What's the difference between vegan and plant based?

These days there are so many different terms out there: vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian, fruitarian, plant predominant, plant based, whole food plant based. The list seems endless and can be so confusing for those who are just starting on this journey.

Let’s take two of these terms and define them.

What is the difference between vegan and plant based?

By definition someone who is vegan “abstains from the use of animal products, particularly in diet, and an associated philosophy that rejects the commodity status of animals” (Wikipedia). In other words, someone who is vegan doesn’t eat animals (or byproducts) or use them in other areas of their life (cosmetics, furniture, clothing, etc.).

Does vegan mean healthy? No, not necessarily.

Most people who go vegan do it for the animals, and not necessarily for their health. In today’s world, there is a plethora of vegan options and you can live off of vegan burgers, ice cream and pizza. While these options are so much better than eating animals, they aren’t the healthiest options on a day to day basis.

On the other hand, most people go plant based for their health but they may not care about animals. Someone following a plant based diet eats a diet rich in whole grains, legumes, fruits, veggies, nuts and seeds. They may still include a small amount of animals in their diet and use animals in clothing, furniture, cosmetics, etc.

So what do you think? Would you consider yourself vegan or plant based? I like to call myself a plant based vegan. I deeply care about the animals but also want to be as healthy as possible <3

Why People Stop Being Vegan

Last week, one of my favorite influencers in the wellness space announced that she was “no longer vegan.” And it made me so sad. Of course it made me the most sad for the animals, but it also broke my heart for this individual who was suffering from health issues. In addition, there were 100’s of people who commented on her post who had also stopped being vegan. So, this got me thinking. Why do people stop being vegan?

I think that there are many reasons why people start eating animals again, but here are just a few of the reasons that I have come up with:

• Not having a strong enough “why”. I think that sometimes people go vegan because they are following a trend or because it’s the cool thing to do. When you have a stronger motivation, you are more apt to stick with it longer. If you need a powerful reason, please watch Dominion, What the Health, Earthlings, Cowspiracy, visit an animal sanctuary or even a slaughterhouse.. Once you make the connection with the animals, there will be no going back.

• Pre-existing gut issues! I have heard many people who stop being vegan because they had gut issues, were bloated all the time or started losing their hair. What we don’t often realize is that if we have a pre-existing gut issue, you are simply adding fuel to the fire when you go vegan. Animal products don’t contain any fiber but plants are loaded with it. If you start piling that on to an unhealthy gut, no wonder you feel bloated and uncomfortable. Side note: gut issues can stem from all kinds of fun things like parasites, glyphosate, a malabsorption issue (hence, the hair loss), stress, toxins and more. And parasites can come from animal products and linger in your body for 10 years.

• Not supplementing! Being vegan is amazing and there are so many nutrients that we can get from our food. But there are a few that we can’t. For example, B12 comes from a bacteria that is found in the soil. Because our soil is depleted and we wash everything so well, we don’t get B12 without a supplement. I also recommend D3 and possibly a vegan EPA/DHA.

• Not doing enough research or giving it enough time. Just like with any big change, being a successful vegan takes time. It’s important to do your research and to understand where you get your protein, iron, etc. (you can also let me do the work for you with my Vegan 101 Guide) It’s also crucial that you test out recipes and discover new flavor combinations. It truly does get easier and easier over time so don’t give up!

I would love to hear your opinion. Why do you think that people stop being vegan? Is there something that you are struggling with that has tempted you to eat animals again?

Also, be sure to check out my Instagram Live about this very topic.

Did You Know That These Products May Not be Vegan???

When you first go vegan, it can be incredibly overwhelming. There are so many different aspects to consider. I personally think that starting with changing your food should be the top priority. But once you have conquered that, it may be time to start considering where else animals are used in our everyday products. For today, let's just start with two products that you may not realize aren’t vegan.

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The first are razors! Yup, that little thing that you use everyday to shave may actually contain substances from an animal. What?!

I know, it sounds crazy. In addition to being tested on animals, many razors have a moisturizing strip that is made from things like lanolin (from sheep) or glycerin (derived from animals).

