Hello all

[Guest guest]

Hello everybody,

 

This is Maha from India. I just joined this group recently with a

hope that I would be able to get much assistance and support to be a

Vegan. Being born in the priestly caste (Brahmin) in India, I have

been a staunch vegetarian all my life predominantly using dairy

products that all Brahmins rely on in their daily lives. Later when I

was under-weight upon prescription from the Doc, I became a ovo-lacto-

vegetarian. Recently I came across some interesting documents and

articles that transformed my views on being a OLV and so I decided

giving up all things I always liked in the dairy or egg side of the

meal. I went and bought all soy foods, cereals etc to supplement my

vitamins, minerals and calcium. This continued happily for a week

with some struggles here and there. To my surprise though I never for

once craved for the dairy or egg products during this time. A few

days back I read an article on the harm that soy products cause and

their consequences like early puberty, cancer, pregnancy

complications, diabetes etc. This from pretty authentic sources I can

say. I was terrified and didn't know what to do. How would I make up

for the calcium, vitamins etc that I thought the soy products would

give in the absence of milk and its by-products? Now I have become a

Lacto-vegetarian leaving only eggs. I am very ashamed of myself -

taking a decision and the inability to stick to it. Also another fact

is very much apparent. Unlike foreign countries, esp. US, Canada,

Australia, getting pure vegan products in India is becoming a

challenge, where almost all food items contain a trace of dairy in

them like butter, ghee(clarified butter), buttermilk, yoghurt etc. I

don't have enough time to prepare food at home so I depend on food at

my office cafeteria and restaurants. Surviving as a vegetarian is

absolutely no problem, even if you don't cook at home. Now my choice

has become very limited. My husband is so worried about me that he

says he has started noticing changes in my body weight. Can someone

help? I would love to get as much info as possible from anybody or

more preferably vegans in India.

 

Cheers!

Maha