Hmmmm, fairly good albeit lengthy speech from steve--he sadly didn't make those extra decades he espoused, however!

Why do people feel the need to weigh in on what YOU choose to eat?? It's not like you're making them eat it, or you're depriving them of the things they THINK they need to eat. It's really none of their business! 

Well you could tell Fred about how cows milk actually leaches calcium out of your bones instead...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgREgR4I5RI

Don't forget about the fact that animal protein leeches calcium from your bones.  Consuming animal protein (yes even dairy) causes your blood to become acidic and the only way your body can recover from the acidic state is to neutralize the acidity. Calcium phosphate gets taken from the bones.  Phosphate neutralizes the blood and the calcium gets excreted in urine.  

More dairy = MORE osteoporosis, not less!

Take that Fred, and please pass the broccoli!

www.beansnotbambi.wordpress.com - I have another more detailed description on my blog!

It seems to be a common misconception that milk is the best source for calcium but to the established medical community and all of its closed-minded practicioners this is news. There are studies that suggest that calcium from animal protein may actually be tied to bone erosion. The complete opposite of what calcium from milk is commonly believed to do.

I would suggest looking into Dr. Esselstyn's study (watch and/or google Forks over Knives) on the harmful impact animal protein has on the human body.

As to your bartender, I am not in the least impressed by his attitude towards your request. Its one thing to crack a joke, but to completely dismiss your needs as a customer is a MAJOR FAIL from someone who is supposed to be working for tips. That definitely explains why he is a bartending nutritionist. Any competend nutritionist will agree that a balanced whole-foods plant-based diet is the ideal nutrition for your body.

I have for decades (as my driver's license says I am old) had problems with leg cramps, probably since I was 5 or 6. I will get "Charley horses" so bad they wake me up in great, howling pain. Not all the time, mind you. Sometimes, it's my foot that cramps, or it's centered around my ankle, and it can be either leg and on a really bad night, both.

I've tried a multi-mineral supplement with good results but to make a long story short, I have to be careful because I may have passed a small kidney stone last year before going vegan. I cut back on the supplement, to like two a week rather than once a day.

But since going vegan, I have only had very few cramps, and both times I can remember now were after walking or standing a lot more than normal the day before. I only take the supplement after (or during) an attack, and then up my "kale quotient" and drink more fortified soy milk the next day or two. 

I suspect that without the meat and cheese and excess protein in my system, that my body is now better processing and using the minerals I take in. I love soy and almond milk and other alt milks, but I don't drink them all the time. I love my tofu and tempeh, though, and try to eat a lot of different veggies (although no chard, very little spinach and then only if it's been blanched, none of the other oxalic acid veggies, etc...). 

I'm one of those vegans who thought I could never go without cheese but honestly, it's been very, very easy. Mr. Fred needs to do a little studying and be less, oh what's the word? OBNOXIOUS!!! 

I can't tell you how many times I have ordered food and mentioned that I am vegan and received my food covered in cheese or even bacon bits!! And the wait staff look at me like, so....? what's the problem? Ugh! I get the dairy biz from family and friends or collegues all the time. I simple give them the down low and say, "I try to live as kind a life as I possibly can. I am a healthy, strong, functioning person who choses to not eat or wear animal products. And guess what, the great thing about being me is, I'm ok with that!" That ususally nips it and I can see them pondering the information I just gave them....most actually really think about it.

Ahh- yes, the dairy opinions.  They are most certainly the strongest.  Just keep reading, researching and learning about it.  Check out the documentary "Got the facts on Milk".  Its a great one!  Alicia have you blogged about this film yet?  Maybe I missed it.  And Dr. McDougal recently did some writing on Steve Jobs, "Why did he die". It's interesting and controversial. Check that out too.

