Are you thinking about starting to eat healthily?
Or maybe considering the transition to a plant-based diet?
Are you sick and tired of being sick and tired?
Americans are sicker than ever, overweight, and stressed out, animal agriculture is bizarre and we wonder why we feel like this?
Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.
Nothing changes, if nothing changes.
Really think about that for a second: why not change our diet up and see if it benefits us?
When I transitioned into a plant-based diet 5 years ago….
Not eating meat – going vegan – eating plant-based were things I remember thinking about from time to time but never got around to doing it.
And I didn’t know that many people who ate that way either, definitely not anyone personally
After all,
I grew up eating meat – the media promoted it, my family made it, restaurants serve it, it’s tradition
There’s a concept that people talk about called changing in an instant
That person who smoked cigarettes for 20 years, gets diagnosed with lung cancer and stops smoking cold turkey.
Riggs didn’t cause this person pain before. They brought pleasure. But now lung cancer?
“I’ll never smoke a cigarette again” and they stop cold turkey.
They wanted to live more than they wanted to die.
They changed in an instant.
I remember watching a plant-based documentary back in 2017- that was my change in an instant.
After going food shopping – meat, eggs, dairy – we got home and put everything away
We love to watch documentaries and somehow ended up stumbling upon what the health.
All the groceries we just got? Gave it all away. Gone. and we went food shopping again the next day for plant-based options.
It wasn’t a smooth journey though, in the first year or two we’d eat dairy and meat, cookies, and ice cream from time to time, but the longer we went without that stuff the better we felt.
And we noticed that when we did fall back into our old ways, we felt sick.
Eventually, Our bodies started to “reject” those foods. After a few years of this cycle, just like the rigg man – the meat and dairy started to cause more pain than good.
This isn’t the only way to transition though – it could be done gradually too.
- Think about why you want to change the way you eat
- build a plan that you can stick to
- start taking action steps
- review your progress along the way.
That’s all there is to it.
Let’s bust 8 myths about plant-based eating
But first, TL;DR:
- Myth 1: you can’t get enough protein eating only plants
Busted: as long as we eat enough calories to maintain a healthy weight, along with varied and healthy foods, we’re guaranteed to get enough protein.
- Myth 2: Plant-based diets are nutrient deficient
Busted: it’s easy to get all the nutrients we need without eating animal products.
- Myth 3: you have to eat specific combos of plant-based foods to get a complete protein
Busted: the human body is amazing and combines plant-based nutrients to form complete proteins.
- Myth 4: Plant-based eaters on iron deficient
Busted: beans, greens, seeds, and fruits all contain iron.
- Myth 5: There aren’t many plant-based eating options
Busted: there’s a plant-based version for your favorite meat or dairy-based meal.
- Myth 6: I can’t live without meat or dairy
Busted: There are so many different ways to capture the texture and flavor of meat or cheese or milk using only plants.
- Myth 7: you need dairy for strong bones
Busted: Our body needs calcium to keep our bones strong.
- Myth 8: Plant-based and vegan are HEALTHY
Busted: not all plant-based and vegans food is healthy.
Deep Dive
Myth 1: you can’t get enough protein eating only plants
Busted: as long as we eat enough calories to maintain a healthy weight, with a variety of foods, we’re guaranteed to get enough protein.
Protein deficiency? Unheard of in America – Americans usually eat 50% more than they actually need.
And Ripley’s, many plant-based foods are loaded with protein.
Tofu, tempeh, lentils, chickpeas, peanuts, almonds, quinoa, spirulina
Plus, it’s 2022 there are plant-based protein powders just like there are with whey-based protein, super quick, super easy, and great to add into shakes, on the go, or if we’re in a pinch.
Myth 2: Plant-based diets are nutrient deficient
Busted: it’s easy to get all the nutrients we need without eating animal products.
Why? Because plant-based foods are nutrient-dense and contain vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that our bodies need to use.
