Review of *Vegan for Life*

I have found Ginny Messina's site to be a really helpful resource in learning about vegan nutrition, so when I heard she was co-writing a book with fellow nutritionist Jack Norris, I knew that it would be one I would want to check out. I'm so glad I did!

Vegan for Life: Everything You Need to Know to Be Healthy and Fit on a Plant-Based Diethas the same honest, fact-based approach to vegan nutrition that I have come to appreciate from the authors' respective sites. There is a focus on making vegan diets healthy and nutritionally balanced, but they also seek to present veganism as something that is doable. I appreciate that they don't resort to extravagant claims or anecdotal evidence. At the beginning of the book there is a section on the different types of research, and every fact they state is backed up with scientific studies (all of which are cited at the end of the book).

The first third to half of the book covers all of the nutrition needs of humans, and how those can be best met on a plant-based diet. There are chapters on calcium, fats, protein, and more. I will admit that some of this information was confusing to me, but there is a really helpful section called "The Vegan Food Guide," which quickly summarizes and condenses the main things to remember from the more detailed previous chapters. The rest of the book deals with putting it all into practice: raising vegan children, sample menus, tips for transitioning to veganism, veganism for special diets (like food allergies, pregnancy, athletes, etc.), a chapter on soy foods, health benefits of a vegan diet, how to prevent and manage disease, and a final chapter on the reasons for being vegan. So while there is some heavy nutritional stuff, the rest of the book provides tips for practical application for all of that information.

There is a big focus on making vegan seem easy, and I appreciate that. With so many conflicting voices in the health community it is nice to read a book like this that lays things out so simply. That said, I sometimes felt like there was a bit too much focus on convenience products and shortcuts that maybe aren't the healthiest. I understand where they are coming from in trying to make veganism convenient (and it's not like I think packaged food is evil; I enjoy Daiya cheese as much as the next person!), but I've heard a lot of different information about things like isolated soy protein (for example). Another example: there was also no mention of trying to get BPA-free canned goods (many recommendations were made for using canned products). Like I said, I can see where they are coming from in trying to keep things simple, but I can't help wishing that some of those things would have been addressed. Perhaps that would have made the book too long, though?

The authors provide some really great answers to commonly asked questions. For example, in response to the question, “Is a vegan diet natural?” they write:

“We agree that it just doesn’t matter whether a vegan diet is our historical way of eating or not. The fact is, it makes sense now to choose a vegan diet. And whose diet is really natural, anyway? The assumption that there is one natural prehistoric diet, which can be approximated today and would be optimal for modern humans, is dubious at best.” (35)

They also debunk the “Top Ten Myths About Vegan Diets,” which I thought was really interesting. There is a lot of misinformation out there, and this does a good job of making sense of everything. For example, I just came across a site the other day where a popular cookbook author wrote that she doesn't take any supplements and gets everything she needs from food (they counter this kind of thinking more in the book). In some cases, like regarding vitamin B12, that can be a dangerous position to take. B12 in particular is one that the book outlines as being essential to supplement:

“Based on our current knowledge of vitamin B12 requirements and sources, supplementation is not a subject for debate. Vitamin B12 supplements or fortified foods are an essential part of a well-balanced vegan diet at all stages of the life cycle.” (36)

Lest you think that veganism is endlessly fussy, remember that omnivores have to monitor a lot of this stuff, too (including things that vegans don't have to worry about over-consuming--like cholesterol). There are unique needs and challenges in any diet, and this book just specifically addresses those of vegans.

I’m also glad they included the “Why Vegan” chapter. It’s always good to remember why we do all of this, even though it's really sad to read about the horrible abuse that goes on. This excerpt in particular stuck out to me as a reminder of why veganism is such a powerful choice:

“By far the most effective way to end factory farming is to eliminate demand. And the only way to do that is to adopt a vegan lifestyle. While it’s sad to think about the plight of animals on factory farms, it’s empowering to know that we can choose not to contribute to their torture—and that this choice can prevent animal suffering and threaten the very existence of animal agriculture.” (234)

Further on in the chapter they briefly outline some animal rights philosophies. Some of this was new to me and it definitely made me think about where I stand. I’m not sure that I completely agree with the “argument from marginal cases." I do believe that causing another creature to suffer is wrong and brutal in the deepest sense, but I also believe that as humans we have a soul and this makes us different from animals (animals don’t have souls, right?). However, I think the very fact that we are superior creatures to them gives us a greater responsibility to treat them with kindness. They have no voice and are completely helpless. It is an exercise of the best part of our strength as humans when we defend the helpless. In this way, I think caring for animals is really just an extension of my pro-life beliefs. People are first, yes, but all life is sacred. Even that of a nameless, suffering animal.

I think this book is a must read for any vegan--new or old--or anyone thinking about going vegan. It is as transparent about both the joys and challenges of veganism as it is passionate about the underlying convictions for this lifestyle. It provides the information one needs to thrive on a vegan diet and reminds us why, ultimately, being vegan is so completely worth it. Over all, I feel like this book provides a really balanced, sane, and common-sense approach to vegan nutrition. I highly recommend checking it out!

Disclaimer: I received this book free from Da Capo Press in exchange for my honest review. I was not compensated in any other way and all thoughts expressed are my own.

P.S. If you follow me on Goodreads, I posted this review on there as well.