Friends of Animals has a new vegan website.

It’s called Vegan Means at http://veganmeans.com/ and it offers some good, basic information about veganism.

For example, their free pamphlet about veganism called the “Vegan Starter Guide” states:

What Is a Vegan and What Is a Vegetarian?
“Vegetarianism is commonly defined as a plant-based diet. Many self-defined vegetarians use dairy products, eggs, honey, and leather; some eat fish and birds. But of course, dairy products, birds, and birds’ eggs are not plant-based foods, and therefore vegans avoid them. Vegans also steer clear of leather, down, fur, honey, wool, silk, and other animal by-products.

“The term vegan (pronounced VEE-guhn) was coined in the 1940s by Vegan Society founding members Donald Watson and Elsie Shrigley, who derived it from the first three and last two letters of vegetarian “because veganism starts with vegetarianism and carries it through to its logical conclusion.” While vegetarianism may describe a diet, veganism embodies a lifestyle. We share a commitment to live as harmoniously with the planet and all its inhabitants as possible.”

The section on vegan health offers 12 tips:

1. Make whole plant foods the foundation of your diet.

2. Minimize refined carbohydrates – both sugars and starches.

3. Include a healthful intake and balance of essential fatty acids (examples: flax oil, walnuts, or supplements).

4. Assure an adequate protein intake (approximately 60 to 90 grams each day for vegan adults, examples: pinto or kidney beans, lentils, chickpeas, tempeh or tofu).

5. Assure an adequate supply of trace minerals (examples of sources: dark green, leafy vegetables, root vegetables or fruits).

6. Insure a reliable source of vitamin B12 (examples: fortified foods, nutritional yeast, supplements).

7. Control your sodium intake.

8. Eliminate hydrogenated vegetable oil

9. Consider taking a multi-vitamin/mineral supplement.

10. Be sure to get a consistent reliable source of vitamin D (example: sunlight, fortified foods, supplement).

11. Try to get 20 to 30 minutes of active, weight-bearing exercise at least every other day.

12. For optimal health, a positive mental and emotional state is essential – and possibly more important than nutritional intake.

Sections: Vegan Resources
Topics: friends of animals, veg, Vegan, what is vegan