I do have to say, it's gotta be very easy to be vegan with you can pay whatever it takes to get the nutrients you need.  As for most vegans, statistics show that most of them don't know how to do it in a healthy manner:  45% of vegetarians and 85% of vegans suffer from a nutritional deficiency.  That's because things like getting the proper mix of amino acids, getting enough iron (because you need less), and getting vitamins B6 and even more so B12, is already taken care of for you if you add poultry or even eggs to your diet.
Otherwise, you need to find complete proteins, get MORE iron (because the body can't use vegatable iron as easily as already-processed animal iron) from sources that contain LESS of it, and you can find some sources of B6, but B12 can only be supplemented (which is I avoid, since supplements are rarely backed by evidence) or consumed as nutritional yeast (yuck!).

Don't get me wrong, if you're willing to put for the time and effort to remove animal products from your diet completely, and in a HEALTHY manner, more power to you.  Just don't sacrifice your health for it.

On another note, building bones DOES require exercise.  They're no different than muscles: you can eat all the protein in the world, but if you don't work out to break down the muscles, so they can be rebuilt, they'll never get bigger.  To build bones, lift weights.

"OMG, but I'm a woman.  I can't do that; I'll get all buff."  No, you won't, because you have a fantastic hormone called estrogen which tells your muscles to build up sleek and slender (a trait which I am jealous of).  Big body builder women have gone way far beyond just lifting weights.

As for Fred, I think it's weird to comment about someone who IS conscious about what they eat, when he likely wouldn't comment about someone who ISN'T (as in, orders unhealthy crap). 

I'm sorry you had such a rude waiter.  It's unfortunate when people act like they know everything, especially when they are wrong.

People get so JUDGY when they hear that I am vegan (and used to be vegetarian). I went to a party with medical students the other day, and when one of them realized I brought veggie patties because I wasn't going to eat brats, he said, seriously, "Oh. I still like you." What in the h?! And when I was vegetarian, whichever individual to whom I was talking would kind-of draw back, then say, "Um, can I ask why?" They were all ready to completely pounce on me if the issue was one of animal rights (vs. taste preference, which it initially was). People get very defensive when it comes to food choices.

I get annoyed with the calcium and protein assumptions from carnivores, which I am sure no vegan has been able to escape.

just shared this on fb! too funny!

I am so with Vedge.... I think that if most people who consume meat and dairy would watch Forks Over Knives would think twice about what they put in their mouth.  It is what changed me!  I have not gone full fledged Vegan but I am vegetarian now and happy with it.

Hello!  I am starting my Vegan life today.  I was so excited to see a post in my inbox earlier today.  I just perused the health food store in my town - it is waaaay improved from 5 years ago when I first wandered in.  I came home with an armload of good items.  I am going to be researching Soft Drink alternatives.  Diet Coke is a staple in my life and i gave it up today.  Love it though and would love a healthy alternative.  Thanks!

I worked as a raw/vegan chef for a cardiovascular surgeon's restaurant. The Dr. supports a completely vegan diet to reverse diabetes, obesity and some cancers. While I was working there I came to learn that not only is dairy NOT a good source for calcium, but dairy products actually leech out the calcium from your bones. This information did not come from some conspiracy theory vegan pamphlet, but from actual medical journals (YOu can find it in the Merck Manual as well) and the dr's mouth himself. Think about it like this. Centuries ago we didn't have meat available at all times, sometimes it would take hunters months to catch a large animal, but fruits and veggies were always available in some form or fashion. So our bodies although they have the ability to eat and digest omnivore for survival needs, absorb the nutrients from plant based foods so much more readily and easily. And the next time you get the protein question, a cooked steak only gives you 20-25% protein. 1 single serving of quinoa or dark leafy greens provides up to 70% protein that is much more easily absorbed by your body. Besides when a person asks me that question depending on the level of smugness, I tell them I get it from eating my hair. I have never understood the fact that if I ate funions and drank coke zero all day I would never get these kind of questions, but I choose to eat a healthy diet full of an assortment of fruits and vegetables and I just might be destroying my health. Watch Food Matters, that will answer all your health questions.