The growing vegan community in India will soon have more access to vegan and dairy-free foods thanks to the new Mumbai-based food tech startup WeganFoods. WeganFoods recently landed funding from Her Highness Sheikha Arwa Al Qassimi, a member of the royal family of Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah.

According to CEO and Founder, Kinjal Darukhanawala, the funding will be used for scaling the commercial kitchen, inventory and brand building. The food tech ompany plans to launch its offering in Mumbai through modern trade, food delivery apps, and by partnering with other businesses within the food sector.

The startup will be offering a variety of vegan, dairy-free, and nutritious pantry staples starting with Dairy-Free Cheese. Darukhanawala stated, The first product development took close to six months. The idea is not just being vegan but also carrying a line of products that are delicious and nutritious for all age groups to devour. A lot of people have preconceived notions about vegan food; they think it is boring, tasteless and far from original taste and flavor. Our brand plans to banish these notions.

Wegansvegan cheese is reportedly soy-free, gluten-free, and even melts, slices, stretches, and shreds, just like regular cheese. The diary-free cheese is set to launch in October of this year.

This is great news considering India is second behind China to become the largest consumer of meat and dairy by 2050 which will contribute significantly to current health and environmental issues worldwide.Though a large portion of India takes part in milk consumption with over 75 million dairy farms, the rise of the vegan food sector is a good sign for things to come. According to a 2014 report by the RegistrarGeneral of India, though 70 percent of Indians above 15 years of age are still non-vegetarians, the numbers are expected to decline. Other Mumbai-based restaurants have even included vegan options on their menus and several strictly vegan restaurants have opened in recent years such as Vegan Bites and Vegan Tiffin.

This slow but rising trendoffers a hopeful future for more plant-based options being made available to consumers in India and, hopefully, other countries worldwide.

Image Source:Y Photo Studio/Shutterstock

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Arabian Princess Invests in Indian Vegan Food Startup - One Green Planet

Alicia Silverstone has been an outspoken advocate for veganism for years, even writing a book in 2011 called The Kind Diet that explains why she chose a plant-based way of eating that doesnt include meat, fish, seafood, poultry, dairy or eggs. Now, the Clueless actress is discussing her decision to feed her 6-year-old son, Bear Blu, a vegan diet, too.

Knowing the truth about where our food comes from is just so disturbing to me, she says in a video for the non-profit Farm Sanctuarys Compassionate Meals program, as she and Bear eat veggie burgers and kale salad. Once you see it, theres no way to go back from that for me. Bear is also asked what his favorite thing about being a vegan is. His response: That you dont have to eat yucky meat.

Silverstone says its easy for her to feed Bear vegan foods, and she regularly makes easy-to-assemble meals like tacos and stir-fries. I can make all those things based on whats in the fridge, she says. You always have a bean, you always have a whole grain. Silverstone says being vegan has turned me into a health nut because you feel so good, you feel so different, adding, being able to do something that is good for the Earth, good for the animals, and good for you all at the same time seems like such a no-brainer. Its like the biggest Duh!'

Although veganism is popular, feeding children a vegan diet is a controversial move.

According to a 2016 Harris Interactive Poll commissioned by the Vegetarian Resource Group about 3.7 million American adults identify as vegan. But the decision to put children on a vegan diet frequently comes under fire.

A law proposed in Italy in 2016 would make it illegal for parents to put their children on a vegan diet, which lawmakers referred to as "a diet devoid of elements essential for healthy and balanced growth," per Reuters. The proposed law came after several high-profile cases in the country involving undernourished children on vegan diets. In one case, a 1-year-old on a vegan diet only weighed as much as a 3-month-old and, in another, a father alleged that his 12-year-old sons growth was stunted due to a vegan diet chosen by the boys mother.

Silverstone has faced criticism in the past for feeding Bear a vegan diet, and she told People in 2014 that her son loves the food I give him. Hes not being deprived of anything. For him, having amazing fruit is like candy.

There are mixed messages out there when it comes to kids and vegan diets, and its understandable if youre confused.

Some people claim that children who are raised on a vegan diet wont get enough nutrients they need to grow into strong adults, while others say it simply encourages healthy eating in children.

So, is it a good idea to feed kids a vegan diet? Ashanti Woods, M.D., a pediatrician at Baltimores Mercy Medical Center, tells SELF that it depends. Children who consume a vegan diet are generally as healthy, if not more healthy, than children who have a normal diet, he says. Dr. Woods points out that there are various lay definitions of vegetarianism and veganism, but pediatricians pay special attention to true vegans, i.e., those who swear off all animal products. The more restrictions on a diet, the more pediatricians become concerned because these children are at risk for nutritional deficiencies, he says.

