A breast cancer “thriver”

Denise Peise is from North Carolina and works as an artisan and author. Despite having faced breast cancer on three separate occasions, Denise has won each battle. She continues to live a life focused on improving her physical and mental health. She does this by practicing yoga, creating visual and written works and expressing passion for living a plant-based lifestyle. 

Denise defines herself not as a breast cancer survivor but as a thriver. This mentality comes from the idea that those living with the disease should not let it take over and affect their quality of life. Instead, those who define themselves as breast cancer thrivers and warriors are allowing themselves to live each day to the fullest. 

Thriving on a vegan diet

Denise began living a vegan lifestyle almost 13 years ago after she was first diagnosed with breast cancer and had been a vegetarian before then. Throughout the entirety of her three cancer battles, Denise made it her mission to live a clean lifestyle through proper exercise, plant-based nutrition, and her passion for art. She believes that incorporating these things into her life has helped her physically and mentally fight through the challenges she has faced. 

A change in diet was something that Denise felt would especially benefit her diagnosis. She says, “I learned through my diligence that I could benefit more along the lines of 10% or more by changing my lifestyle, especially my diet. To me, it was a no-brainer.” 

Denise completely changed her diet: She cut out processed foods and started cooking meals from scratch using only natural ingredients. She says that when she informed her doctors of her plan to not take the traditional harsh route of intense chemotherapy treatment, they expressed concern and seemed to have little faith in her. But, Denise persisted and remained true to her beliefs. “Turns out, over a decade later, I am still here and doing extremely well.” 

A creative outlet

Denise also credits her passion for art and yoga for helping her remain positive throughout her treatments.  Being able to create art has given her a creative outlet where she can express herself artistically and helped her relax under stressful conditions. Practicing yoga has allowed her to feel healthier on a physical level and has also given her a more grounded mindset. To those who are battling cancer as well, Denise recommends finding a place where you feel safe to be yourself and can do things you truly enjoy doing. She says that it’s important to find what makes you happy.

Vegan Life Nutrition is proud to be a part of so many vegan journeys.  We don’t sacrifice quality for innovation. Our products are always free of toxins, allergens, and unnecessary ingredients. How? We strictly examine raw ingredients and fully-vet each final product. Quality is our top consideration, and we adhere to the guidelines of some of the toughest regulatory authorities in the world.

Would you like to share your Vegan Journey with us?  Provide your contact information below, and we will reach out to you. 

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One of the foremost reasons why many people choose to be vegan is their love of animals. We believe that animals deserve to live in peace just as humans do. For many of us, this is where our vegan journey begins, and for our friend Michelle, it serves as the sole purpose for her vegan transition. 

Michelle started her vegan journey in 2017 and in a similar way as many of our other Vegan Life Nutrition friends; as a vegetarian! It wasn’t until she became more informed about the seriousness of animal cruelty that she decided to switch to a vegan lifestyle. She also found her voice and became a vocal member of the vegan community. 

Using her voice to educate

While living a vegetarian lifestyle, she quickly came to the realization that she wasn’t doing enough to inspire change and put a stop to harmful acts against animals. She began watching different documentaries about veganism, including What the health and Game Changers, which is what inspired her to cut out all animal products from her life. 

For Michelle, watching these documentaries opened a new door to an unknown world and allowed her to develop a new appreciation for the vegan community.  Michelle maintains an Instagram account @vegout_withme_ and her posts are not only creative and original but educate others about veganism, ethical decisions, and nutritious vegan meals. She is definitely someone that inspires others!

Any dish can be “veganized” and tasty

Michelle says that she feels amazing! She has lots of energy and keeps her body nourished with food that is grown from the Earth.  When Michelle is not working as a pediatric speech-language pathologist in her hometown of Charlotte, North Carolina, she enjoys hiking, working out, running, yoga, cooking vegan food, painting and spending time with her dog. 

A common misperception that Michelle believes should be cleared up about being vegan is the idea that “vegans are depriving themselves from good food.” She wants everyone, especially those considering switching to a vegan diet, to know just how delicious vegan food actually is. If you don’t believe her, try out some of her favorite types of vegan dishes: Thai and Ethiopian. She also says that eating a vegan diet isn’t as hard as it seems and that pretty much all non-vegan recipes can be veganized. 

Family Support

Like many other life changes, having the support of your loved ones is key to positivity and success. Michelle shared with us that her boyfriend, sister, and stepmom have all embraced the vegan lifestyle.  She’s educating her dad, mom and brother about the benefits of making that switch.

Just like many of the others who have shared their vegan journey with us, Michelle says that going vegan is the best decision she’s ever made. Her only regret is not doing it sooner.

Vegan Life Nutrition is proud to be a part of so many vegan journeys.  We don’t sacrifice quality for innovation. Our products are always free of toxins, allergens, and unnecessary ingredients. How? We strictly examine raw ingredients and fully-vet each final product. Quality is our top consideration, and we adhere to the guidelines of some of the toughest regulatory authorities in the world.

Would you like to share your Vegan Journey with us?  Provide your contact information below, and we will reach out to you.  

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The post Inspiring voice: Michelle appeared first on Vegan Life Nutrition.

Many vegan parents choose to raise their young children on a vegan diet until they are old enough to make their own dietary decisions. This allows the parents to expose the children to plant-based meals and cruelty-free products that align with their personal beliefs, while also eliminating the time and energy it takes to prepare two separate meals — one plant-based and one not. 

As the vegan movement has grown in popularity over the past few decades, more people have started speculating whether or not eliminating all animal products from a child’s diet impacts their development.