There is common household food that is fortified with things like b12 and iron: plant-based milk or yogurt, nutritional yeast, and even supplements.
Let’s be real – Some of the most elite athletes in the world are plant-based eaters.
Scott Jurek, Ryan stills, Rich Roll, Kyrie Irving
Not to say that we’re becoming world-class athletes, but their bodies must operate in optimal ways.
And we’re not saying that your body can’t operate in an optimal way through a meat-based diet – because there are examples of elite athletes who are meat eaters too.
What we are saying is that being nutrient deficient on a plant-based diet is really just a myth.
Myth 3: you have to eat specific combos of plant-based foods to get a complete protein
Busted: the human body is amazing and combines plant-based nutrients to form complete proteins.
Remember eating a variety of foods?
Because when we do that, our body absorbs some of this amino acid on this meal, some of that ammino acid on that meal, some with this
and it completes the protein – even if some of this and some of that was eaten at a different meal throughout the day.
Myth 4: Plant-based eaters are iron deficient
Busted: beans, greens, seeds, and fruits all contain iron.
Eating variety – here we are again with that.
Because eating variety – beans, tofu, spinach, tomatoes, oranges, peppers, broccoli, potatoes, and sprouts – these foods help our bodies with the absorption of plant-based protein.
And then the body does the work of completing the protein for us.
Myth 5: There aren’t many plant-based eating options
Busted: there’s a plant-based version for your favorite meat or dairy-based meal.
Cheesy pasta? Done.
Burger or hot dog? Done.
Potato salad? Done.
Cheesesteak? Done.
Brownies? Done.
“Rabbit food” “leaves and weeds” psht.
Ever hear the saying you don’t know what you don’t know?
Plant-based eating isn’t limited, it’s limitless
Myth 6: I can’t live without meat or dairy
Busted: There are so many different ways to capture the texture and flavor of meat or cheese or milk using only plants.
Ever hear of plant-based meats? They’re abundant.
Did you know that dairy contains casein – an opiate-based addictive chemical? They want us addicted lol.
I mean yeah there’s the impossible bigger, but that ain’t even all that healthy for us.
I’m talking about the hundreds of different combinations of vegetables, beans, and grains that can be combined and create the same satisfaction as traditional animal products: soy sauce, tomato paste, oyster or shitake mushroom, nutritional yeast, lentils, hummus, and cacao.
Myth 7: you need dairy for strong bones
Busted: Our body needs calcium to keep our bones strong.
Why strong bones? So we don’t become brittle, weak, or fragile.
Cow milk does contain calcium…
So do fortified foods like orange juice and plant-based milk…
More importantly though, So do leafy greens, beans, seeds…
And don’t be like them vampires from I am legend, make sure to get that sunlight y’all because the sun gives us vitamins to help keep us strong and healthy. .
Myth 8: Plant-based and vegan are HEALTHY
Busted: not all plant-based and vegans food is healthy.
oreos or french fries anyone? Yeah. they’re vegan.
Ben and Jerry’s dairy ice cream is another damn good, but not healthy option.
Impossible burger? that’s more processed then, well it has heme in it which is a protein in meat – so is it really vegan?
See, these foods and other foods like it contain high sugar, salt, and saturated fats – no beuno.
The ideal diet in my eyes? As Minimally processed food as possible. Whole foods, plants, fruits, vegetables. Legumes, grains.
Did you know some bread is good for you? Ezekiel 4:9 is my favorite. It’s made from sprouts and tastes so good, they have a bunch of different kinds too.
To me- not all plant-based or vegan food meet this healthy requirement. When food is heavily processed, many of the beneficial nutrients are nonexistent.
So in effect – these foods are marked up as not nutritious aka not healthy.
Well, that’s it for today. SO to Corie for putting these myths together on her IG.
As always, Thanks for tuning in – I appreciate your attention.
If you found any value, share this w someone who needs it.
LMK some of your thoughts!
peace!
Joe DiAndrea 