When done properly, vegan diets can be a step up from the standard American diet, Dana Simpler, M.D., a primary care practitioner at Baltimore's Mercy Medical Center, tells SELF. Dr. Simpler says that peopleand childrendont need animal protein in their diet provided that theyre getting all their important minerals and nutrients.

The key is having a diet that is well thought out, Lauren Fiechtner, M.D., M.P.H., Director of Nutrition at MassGeneral Hospital for Children in the Division of Gastroenterology and Nutrition, tells SELF. If the diet is well-planned and monitored by a registered dietitian, this can be safe for children, she says. Worth noting: The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics says that well-planned vegetarian and vegan diets are healthy for infants and toddlers.

In the long-term, vegetarian and vegan diets have been linked with lower cholesterol levels, a lower risk of heart disease, a lower risk of high blood pressure, and lower risk of type 2 diabetes, Dr. Fiechtner says. Theyre also a good way to promote eating enough fruits and vegetables. In the United States, most children do not meet their goal intake of five servings of fruits or vegetables per day, and so this could also be a benefit, she says.

There are also other potential benefits. Lauren Blake, an R.D. at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, tells SELF that vegetarian and vegan teens typically eat more fiber, iron, folate, vitamin A, and vitamin C than their meat-eating counterparts. They also tend to eat fewer sweets, fast foods, and salty snacks.

Of course, theres a right and wrong way to do a vegan diet.

It can even be hard for adults who are in complete control of their diets and understand potential vegan pitfalls to get all the nutrients they need, much less for kids. But creating a well-rounded vegan diet is especially important when it comes to children, who need certain nutrients to develop as best they can.

This is why Dr. Woods urges parents of his patients who are on a vegan diet to be mindful that their children get enough of nutrients that are particularly easy to miss out on. One is vitamin B12. Low levels of this nutrient can lead to neurologic complications in severe cases, Dr. Woods says. According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, parents should make sure vegan children get enough via a supplement or fortified foods like soy beverages, cereals, and meat substitutes.

Another important nutrient to pay attention to on a vegan diet is iron. Getting enough iron is key in warding off anemia, and after 4 to 6 months of age, all vegan infants need an outside source of this nutrient. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics recommends iron-fortified cereals and supplements to meet this need.

Since veganism cuts out milk and dairy foods, children on a vegan diet may also need outside supplementation for calcium, which is essential for strong bones and teeth as they grow.

Dr. Fiechtner points out that vegan diets are also low in omega-3 fatty acids, which are commonly found in fish or eggs. Failure to have enough of these fatty acids has been linked to poor cardiovascular health, as well as issues with eye and brain developmentagain, very important factors for children's healthy growth and development. To meet the potential gaps in a vegan childs diet, Dr. Simpler recommends vitamin supplementation.

Children on a vegan diet are also at risk of not taking in enough daily calories, which is why Dr. Woods recommends that vegan children eat three snacks a day in addition to three meals a day.

Overall, experts say its fine to raise children on a vegan diet, provided youre mindful that theyre getting everything they need and talk with an expert to make sure the diet is well-rounded. Without this important guidance, it's all too easy to feed children a vegan diet that skimps on important nutrients they need. It just takes an effort, Dr. Woods says. If you have questions about putting your child on a vegan diet, get in touch with their pediatrician or a registered dietitian who can help steer you in the right direction.

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Alicia Silverstone feeds her son a vegan diet - Fox News

If you thought the weirdness of Portland topped out atVoodoo Donuts or the Freakybuttrue Peculiarium, meet Casa Diablo, the citys vegan strip club. The erotic eatery is best summarized by its motto: Vixens not veal. Sizzle not steak. We put the meat on the pole, not on the plate.

Nicknamed the Famous Vegan House of Sin, Casa Diablo showcases nude dancers with a side of soy stroganoff, hummus veggie wraps, and vegan Sloppy Joes.

Casa Diablo was originally a vegan family restaurant named Pirates Tavern, but had little appeal to workers in northwest Portland, who preferred some action with their arugula. So Johnny Diablo, the restaurants owner, decided to give it a spicy twist, rebranding Pirates Tavern as a joint that is both hot and herbivorous.

