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3 Replies Last post: Jan 6, 2008 11:53 AM by RockStar05  
Click to view RockStar05's profile Rookie 4 posts since
Jul 12, 2005
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Jan 5, 2008 7:40 AM

Running and a Vegan Diet


Hi All,

Just looking for some nutritional advice. I began eating a vegan diet a little over a week ago and I'm also just starting to run again. I've been recording everything I'm eating and below is a sample from this week. Aside from not getting enough greens, can anyone offer any suggestions as to what I should be eating in order to get all my nutrients and have the energy for my increased exercise?

Thanks!

Breakfast: Organic Applesauce, 1/2 whole grain bagel w/ strawberry preserves, 2 cups coffee w/ soy milk

Snack: 7 Triscuits w/ Hummus

Lunch: Vegetable Soup (homemade), 3 bean salad stuffed in 1/2 a whole grain pita pocket

Snack: 1/2 whole grain bagel w/ hummus

Dinner: 3 Vegetable Spring rolls (homemade, baked)

Snack: handful of plain Sunchips

Click to view Michael.'s profile Community Moderator 676 posts since
Nov 9, 2007
1. Jan 5, 2008 8:47 AM in response to: RockStar05
Re: Running and a Vegan Diet

How many calories are you eating? If I were to eat this little of an amount of food my body would go into starvation mode. I need to get at least 1700 a day or don't do well. Are you taking calcium supplements? I feel the hardest part of maintaining a vegan lifestyle would be getting enough calcium and protein. My thoughts are humans were designed to be omnivores, not herbivores so if you want to eat something that is not that what we have been eating since the beginning then you need to make sure you are getting the nutrients that would of been in the other foods.


Mike

Click to view harrnjos's profile Pro 142 posts since
Dec 14, 2007
2. Jan 5, 2008 2:02 PM in response to: RockStar05
Re: Running and a Vegan Diet
Congrats on choosing to eat a healthy diet (as well as more environmentally friendly and moral). Vegans and vegetarians are known to be more healthy and live longer than the omnivores. So although humans can process animal meat, it's not necessary.

I've been a vegetarian for a decade. Lack of protein is a myth. Even vegans have to try very hard to not get enough protein. Most Americans eat far too much protein, which is known to have health consequences.


Vitamin B-12. If you are a vegan, you'll need to take a vitamin B-12 supplement. It's the only vitamin which, if you aren't going to eat any animal products (Dairy, eggs, etc) you need to supplement. Deficiency in Vitamin B-12 can lead to anemia and after years, cause serious, irreversible damage. However, it's easily addressed by either taking a B-12 supplement or specially formulated vegan/vegetarian multivitamin.


Calcium. There are a lot of options: leafy
green vegetables, nuts and seeds
(almonds, brazils, sesame seeds), tofu,
and dried fruit, as well as calcium fortified soymilk and orange juice. Also, calcium supplements, if you prefer. (Aside: High protein diets can cause calcium loss in bones. There is some medical evidence that osteoporosis is linked more to a high protein diet rather than not consuming enough calcium).


Protein. Soy "dairy" products have protein, also tofu, tempeh, sietien, all types of beans, quinoa, as well as all soy "meat" products. Experiment. You'll find which types of food you prefer. Vegan sources of protein are naturally low fat and don't have cholesterol like animal products.


Omega 3 Fatty Acids. Flax seed oil, walnuts.


I noticed that you are doing a great job at eating complex carbohydrates (whole grains) and vegetables. Good work. However, vegans and vegetarians need 7-9 servings of fruit and vegetables a day. You might want to try to increase the number of servings of fruit you eat every day. There are lots of sources for fruit. You can drink 100% fruit juice, eat fresh fruit, dried fruit, fruit smoothies, frozen fruit. Find which types you like and add them to your diet.


Some resources for you:


Calculate your protein requirements (based on activity level):


http://www.gazza.net.nz/2007/09/18/protein-calculator-protein-requirement/


Vegan Food Pyramid:


http://www.chooseveg.com/vegan-food-pyramid.asp


Other vegan resources:


http://www.goveg.com/


http://www.vegsource.com/


http://chooseveg.com/


Good luck!