Seeking Gentle Advice

[Guest guest]

It's been a long time since I've posted on . A little background on

me is that I'm one of the co-founders of Vegan Outreach

(www.veganoutreach.org) and also a registered dietitian.

 

 

 

Alex's post about one's frame of mind affecting how they feel on the vegan

diet was very interesting and insightful. While I fully agree with Alex that

people's beliefs about their diet can affect how they feel on it, I have a

different take on some of these issues.

 

 

 

I do not believe that humans are natural herbivores and yet I have been a

healthy vegan for 16 years. So, one does not need to believe humans are

herbivores to be a successful practicing herbivore. I think humans are

naturally omnivorous and without vitamin B12 supplementation, need some

amount of animal products for optimal health in order to provide B12. This

is not the same as saying that I think humans naturally evolved eating

McDonalds three meals a day. In today's world, humans, on average, seem to

do better eating mostly plant foods.

 

 

 

Believing that humans *can be* herbivores with some supplementation is

probably not as powerful as believing humans *are* naturally herbivores. But

for many of us, it suffices. It's also helpful to know that there are many

people who have been vegan and healthy for decades. I actually don't know of

anyone who was vegan from birth into old age as the vegan movement is not

old enough to have provided many such people yet. One day, I hope there will

be many people like this to point to.

 

 

 

My guess is that many (or even most) of the people on this list believe

humans are naturally vegetarian or vegan, and it might come as a surprise

that someone who runs a vegan organization could believe humans are not

naturally herbivores. If you are interested in how I reconcile this with my

desire to promote veganism, here is an explanation:

 

 

 

Conclusion: Can a Natural Diet Require Supplements?

 

http://www.veganhealth.org/b12/natural

 

 

Jack Norris, Registered Dietitian

Vegan Outreach

California Office: 916-375-0014

 

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Sun, 19 Feb 2006 23:39:31 -0500

" Alex Bury " <alexb

FW: Seeking Gentle Advice

 

I hear this about 2 or 3 times a year, from " lapsed " veggies, and I

actually went through it myself. When I first went veg, in Alaska, and

everyone was telling me how unhealthy it would be for me.