Aside from serving vegan food, the club prohibits its dancers from wearing fur, feathers, leather, or wool while performing. Unfortunately the establishment has been criticized and even sued by people claiming it trades the exploitation of animals for the exploitation of women. It seems theres still quite a lot of beef.

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Casa Diablo Vegan Strip Club - Atlas Obscura

Longtime animal rights activist Pamela Anderson is taking her dedication to vegan living one step further by opening a restaurant in France, her new home, that will not serve any meat or daily products. The announcement is buried in a tribute to her boyfriend, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who is trapped inside the Ecuadorian embassy in London. Anderson wants to convince political leaders around the world to help Assange become a free citizen once again. The Barbed Wire actress writes:

I am reaching out to Emmanuel Macron, and to his wife Brigitte Trogneux. As a resident of France, my adopted home, I would like to meet with you and discuss Julian's situation. I am opening a new vegan restaurant in France in July, and I would like to extend my invitation to the new President and his First Lady. Join me on the day I open the doors, and we will sit and eat good food and discuss what can be done for Julian. France could display its strength, and so could you, if you give Julian asylum.

And in a new update on her homepage, the former Baywatch star explains that shes partnering with chef Christophe Leroy on this new temporary restaurant in the southwestern commune of Ramatuelle. The restaurant, dubbed La Table du March, is part of the country inn called Les Moulins de Ramatuelle, which is owned and operated by Leroy. According to Pams website, La Table du March will open on July 4 for 50 nights only. The announcement is accompanied by a series of photos of Anderson posing in the French countryside with a golden retriever.

No word yet on whether the President of France and his wife will take Pam Anderson up on the offer to dine at her seasonal vegan restaurant and wine bar in the south of France, but hed be a fool not to at least seriously consider this invitation.

Why My Heart Stands With Julian [Pamela Anderson] La Table du March by Pamela [Pamela Anderson]

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Pam Anderson Is Opening a Vegan Restaurant in the South of France - Eater

West Village eatery Detroit Vegan Soul will open the doors at its second location in Grandmont Rosedale next month. Owners Kirsten Ussery and chef Erika Boyd tell the Detroit News that the restaurant is poised for a July 22 launch at 19614 Grand River Avenue on Detroits northwest side.

Ussery and Boyd purchased the former Blue Moon Ice Cream shop building near Pages Bookshop a little over a year ago and have been slowly working on renovations. At roughly 1,200-square-feet the second Detroit Vegan Soul outpost will feature roughly the same sized footprint as the original with seats for 36 patrons. The new location also has a dedicated parking lot and a larger kitchen.

It's almost here! It's almost here! #northrosedalepark #grandmontrosedale #detroitrestaurants #detroitvegan #detroitvegansoul #yum @detvegansoul

A post shared by NRPCA (@northrosedalepark) on Jan 3, 2017 at 4:54pm PST

The menu is also expected to be mostly identical to its predecessor with items like catfish tofu and seitan pepper steak. Ussery told Eater in January that the dessert offerings would be slightly different at each restaurant. At the time Ussery also hinted at another possible expansion opportunity in the works. Stay tuned for more updates.

Detroit Vegan Soul Opens Second Location July 22 [Detroit News]

Detroit Vegan Soul Aims for Early Spring Opening in Grandmont Rosedale [ED]

Detroit Vegan Soul Is Expanding to Grandmont Rosedale [ED]

Detroits Most Anticipated Restaurants and Bars, Winter 2017 [ED]

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Detroit Vegan Soul Sets the Date for Grandmont Rosedale Debut - Eater Detroit (blog)

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Watertown Vegan Cafe Closes Patch.com WATERTOWN, MA Wild Rice Vegan Cafe closed over the weekend, but its presence will remain in Watertown. The restaurant announced its closure last week in a Facebook post first reported by Boston Restaurant Talk. According to the announcement, ...

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Watertown Vegan Cafe Closes - Patch.com

Detroit Vegan Soul restaurant owners Kirsten Ussery and Erika Boyd want to show Detroiters how tasty, filling and comforting vegan dishes can be.

Customers pack Detroit Vegan Soul on Agnes in West Village for lunch. The restaurant that serves all plant-based dishes and started as a catering company in 2012 is expanding to a second location on July 22.(Photo: Stephanie Steinberg / The Detroit News)Buy Photo

Stevie Wonder, Wu-Tang Clan members, MC Hammer, American Idol winner Ruben Studdard, actress Nicole Ari Parker of the TV series Soul Food and even former President Bill Clinton, a noted vegan, have all dined at the citys only vegan restaurant, Detroit Vegan Soul in West Village.

