The Raw Foods Evolution

Wednesday, November 15, 2006

Vegans and Weston Price

I consider the book 'Nutrition and Physical Degeneration" by Weston Price to be essential reading. Check it out from your library RIGHT NOW!

In the book, Price says that he could not find any vegan culture on Earth that was healthy. The vegan groups he found were not healthy.

A lot has changed in nutrition since Weston Price wrote his book. In the past it was not safe to eat vegan, but now it is. This is the first time in history that it is safe to be a vegan!

Some things that have changed since Weston Price's time:

- B-12 supplements are essential for vegans. These were not available in the 1930's

- It is now possible to transport foods long distances. Vegans can now eat:

- sea vegetables for extra minerals,

- coconut oil for saturated fat,

- algae for the long chain fats EPA and DHA

- hemp seeds and flax seeds for essential fats and protein,

- cultured foods such as miso, sauerkraut, and kimchi

- bee pollen for minerals and proteins

- we have blenders and juicers and are able to drink vegetable juices and 'Green Smoothies'

- The supplements today are much better

- We have fruits and vegetables all year long. In the 1930's it was not possible to eat bananna's, oranges, and leafy greens in the winter.

- Vegans have access to Brazil Nuts, cashews, and many other nuts and seeds that supply hard to find minerals. In the 1930's people probably did not have access to these foods.

My friend wrote:
> > My understanding (which may be wrong),
> is that DHA is derived from fish ...
> Most B12 appears to be synthetic &/or
> derived from bacterial culturing which
> would not be vegan i would presume.
> Where do you get your Vitamin A & D?

DHA and EPA is also found in certain types of algae available as a superfood supplement.

There are many high quality vegan B12 supplements available. I took my statement above from Gabriel Cousens article on vegans and B-12:

Quote "This is the first time in history that we can be completely successful live food vegans. What I mean by being successful is completely healthy, including no B-12 deficiency and no elevated homocysteine levels....

...Vegan tablets are available from a variety of companies; Twin Labs has gelatin in its tablet and therefore is not vegan. There are three forms of B12: cyanocobalamin, methylcobalamin, and hydroxycobalamin."

This is a quote about Goji berries:

"Goji berries are the richest source of carotenoids, including beta-carotene (more beta carotene than carrots), of all known foods or plants on earth!"

The plant form of vitamin A, carotenoid, can be made into the animal form, retinol, by our body. I eat a lot of goji berries, carrots, carrot juice, algae, sweet potato, spinach, and other foods rich in carotenoids.

We can make vitamin D from the sun, although some vegans may need to supplement. There are vegan Vitamin D supplements available.

Mike Snyder
Owner of the Raw foods diet health and nutrition newsletter / super store