Tag Archives: Transitioning to a Vegan Diet

A Plant-Based Diet: Slow and Easy!

There is a tremendous body of research about the benefits of eating a plant-based diet.  The numerous benefits sound almost unbelievable! A list of the diseases that eating well can prevented and/or treated include :

  • allergies and autoimmune disorders (sinusitis, fibro-myalgia)
  • arthritis (osteo, Rheumatoid and Gout)
  • diabetes (type II)
  • heart disease (high blood pressure, coronary artery disease)
  • cancers (breast, prostate and colon)
  • high cholesterol
  • intestinal tract problems; specifically IBS and Gastro*esophageal Reflux
  • obesity

And that is just for starters. (more…)

Posted in additive-free food, diary-free food, gluten-free food, menu, plant based diet, vegan, vegetarian | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Beans, Beans the Musical Fruit. . .

beansCute poem. Uncomfortable reality.

Here is a fun factoid:  the average person passes gas from 14-23 times per day. But seriously, it doesn’t matter if you call it flatulence, farts or gas – it is embarrassing and uncomfortable.

New vegetarians and vegans complain about inordinate amounts of gas.  Which, makes sense when you think about it.  All of a sudden the body is flooded with large amounts of fiber; particularly things like beans, cabbage, kale and asparagus. Nailing down the exact cause gets a little tricky because what causes gas in one person may not cause it in someone else.

No matter what specifically causes it, the mechanism is the same. The intestinal tract is inundated with foods that do not digest easily and the result is gas.  The enzymes and bacteria needed to digest and absorb certain carbohydrates are either in short supply, out of balance or entirely absent. The result is gas: belching, farting, bloating, abdominal discomfort and sometimes real pain.

The good news is that the body will adapt as you continue to eat the vegetables that cause the gas.  Beans, however, may remain problematic.  So what can you do? (more…)

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