While co-owners Kirsten Ussery and Executive Chef Erika Boyd welcomed the celebrities and public figures Clinton, especially, helped distract hungry customers during a rush theyre more excited to have the Grandmont-Rosedale neighborhood try their BBQ tofu and smothered tempeh when their second location opens July 22 at 19614 Grand River.

Part of our mission is to help people live healthier lives, and in this community, they currently do not have any place where people who live here can sit down and have a meal. Its all take out. Its all fast food, so they needed a healthy option, Ussery said.

The restaurants opening comes at a time when Americans are making healthier food choices.

The 1,200-square-foot restaurant that will seat about 36 customers and serve plant-based, organic dishes, is indeed a healthy haven in a 2.5-mile area inundated with McDonalds, White Castle, and Little Caesars.

Our neighborhood currently does not have a full-service restaurant, says Martha Potere, Grandmont Rosedale Development Corporations economic development program manager, noting there is a partially full-service Coney Island. Other than that, everything is either carry out or carry out and sit in.

The 14,000-area residents have a higher than average median household income, Potere said, but theyre not wasting dining dollars at fast-food joints.

There is disposable income in this community that folks are spending outside of the neighborhood on things like restaurant experiences, she says. Were really excited to have an offering for them.

Yet the fast-food diners shouldnt be scared by the word vegan in the sign. Ussery promises they whip up comfort food just with a healthy twist.

Were here to hopefully help people transition from a standard American diet over to a plant-based diet, she said. And if we dont get full converts, it would be nice if people would consider vegan soul food a dining option just like they consider Italian or Chinese.

Veganizing meals

Before Ussery, 38, a North Carolina native, and Boyd, 43, a northwest Detroit native, opened their West Village location in September 2013, they were far from working in the food industry. Or vegan.

Now life partners and seven-year vegans, the two crossed paths nearly 13 years ago in Detroit.

We met at a party, Ussery laughs. ...Weve been pretty much together since then.

Ussery had a career in public careers while Boyd paid the bills as a natural hair stylist. They connected over a desire to start a business what kind wasnt clear until Boyds father lost his life to cancer, and they made it their mission to break the cycle of disease in their families.

Through our own research and experience we came to the conclusion that the healthiest way for us was to eliminate animal products from our diet, said Ussery, not sugar-coating the process. It took a lot to get there.

Going vegan for health, animals

Vegans, like vegetarians, do not eat land or marine animals. Vegans go the extra step by refraining from all animal products such as cheese, milk and eggs. Some avoid wearing animal skins like leather. Theres medical truth to Ussery and Boyds conviction that veganism can fend off illness.

A vegan diet emphasizing whole foods such as fruits, vegetables, legumes and whole grains is naturally low in salt, sugar and added fats while being high in fiber, nutrients and minerals, said Dr. Joel Kahn, a cardiologist and Wayne State University School of Medicine clinical professor. Scientific data is clear that diseases can be prevented and reversed with this diet.

A Whole Food, Plant Based (WFPB) diet is associated with lower risks of breast and colorectal cancers, Kahn added, and studies by Dr. Dean Ornish show prostate cancer can be reversed with lifestyle changes and a vegan diet.

Kahn has been a vegan for over 30 years, starting as an undergraduate student at the University of Michigan.

The salad bar at the dorm cafeteria was the only attractive item I saw on the first day and that was it for me, he said. As I trained as a cardiologist and learned of the potential of heart disease reversal with WFPB diets, I began teaching my patients since 1990 of the value to prevent and reverse heart disease by choosing a vegan diet.

Kahn also owns GreenSpace Cafe, a vegan restaurant in Ferndale, and applauds the success of Detroit Vegan Soul. It is great to see them expanding..., Kahn said. The more the merrier to give people choices across the city and state.

Animal liberation activist Gary Yourofsky has dined at Detroit Vegan Soul every weekend for three years.

Unless I am out of town, I never miss the Sunday brunch and am usually the first person there when they open at 11, Yourofsky said. The mac n cheese is to die for, too, especially because no one had to die for it.

The longtime vegan follows the diet more for animal rights than health reasons. In 20 years of activism, Yourofsky has traveled to 30 states and given 2,660 lectures.

My main perk was having the opportunity to eat at dozens of restaurants nationwide. Without hesitation, DVS makes my top 10 best restaurants list, he said, ticking off his recommendations: the tofu scramble wrap and breakfast sandwich add avocado and Daiya cheese to both.

