New vegan by doctor's order

[Andras]

OK, I have joined the flock. My doctor tells me that for dietary/weight/health reasons I should not eat meat, eggs, cheese (I love cheese).
As it is I eat very small amount of meat so that will be easy to drop. I drink coffee, so I need to drink SOME milk.
My doctor says fat in animal products no matter how small will impact once's weight more than carbs. Of course I also suppose to moderate my carb. intake and in general my food intake to smaller portions. I have family history of cancer so this diet is also to nip that in the bud. Apparently certain cancers are linked to animal fat. I am from Hungary and we eat very unhealthy, bacon, fat and lots of meats, (cured, uncured), sour cream. All that is now history. I still will eat some yogurt and low-fat cheese like mozzarella on occasion. Fish is also out but sometimes salmon is OK to eat. Any ideas or recipes for me? I need good vegan food ideas now.

[stanmrak]

I imagine maybe, being from a foreign country, you might think that doctors in America know what they're doing. When it comes to nutrition, they're mostly clueless. They specialize in disease treatment, not preventive health.

[ButterflyWoman]

Originally Posted by Andras

I drink coffee, so I need to drink SOME milk.

Use skim (nonfat) milk or try rice milk or almond milk.

Originally Posted by Andras

Fish is also out but sometimes salmon is OK to eat.

Salmon is very high in fat (oil), but there are plenty of other fish that are very low in it. I'm interested as to why you can eat salmon but not other kinds of low-fat fish?

[Andras]

Salmon is rich in a good kind of fat, Omega-3. I believe you can eat ANYTHING in moderation. The (low fat) vegetarian diet just forces you to be more selective and picky. Large amount red meat(beef) is especially bad for the heart and known for its cancer (colon cancer) cause. USA portions of meat are HUGE, BTW.

"Although the results vary, studies from around the world have suggested that a high consumption of meat is linked to an increased risk of colon cancer. In all cases the worry is confined to red meat, not chicken.

The best evidence comes from a pair of large 2005 studies, one from Europe, the other from the United States. The European research tracked 478,000 men and women who were free of cancer when the study began. The people who ate the most red meat (about 5 ounces a day or more) were about a third more likely to develop colon cancer than those who ate the least red meat (less than an ounce a day on average). Their consumption of chicken did not influence risk one way or the other, but a high consumption of fish appeared to reduce the risk of colon cancer by about a third.

The U.S. study added important information about the effects of long-term meat consumption. The subjects were 148,610 people between the ages of 50 and 74. A high consumption of red and processed meats was linked with a substantial increase in the risk of cancer in the lower colon and rectum. Conversely, the long-term consumption of large amounts of fish and poultry appeared protective.

These two studies are impressive, and they don’t stand alone. A meta-analysis of 29 studies of meat consumption and colon cancer concluded that a high consumption of red meat increases risk by 28%, and a high consumption of processed meat increases risk by 20%."
Red meat and colon cancer

P.S. whether you believe this(above) or not is of no concern to me.

Originally Posted by CaterpillarWoman

Use skim (nonfat) milk or try rice milk or almond milk.


Salmon is very high in fat (oil), but there are plenty of other fish that are very low in it. I'm interested as to why you can eat salmon but not other kinds of low-fat fish?

[ChrisGinsburg]

Originally Posted by Andras

Salmon is rich in a good kind of fat, Omega-3. I believe you can eat ANYTHING in moderation. The (low fat) vegetarian diet just forces you to be more selective and picky. Large amount red meat(beef) is especially bad for the heart and known for its cancer (colon cancer) cause. USA portions of meat are HUGE, BTW.

"Although the results vary, studies from around the world have suggested that a high consumption of meat is linked to an increased risk of colon cancer. In all cases the worry is confined to red meat, not chicken.

The best evidence comes from a pair of large 2005 studies, one from Europe, the other from the United States. The European research tracked 478,000 men and women who were free of cancer when the study began. The people who ate the most red meat (about 5 ounces a day or more) were about a third more likely to develop colon cancer than those who ate the least red meat (less than an ounce a day on average). Their consumption of chicken did not influence risk one way or the other, but a high consumption of fish appeared to reduce the risk of colon cancer by about a third.

