Lea Michele's Vegan Diet

Veganism isn’t some new fad diet. It’s actually been around for hundreds of years. But as soon as stars like Glee’s Lea Michele come out as an avid follower of the vegan diet, there’s a sudden surge of interest. People who follow a vegan diet eliminate all animal products and bi-products from their meals and snacks. It’s all about balancing nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables with whole grains, beans and seeds. And as with any diet, it’s important to factor in additional vitamins and supplements that you may not be getting from foods. Some people choose veganism for health reasons such as cutting cholesterol or allergies to dairy and shellfish, while others choose veganism for more compassionate reasons like animal rights. The vegan diet has a reputation of being very hard to follow, but it’s not as bad as most people think. Most vegans agree that the hardest part may in fact be listening to people say, ‘I would go vegan, but I love chicken and cheese too much’ or fielding those ‘Can you eat this? Can you eat that?’ questions. The best way to understand the vegan diet is to know which foods are off limits. First on the list is meat. This means no red and white meat, including chicken, beef, pork, lamb, and no fish. In short, nothing that once had a face. Luckily, there are meat alternatives such as tofu, tempeh and seitan, which is made by washing and kneading wheat flour dough with water until the starches dissolve and you’re left with an elastic gluten. Dairy is next on the list of off-limit items. That means no milk, cheese, butter, yogurt, sour cream - you get the point. But just as there are meat alternatives, there are a variety of tasty dairy alternatives made from soy, rice and nuts like almonds and cashews. Number 3 on the list? Eggs. Since eggs are part of a chicken’s reproductive system they are most certainly off limits. With a little practice, a package of tofu and a good food processor, you can achieve a suitable replacement for scrambled eggs. And silken tofu can replace eggs when making baked goods.Finally, vegans steer clear of gelatin and refined sugars. Gelatin is a mixture of boiled animal ligaments and crushed bones, and refined sugars run through animal bone marrow. There are a number of benefits to adhering to a vegan diet. Research has shown that vegans have a lower risk of obesity and their blood pressure is significantly lower than meat eaters. Cancer and diabetes rates are also lower in vegans. However, research has also shown that strict vegans may be at risk of several nutrient deficiencies such as vitamin B-12, riboflavin, zinc, calcium, iron, and essential amino acids such as lysine and methionine. Iron-Deficiency Anemia is one of the most common risks of low iron. One study found that 27 percent of women and 5 percent of men who were vegans had low iron storage. As when committing to any new diet, it’s always best to speak with your doctor or a registered dietitian first. If you're interested in trying a vegan diet in a healthy way, the American Dietetic Association has information to help you find a plan you can feel confident about at www.eatright.org. To learn more about celebrity diets that might match your lifestyle check out other videos in this series.