Intimate space for the soul

With a $60,000 Motor City Match grant, Ussery and Boyd bought the building last year. Its roughly the same size as their first location, and they plan to hire another 20-25 employees. Ussery said they may expand to a bigger building, but for now, they want to focus on intimate spaces.

Theres a certain kind of feeling and energy that we created, and we just didnt want to do something that wasnt going to allow that to be present, she said.

The neighbors are ready for the doors to open. While working outside, Boyds younger brother Sam said several residents have stopped their cars to share their anticipation.

Ive had some good food in my life, he chuckled. Ive never been moved to pull over on the side of the road to say Hey, I cant wait for you to open up your restaurant!

ssteinberg@detroitnews.com

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Twitter: @Steph_Steinberg

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Detroit Vegan Soul opens second location July 22 - The Detroit News

sweet and cinnamon-y,

reminiscent of cold-nosed mornings,

spent in warm bakeries.

the perfect pair to a cup of coffee.

Unfortunately, I think we all know cinnamon rolls arent necessarily the, ahem, healthiest breakfast. Traditionally full of sugar, butter, eggs, and white flour, they definitely arent the best way to start your day. Lets change that with these vegan whole wheat cinnamon rolls with date filling.

So why dont we ever make them at home? While these are slightly more time consuming, the majority of the time consists of waiting for the dough to rise. And boy, oh boy, is it worth the wait. I think Ive consumed my body weight in cinnamon rolls today.

These vegan whole wheat cinnamon rollsare whole wheat, vegan, healthy, and (duh) delicious. These have a great almost pastry like texture, mostly due to the coconut oil. While I do try to limit the use of oil in my recipes, the coconut oil is a healthy and incredible addition to this vegan whole wheat cinnamon rolls with date filling recipe.

The filling is made of delicious dates. They reduce the added coconut sugar and make an incrediblepaste that I absolutely love. It would be great spread on toast or on top of oatmeal too!

Vegan Whole Wheat Cinnamon Rolls with Date Filling

2017-06-19 06:50:24

Yields 12

A delicious vegan whole wheat cinnamon roll filled with a cinnamon date paste.

Ingredients

Instructions

Notes

By Mikayla

Eco Child's Play http://ecochildsplay.com/

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Vegan Whole Wheat Cinnamon Rolls With Date Filling - Eco Child's Play

Distant are the days of Annie Hall, when Woody Allen resigned himself to a plate of alfalfa sprouts and mashed yeast. Over the years, vegan eating has gone from tasteless to trendy to making inroads into the mainstream. One sign of the times: in 2016, Tyson Foods, the largest meat processor in the United States, bought a 5 percent stake in the plant-based protein producer Beyond Meat. (The companys best-known product, the Beyond Burger, is pinkened with beet extracts and reportedly sizzles when grilled.) No longer fettered by associations with hippie kooks or radical politics, veganism has ascended to the astral plane of aspirational living. These days it keeps mixed, and more glamorous, company: famous bodies belonging to the likes of Tom Brady and Beyonc have been fueled by vegan diets.

Sociology graduate student Nina Gheihman is researching social aspects of veganisms spread. Veganism was at first closely bound to the ideology of the animal-rights movement, she explains, which initially aimed at a range of targets, like wearing fur and testing products on animals. Once activists shifted focus to farm conditions and food, veganism took on the features of what scholars call a lifestyle movement. Over time, its become more closely associated with general environmental concerns and a healthism mentality, bound up with notions of perfecting the body. Trustworthy numbers on how many people identify as vegan are hard to come by, says Gheihman, but a growing number practice veganism in some way: incorporating meat and dairy substitutes in their meals, or restricting their diets at certain times of day or for a period of weeks.

Social scientists have studied veganism as it relates to animal-rights activism, but theres been less research into the current lifestyle movements mechanisms and structure. Gheihman is especially interested in analyzing leading figures whom shes provisionally termed lifestyle advocates, arguing that they have changed the nature of lifestyle activism. They usually come from fields not typically associated with activism, she says, especially entrepreneurshipand the cultural work they do isnt strictly defined by their official occupations. This work has expanded veganism beyond its ideological core, enabling a greater variety of people to participate even if they dont conform all aspects of their lives to all its tenets.