The U.S. study added important information about the effects of long-term meat consumption. The subjects were 148,610 people between the ages of 50 and 74. A high consumption of red and processed meats was linked with a substantial increase in the risk of cancer in the lower colon and rectum. Conversely, the long-term consumption of large amounts of fish and poultry appeared protective.

These two studies are impressive, and they don’t stand alone. A meta-analysis of 29 studies of meat consumption and colon cancer concluded that a high consumption of red meat increases risk by 28%, and a high consumption of processed meat increases risk by 20%."
Red meat and colon cancer

P.S. whether you believe this(above) or not is of no concern to me.

Yes I will agree that making red and processed meats a staple in one's diet will and often does create health issues in the long term. That being said, red meat is not 'unhealthy' in and of itself. As in, it's not something to be feared or deliberately avoided at all costs. In the same way you wouldn't forcefully resist a candy bar. You also (I hope) wouldn't make candy bars a staple of your nutritional needs on a daily basis.

-I'm using 'you' in the general sense here.

[Andrew Gubb]

Soy milk or any number of other milks are great in coffee. A personal favourite is coconut milk. It's not a neutral flavour like soy but if you like coconut....

Apart from that welcome and enjoy! Cool doctor you have.

[ButterflyWoman]

Originally Posted by Andras

Salmon is rich in a good kind of fat, Omega-3.

Yes, I know. But so is other kinds of fish. What I was asking is why salmon is okay on your proposed diet but other fish is not. I was wondering what differences you see.

Originally Posted by Andras

P.S. whether you believe this(above) or not is of no concern to me.

My belief isn't the issue, and I wasn't arguing, nor do I want to argue. I just had a question regarding the kinds of fish, that's all. If you don't want to answer why salmon is okay and other fish are off limits, it's okay with me.

[Andras]

I did not get the clear answer to salmon vs. other fish. Sorry, the last P.S. was not meant for you...

Originally Posted by CaterpillarWoman

Yes, I know. But so is other kinds of fish. What I was asking is why salmon is okay on your proposed diet but other fish is not. I was wondering what differences you see.


My belief isn't the issue, and I wasn't arguing, nor do I want to argue. I just had a question regarding the kinds of fish, that's all. If you don't want to answer why salmon is okay and other fish are off limits, it's okay with me.

[Acting Like Godot]

Originally Posted by CaterpillarWoman

Yes, I know. But so is other kinds of fish. What I was asking is why salmon is okay on your proposed diet but other fish is not. I was wondering what differences you see.

Not all fishes are made equal .... Salmon happens to be one of those fish types which are rich in Omega 3. So are tuna and halibut .... But not most types of other fish.

[danas]

Originally Posted by Andrew Gubb

Soy milk or any number of other milks are great in coffee. A personal favourite is coconut milk. It's not a neutral flavour like soy but if you like coconut....

Apart from that welcome and enjoy! Cool doctor you have.

+1 I use soy milk once a day in coffee. I love it, it works great in cappuccinos too

[Criseyde]

Okay! I have split all the posts that weren't what Andras was looking for into a new thread; my apologies for starting that one off. From now on, please keep this thread to a discussion of vegan health and recipes and direct arguments about low carb vs. high carb/red meat/whatever else people started talking about to the other thread. Thanks.

[russianrocket]

Originally Posted by Criseyde

Okay! I have split all the posts that weren't what Andras was looking for into a new thread; my apologies for starting that one off. From now on, please keep this thread to a discussion of vegan health and recipes and direct arguments about low carb vs. high carb/red meat/whatever else people started talking about to the other thread. Thanks.

But he brought up animal fats and proteins causing more fat gain and cancers... kinda tough not to talk about that. He opened the door to discussions other then about vegan health and recipes.

[Criseyde]

Originally Posted by russianrocket

But she brought up animal fats and proteins causing more fat gain and cancers... kinda tough not to talk about that. She opened the door to discussions other then about vegan health and recipes.

But it's never pleasant to open a thread asking one question and have it turn into a really long argument between members who don't care about your question, is it?

I consider a post or three challenging the validity of what's said to be on topic. I don't consider a 50-post argument about whether red meat causes cancer to be on topic; not when the OP has specifically said that he plans to eat a vegan diet. But for the sake of the split and the OP, I just split off all the arguing posts into a new thread. Andras can read that one too if he wants.

[EvolveWithFlavor]

Check out our recipes, should give you some inspiration