Richard_V

Yes, the thing about plant based diets is you have to eat a lot and often :-)

Ok brothers and sisters: I think we can all agree that well balanced plant based and omnivorous diets can both be healthy. I know people who are doing very well on one or the other. Maybe you do too. But here's the catch: Veganism is about more than diet. It is about equality amongst across species. Fear, suffering and torment are not exclusively human traits, yet this is what countless beings have to endure on a daily basis, worldwide. Veganism is about a better life and environment for every living being on this planet - including humans. In many third world countries, people are starving to death because it is more profitable to have precious resources (such as water and grain) diverted to feed animals bound for slaughter. The toxic waste and gases produced by factory farms is also poisoning our environment. The consumption of animal products is a human rights issue as much as it is an animal rights issue. Clearly, eliminating animal products from your life will reduce the suffering of every being on this planet. Arguing the contrary will serve nothing but your ego. So the question is really: Does your taste for animal flesh and secretions outweigh the immeasurable suffering of the beings (human or non-human) you share this planet with? I strongly recommend you meditate on this for a while.

No doubt, a well balanced omnivorous diet can be healthy. Out of interest, how long were you on a plant based diet and what aspect didn't work for you?

Fair enough. I'm sure that most industries can and will use lobbying (within their capacity) to shift / influence outcomes of any kind of study in order to benefit them. They must all be taken with a pinch of salt. For me personally, it is enough to have met a lot of uber-healthy, happy people who have been eating a purely plant-based diet for many years, even decades. And after over a year of being vegan and feeling the way I do, I certainly don't need any more proof.

Hi - I'm not sure I understand where you're going with this, so I apologise if I have the wrong end of the stick here... Surely big pharma benefits more than anyone from people's poor dietary choices? On this I can agree 100%.

Hey. Firstly, it's not my kid. Did you actually read my post? ***Please have the courtesy to read this post before commenting*** Secondly, contrary to your statement, your post was incredibly judgemental. I was talking about real-world examples of people I know personally. If you want to refute what I am saying - feel free to call me a liar. Do you think I’m lying about my (vegan for over 20 years) friends and their 5 year old vegan child being as healthy, energetic and sharp as any child I’ve ever seen? Do you think I’m lying when I say they never get sick? Do you think I’m lying when I say I’ve never felt better having been on a plant-based diet for just over a year (I’m in my late 30’s by the way)? The friends I am talking about run what has been called 'Europe's finest vegan restaurant' here in London. It's called Vantra. Look it up. I have a feeling they might know a little more about nutrition than you & I. Veganism is devastating to health you say? Well, like most things in life, a balanced healthy vegan diet requires a degree of research, education and common sense. Even the British National Health Service agrees it is a perfectly healthy and valid choice. http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Vegetarianhealth/Pages/Vegandiets.aspx http://www.greatveganathletes.com I can turn your accusation of ‘child abuse' around for you: Forcing children to consume animal products is child abuse. Very clear links have been made between dairy / meat products being seriously detrimental to the health of human beings… cancer, osteoporosis, heart disease to name a few. Look up The China Study. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_China_Study http://saveourbones.com/osteoporosis-milk-myth/ http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2003/dec/13/foodanddrink.weekend Like most other (arguably psychopathic) gargantuan industries, meat & dairy's remit is to get you to consume their products. Period. They don’t give a sh$t about your health - all they care about is profit. They have incredibly powerful ($$) lobby groups which - as we all know - will ‘influence’ the outcome of so-called ‘scientific’ studies… and of course the flow of information and education. Ignore this information at your peril my friend. There is no valid, rational, logical argument against veganism. It's good for our health, it's good for the environment and most importantly, it's good for all the innocent beings out there who are being tortured and murdered mercilessly... because people enjoy the taste of their flesh & secretions.

Well done! You must be proud of yourself. You managed to find ONE - yes ONE- instance of a vegan couple who killed their child by feeding it an INSANE diet. If I now do a search on how many non-vegan people have abused / murdered / tortured / starved their kids to death, how many do you think I'lll find? I have friends who have been vegan for more than 20 years. They have a 5 year old daughter who has been vegan from birth. She has NEVER been sick (apart from catching chicken pox at nursery) and is one of the healthiest, happiest most energetic kids I've seen. I strongly believe in non-violence. I am not a speciesist and therefore, the only logical way I can align my life with my values and philosophies is by being vegan. I don't judge people who aren't vegan because I wasn't always this way. But when someone starts throwing around BULLSH$T to discredit a movement which is all about non-violence and compassion, I will call them out for what they are: IGNORANT.