which will clean your yukky pipes out. When I look at meat, dairy, and eggs, I think of the animals who are caused great pain and fear as they became part of the food system through industrial and intensive farming. We all have to make a conscious decision not just help our bodies, but also the environment.