Answering the bell - do vegans get the right nutrients?

I was sitting at the bar at Graze a couple weeks back, likely eating one of their fine dinners and sipping on a Kombucha. I'm there fairly regularly, being as it is a few blocks from my house, and there are days when I need to eat dinner after an evening yoga class and/or am too lazy to prep my own dinner. Besides, the food is good and the service is always friendly and welcoming.

Anyway, I was there one evening and a little conversation broke out, as it does, with Michael, the owner, and the wait staff. Michael apparently has a place on Saltspring. It must be a fair place, because during the year he often invites a number of families up there. It is a 100% vegan house. No animal products. He was telling of how many times people sneak food in, ham n cheese sandwiches and the like, because they are concerned they or their children won't get enough to eat.

This is actually a good thing, as then there is the opportunity to discuss what vegans eat and how they get the nutrient balance they need to maintain a healthy life. In a previous blog I posted a cartoon of a cheetah asking a gorilla where he gets his protein from. There are some fundamental misconceptions about protein and what foods contain it.

Fact: plants have lots of amino acid content. I used this guide as a reference in the beginning to ascertain nutrient values of foods.

We are bombarded with studies about foods and how this particular nutrient is important for this that or the other in order for us to be healthy. Often these studies are bought and paid for by organizations representing companies who sell their products - dairy, meat, wheat marketing boards and councils etc. I think it is good to have a healthy skepticism regarding self-promoting studies. One should always check who funded the study before taking it as anything near gospel.

Brendan Brazier, in his book Thrive Guide maintains that water soluble nutrients as found in plant based sources are more easily absorbed into the body than oil-based animal nutrients. This is because the body needs to convert the oil-based into water soluble. It is a process that takes time and energy (know that post-dinner sluggish feeling) and it not 100% efficient. According to Brazier, eating plant-based foods provides all the proteins which are absorbed faster with more complete absorption.

Vegan strongman Patrik Baboumian breaks a world record by carrying 555 kilos 10 metres on the West Jet stage at the Harbourfront Centre September 8, 2013 .Torstar News Service

This past September a new world record for weightlifting was set in Toronto. 550kgs! 1216 pounds! Monster! He has some simple advice, starting at 1:20 of this interview after his lift. "Do your research." Certainly not going to ask him if he gets enough nutrients!

Wow! It's been well over a year since I last put fingers to keyboard and put something onto this blog. it's not that nothing has happened, because lots has, I've just been putting it off, on a daily basis, for over a year. Well, I have received a few prods recently so will pledge to be back at it again.

First off, I will confirm that I am still following a vegan diet. I will also confirm that I am feeling exceedingly healthy as well.

Some small changes, with which at first I struggled to implement, have become habits, good habits. I generally take my lunch to work. Aside from saving a tonne of money, I make sure that I eat properly during the day, something I was not particularly good at. I'll cover some of what I take in following posts. (See? I've promised to write more!)

I've also added a layer of exercise to my daily routine. A simple routine which has strengthened my core muscles, back, legs and abdominals. I'll cover this in a later post as well. It was a such a small simple routine, that paid great dividends, it would be almost criminal not to share it. From this point, I have more confidence to play with some yoga (stretching and flexibility must improve!).

Meditation, something that I was introduced to in my pre-teen years by my parents, has become more regular, though not part of my daily routine. This will happen. Habits are developed over time, one step at a time. On the subject of habits, I've been absorbing much of Zen habits. Simple slices of advice on how to simplify and reduce clutter in life by developing new habits. More on this later.

On the food side, Vancouver is starting to blossom with new restaurants offering vegan meal options, or even  a vegan menu. part of my routine of late has included Sunday brunch at the Rhizome Cafe. I was introduced to this place through Vancouver Meatless Meet-up and what a happy introduction! M y favorites include, the Breakfast Polenta and the Pumpkin Pesto Tofu Scramble. Reasonably priced, friendly service. Unfortunately they will be closing in July and shuffling off to Toronto. It will be missed. Until then I will happily enjoy my brunches there.


On the Fresh and newly opening side. Graze is opening soon. Speaking of which, I need to get my butt in gear. I am attending a soft opening dinner there in 20 minutes. Fortunately  Graze is within walking distance from my home!