It’s no secret that individuals consuming a vegan diet are more likely to experience vitamin and mineral deficiencies as their food options are more limited. If these deficiencies go unnoticed or unresolved, they can have serious consequences, especially for young children.

This is why it’s crucial for vegan parents to monitor the most important vitamins for vegan kids to ensure their children are getting the proper nutrients from their diet.

Here are some of the most important vitamins for vegan kids.

Protein

One of the most essential micronutrients in a child’s diet is protein. Protein contains compounds called amino acids that contribute to the development of bones, muscles, tissues, and organs. Protein is also largely responsible for producing enzymes and hormones. Without sufficient protein, vegan children are more likely to experience stunted growth, which can open the door to a variety of other health issues. 

While there are many plant-based foods that contain protein like beans, lentils, and whole grains like quinoa, many vegan parents decide to sneak in extra protein through all-natural plant-based protein supplements to ensure their children are getting enough protein to sustain their growth.

Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 is the building block of various bodily processes, including protein metabolism, brain and nervous system formation, and creating red blood cells. Individuals who are deficient in B12 are more prone to nervous system disorders, anemia, infertility, and other diseases affecting heart function.

Anyone can have low vitamin B12 levels based on their diet, lifestyle, and various other factors, but since the vitamin is only found naturally in animal products, vegans have a higher risk of deficiency. Vegans can try to reach adequate levels by consuming B12-fortified foods, but the best measurable way to ensure their intake is sufficient is usually by taking a trusted vitamin B12 supplement.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is a crucial element in our bodies’ absorption and regulation of the calcium and phosphate we consume from our diet. This absorption process promotes the circulation of vitamin D in our bloodstream and is responsible for delivering other essential health benefits in many areas of the body, including strengthening bones and muscles, promoting a healthy immune system, and supporting heart health.

While vitamin D has been called the “sunshine vitamin” due to our ability to absorb the nutrient from sunlight through our skin, too much sun exposure can lead to its own health problems, and it is not a reliable way to determine if and when a person has absorbed adequate levels of the vitamin.

Because of this, many health specialists recommend that children, especially vegan children, take a vegan vitamin D supplement. 

Calcium

According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, it is during childhood and adolescence that a person’s peak bone density is determined. This means that the nutrients we consume during our developmental years impact the strength of our bones for the rest of our lives. 

So, how can vegan parents ensure their children are getting enough calcium from their diet?

Luckily, there are many plant-based milks, yogurts, and cereals that are fortified with calcium available on the market. Plants like certain types of nuts, leafy greens, and beans/lentils are also good sources of calcium for vegans.

Are you looking for the best supplements and vitamins for vegan kids?

Vegan Life Nutrition offers a complete line of nutritional products for vegans and non-vegans alike, using nothing but the cleanest, highest quality plant-based ingredients to support your healthy lifestyle. Shop our complete line of products here.

The post What Are the Most Important Vitamins for Vegan Kids? appeared first on Vegan Life Nutrition.

The holidays can feel like a particularly fraught time of year – especially if you’re concerned that the menu at your holiday get-together won’t include vegan-friendly options. Between Aunt Margie peddling her holiday cheesecake and Uncle Dave insisting that no one can celebrate properly without a bite of Christmas ham, holidays may feel hopeless. While many aspects of celebrating with family and friends who have different values may be out of your control, the following tips aren’t. Here are five ways to make this holiday season a little less uncomfortable.

Here’s our Holiday Survival Guide for Vegans

Plan Ahead

Take the stress out of uncomfortable day-of surprises by discussing your needs with your family in advance. Doing so will not only help you feel more at ease, but it will help the person in charge of the holiday menu feel much more comfortable as well – after all, the purpose of working hard to create a holiday feast is so that it can be enjoyed by all. At the very least, you may avoid the surprised reactions or off-the-cuff inquisitions, and at the very best, those that you’re celebrating with will have time to make more inclusive arrangements.

Be Prepared

One of the hardest things around the holidays is the collision of values that can occur with some of the people we love most. Simple questions can easily feel like interrogations, and it can be tempting to feel hurt or offended if a family member or old friend can’t come around to seeing your point of view. Combat uncomfortable questions and potential escalations by being prepared. Be cognizant of the questions that might arise about your decision to live a vegan lifestyle, and practice answers that will make you feel cool, collected, and confident.

Eat Ahead

If you’re not confident that your needs will be accommodated at a gathering, don’t risk getting “hangry”. Not only will filling up ahead of time save you from uncomfortable hunger pangs, but it may also save you from temptation if there’s a non-vegan dessert or dish that you simply can’t resist on an empty stomach.

Bring a Dish

One of the best ways to ensure that you’re included in the festivities is to contribute a dish of your own. Find a recipe so good that your friends and family will hardly believe it’s vegan, or whip up a vegan take on a family favorite. Sharing is caring, after all, and there’s nothing quite like sharing good food with loved ones to make the holidays bright.

Focus on Loved Ones

Of all the activities that happen over the holidays, the one most highly anticipated by 83% of Americans is spending time with family and friends. If your diet or lifestyle is a point of contention with family, move the conversation to some common ground. Now may not be the time to convince your loved ones to become vegans, but it is the perfect time to spend time together and enjoy each others’ company.

Is there a tip we missed? Contact us and let us know! Then check out our line of quality vegan products and follow us on Facebook and Instagram to keep up with the latest nutritional tips, tricks, recipes, and scientific news.

The post The Ultimate Holiday Survival Guide for Vegans appeared first on Vegan Life Nutrition.