For Our Health – Nature for my Soul

Veganism: It’s about Love

Love of our bodies. We each get one body for our entire lives– shouldn’t we make sure we are nourishing it with the best foods that allow us to live long, healthy lives?

I don’t mind dying. I just don’t want it to be my fault.” —Dr. Kim Williams, President of the American College of Cardiology, and cardiologist at Rush University in Chicago

Is eating a vegan diet healthy? That’s the question everyone asks when they discover I’ve switched to a vegan diet.

From the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, “Switching to a plant-based diet can significantly improve overall health, prevent many chronic diseases, and in some cases even reverse established disease. A plant-based diet centered around whole foods (fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, nuts, and seeds) is low in saturated fat and devoid of cholesterol, while being high in fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.”

There are many misconceptions about veganism, a lot of them fueled by the industries that have the most to lose–big agriculture, marine farming, big Pharma, even the government who give millions of dollars in farm subsides every year.

Many people think consuming animal flesh and dairy products are required, and good for you. We’ve all seen the ads for milk featuring celebrities with milk mustaches saying, “Milk. It does a body good.” But guess what? Science has proven that in fact, milk DOES NOT do a body good! Amy Lanou Ph.D., nutrition director for the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine in Washington, D.C., states that: “The countries with the highest rates of osteoporosis are the ones where people drink the most milk and have the most calcium in their diets. The connection between calcium consumption and bone health is actually very weak, and the connection between dairy consumption and bone health is almost nonexistent.”

“The beef industry has contributed to more American deaths than all the wars of this century, all natural disasters, and all automobile accidents combined. If beef is your idea of “real food for real people,” you’d better live real close to a real good hospital.”

–Dr Neal Barnard, is an Adjunct Professor of Medicine at the George Washington University School of Medicine in Washington, DC, and President of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.

Like all mammals, cows produce milk to nourish their growing babies. Their milk is rich in all the things baby cows need. Humans are not baby cows! Humans can get calcium from veggies such as kale, broccoli, bok choy and cabbage, as well as legumes like beans and lentils. Also walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts, pistachios, and Brazil nuts, also chia and sesame seeds, whole grains such as oats, also figs, raisins, apricots and prunes.

There are an infinite number of cruelty-free meal choices!!

Vegans in 2025 have so many amazing food choices–all cruelty-free!

There is NOTHING in cow’s milk that humans require to thrive and survive, despite what the dairy industry will have you believe. “But my nutritionist/ dietician/ doctor says “Milk does a body good,” you argue. Well guess what? They say this because they are owned by the dairy companies who have told them this again and again. Just like the tobacco companies denied their products were bad for you, so the dairy industry and government denies that milk and milk products are bad for you. Doctors don’t even usually have any nutritional training! And nutritionists and dietitians are often incentivized to tell patients to eat meat and drink dairy because of monetary benefits by doing so. I dare you to do some research– start by reading a book called the China Study–the most comprehensive study ever undertaken of the relationship between diet and the risk of developing disease, or How Not to Die, or Whole.

Here are some Facts from the China Study:

1. The casein protein in cows’ milk, which makes up 80% of its protein content, was found to be a relevant chemical carcinogen—meaning it can turn ON our cancer-promoting genes.

2. Countries with the highest calcium intake, mostly from cows’ milk, have the highest rates of osteoporosis. Casein protein causes the calcium in our bones to be leached into the body, weakening the bones. This happens as a result of dairy creating an acidic environment within the body and the calcium from our bones is used to neutralize the body.

3. The casein protein increases the cholesterol in the blood, leading to atherosclerosis (plaque build up inside the inner artery walls, which may ultimately constrict blood flow and cause a heart attack or stroke).

4. Dairy proteins have been linked to the development of autoimmune diseases—such as type 1 diabetes and multiple sclerosis—through a mechanism known as molecular mimicry.

5. In dozens of experiments conducted over 30 years, casein was found to be a powerful promoter of experimental cancer. Wheat and soy proteins, however, did not stimulate cancer development.

6. There is no one single component of dairy that connects it to chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and osteoporosis; rather, the substance contains a host of problematic factors. According to Dr. Campbell’s work, these factors include, “the increased activity of growth factors and compensatory cell replication, metabolic acidosis and its impact on key enzyme reactions, hormonal imbalances, and adverse effects on immune system components.”

What this tells us is that milk taken from a cow cannot be altered to become truly safe for human consumption. While many companies have attempted to remove the lactose and cut down on the inherent saturated fat found in dairy, they cannot eliminate the natural hormones found in all dairy, nor can they cease the growth-promoting characteristics of what, truly, is infant food—cow infant food, that is. Skeptics often say not all protein is created equal, and The China Study confirms this. Some proteins are downright dangerous.

The largest land animal, elephants, eat plants. They are herbivores.

Hippos also are herbivores. They get plenty of protein from plants.

As for animal flesh like beef, chicken, lobster and other sea animals, there is nothing in those either that humans need to thrive and survive. Consider some of the largest land animals: elephants, rhinos, gorillas, wildebeest, and hippos. These are all herbivores. Gorilla’s are one of the strongest animals on Earth! Elephants are the biggest. All of these animals do just fine without meat, and so can we. There are plenty of ways to get protein without eating meat and animal flesh is not necessary for good health. Vegans get their protein from beans such as soy, lentils, chickpeas, also, oats, brown rice, nuts and seeds, veggies such as broccoli, brussel sprouts, asparagus, peas, quinoa, and leafy greens all provide plenty of protein. Humans DO NOT need to eat animal flesh to get protein! Please read The China Study, for scientific information about a whole-foods, plant based/vegan diet.

The science is clear that eating a vegan diet is not only doable, it is more healthy when done right. (Meaning some thought is put into it, not just eating French fries and pasta everyday because it HAPPENS to be vegan!)

My story of switching to a vegan diet, as well as frequently asked questions about veganism.

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