Gheihman sorts these players into three categories. Some lifestyle advocates create opportunities for consumptionfor example, by starting a vegan meal-kit subscription service, opening a restaurant, or stocking plant proteins in their grocery stores. Another group works in what she calls knowledge production, creating the educational resourcesfilms, books, and blog poststhat people circulate to share culinary tips and advice, or to persuade others to change diets. Third, and most abstract, is the kind of advocacy involved in what she calls meaning production or interpretive work. These figures change the cultural associations of veganism: the symbolic essence of what veganism means, as Gheihman puts it. Brady is a striking case: by lending his name to a line of meal-kits from vegan start-up Purple Carrot, he links veganism with the macho physicality of pro football. (TB12 Performance Meals claim to help athletes and active individuals stay at their peak and maximize your performance on the playing field for $78 a week.)

Gheihman plans to conduct field research and interviews to examine the evolution of veganism in two other national contexts. The first is France, the obvious place to study a food movement, because it is so central to the notions we have around what makes good food, or proper food. The countrys cuisine might seem inimical to cashew cheese, or chickpea runoff (called aquafaba) as an egg-white substitute, but the hierarchical structure of its food culture could pave the way for dramatic change. In recent years, haute cuisine chefs, catering to a high-end international clientele, have had to experiment with vegan menus and pastry-making. Their trickle-down influence has been amplified by a network of vegan food blogs and cookbook writerseven as other institutions resist the spread of this lifestyle. The French ministry of health, Gheihman points out, warns that following a rgime vgtalien will result in nutritional deficiencies and long-term health risks, and the governments nutritional standards for school cafeterias mandate a dairy product with every meal.

The second case is Israel, where by some estimates, nearly 5 percent of the population is vegan; Tel Aviv has earned a reputation as one of the vegan capitals of the world. The Israeli Defense Force even provides animal-free menus in mess halls, and leather-free boots and helmets to vegan soldiers. But beyond the numbers, Israel provides an interesting contrasting example, Gheihman explains, in part because veganism there remains firmly rooted in animal-rights concerns, and is practiced across the political and the religious spectrum. She is also interested in how the vegan lifestyle has evolved within Israels cultural context, undergirded by national symbolism surrounding land and water usage, and informed by the countrys farming traditions and Mediterranean diet.

Gheihmans own vegan lifestyle, meanwhile, reaches well beyond the radius of her individual plate. Shes involved with the Council for Sustainability, the Harvard Vegan Society, the Ivy League Vegan Conference, and the Boston Plant-Based Millennials, which hosts monthly potlucks. Theres one this Sunday, actually, she adds, not quite casually.

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The Rise of Vegan Culture - Harvard Magazine

I was listening to a recent episode of the Main Street Vegan podcast when the host interviewed the authors of a book with perhaps one of the catchiest titles I have heard in a long time.

"By addressing issues of disease shaming and body shaming, the authors present a manifesto for building a more compassionate, diverse and effective vegan community," according to a promotional plug for the book.

The authors spoke about the underlying belief among vegans and others that a plant-based diet is a guarantee of good health. I hear this often, as well as the opposite -- that I am not eating a well-rounded diet without meat, dairy, eggs or honey.

I have to admit that I have internalized some of this disease shaming. Eating a vegetarian diet since the mid 1980s has paid off big time for me in the form of good health.

When I finally dropped the remaining eggs and dairy products a few years ago, I felt even better and gained a surprising amount of energy.

So it's been easy for me see a vegan diet as a panacea. I am 54, have never been on a single long-term medication and am still able to do high-intensity exercise workouts several days a week.

I truly believe that a vegan diet is the best option for the health and welfare of humans, the animals and the planet. Science is kind of in my corner on this one.

But the truth is that even vegans die. If I am not killed by some sort of accident, I will get a diagnosis some day that I cannot escape. I get that, I guess.

In the meantime, I will continue doing everything I can to protect animals and the planet, and remain healthy physically, psychologically and spiritually. (All three are fed through a vegan diet, by the way.)

A guidebook to health that I cannot recommend enough is "How not to Die," by Dr. Michael Greger. The author lists the 15 leading causes of death in this country and refers to science to show how each can be prevented, treated or even reversed with a plant-based diet.

The second half of this big book lists the dozen plant-based foods that should be eaten daily to maintain good health. This list is also supported with plenty of scientific references for skeptics and the curious, like me.

The covers of both of these books are designed in a very similar manner, which I am assuming is not a mistake, considering their seemingly opposing titles.

I have not yet read "Even Vegans Die," but the title alone has caused me to reflect on my own mortality and how I can continue striving for a healthy life without denying the reality of death.

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Vegan in the Region: "Even Vegans Die" - NWI Times - nwitimes.com (blog)