There are many vegan razors on the market, but my favorite are Preserve razors. They are vegan, cruelty free and are made from recycled materials.

*I am not affiliated in any way with this company.

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The second item that you may not realize isn’t vegan is alcohol (okay, I guess technically this is a food but we will just call it a product for today’s sake).

While I am not a drinker, I was blown away that beer and wine could contain animal products (how is that possible?!).

Honey and dairy are often added to the final product but animals are also used in the filtration system. During filtration, things like isinglass (from fish bladder), gelatin, sea shells and egg whites are used.

“There have also been cases of whole chickens being included in beer. It’s based on ‘cock ale, a 17th century recipe that breweries occasionally recreate in small batches” (barnivore.com).

To ensure that your alcohol is vegan, look for a vegan label. I also recommend visiting the Barnivore liquor guide online.

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I hope that this helps make your transition a bit easier and less overwhelming. It is important to take it one step at a time. We will address cosmetics and clothing at a later date.

For now, check out some vegan razors and have a vegan drink (responsibly and only if you are over 21, of course!).

And don’t forget that you can always contact me if you need more support with your vegan journey!

<3, April (Happy Healin’ Vegan)

Household Items that May Not Be Vegan

Hello everyone,

I hope that you had a wonderful holiday season and are enjoying 2020!

It has been awhile since I have written a blog and have some big things coming up in the following year.  For today, I wanted to kick off my blogging year with some information about daily use items (and some food) that may not be vegan.

Sometimes I think the most difficult part of going vegan isn’t the food but is switching out all of the items in your home that contain animal products.

Below are just a few of our every day items that may contain animal products.

The refining process for white sugar often comes from bone char.

Razors: most razors have a lubricating strip above the blade that contains lanolin or glycerin (lanolin is a wool byproduct that comes from sheep while glycerin can also be derived from animals. I prefer to use Preserve Razors. They are vegan and are made from recycled yogurt cups. 

Lipstick: red lipstick often contains cochineal, which is made from crushed beetles. Tallow, which is made from rendering animal fat, is also found in many cosmetics. The animals used to make tallow come from sources such as labs, slaughterhouses, zoos and even roadkill! I try to find vegan lipsticks from Beauty Counter, Arbonne, or Elf Cosmetics.

White sugar: the refining process for white sugar often comes from bone char, a granular material from animal ashes.

Beer: beer and wine both can contain Isinglass, a chemical found in fish bladders. It is best to buy products that say “vegan” on the label.

Supplements/medication/vitamins: be careful to read the ingredients on these items. They often contain dairy and gelatin.

Nail polish: nail polish often contains guanine, which is made from ground-up fish scales. It is also found in cleaning products, fragrances, hair conditioners and skin care products.

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT IF YOU HAVE ANY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ANY OF THE ABOVE ITEMS.

Also, please make sure to contact me if you need any help with the transition process <3

Other names for Dairy You Might Not Know About

Did you know that there are other sources of dairy than just cheese and milk?!

I think that one of the hardest parts about transitioning to a vegan diet is that dairy is found in so many foods.  In addition, dairy isn't always labeled as that.  It can be referred to by many other names.

Let's start with the basics.  Dairy from cows or goats (yes, goats!) is used to make cheese, ice cream, whey, yogurt, Greek yogurt, milk, ghee, cream cheese, cottage cheese, butter, milk chocolate, kefir, and creamer.  It can also be found in processed foods such as crackers, candies, vitamins and medication.

One of the best ways to check to see if a food is dairy free is to read the ingredient list.  Stay away from the list above as well as the following: casein, lactose, galactose, rennet, quark, lactate, cream, nisin preparation, recaldent, natural flavors.

The best way to avoid dairy all together is to stick to a whole food plant based diet and to avoid packaged foods.  You can also look for the "Vegan" label when buying packaged items.

I hope that helps a little bit. If you need even more help transitioning to a dairy free life, please read the following blog posts: Our Favorite Dairy Free “Cheese” Sauce and It’s easy to give up dairy with these awesome alternatives!  Also, feel free to contact me anytime!