I am not vegan, nor can I be because I'm HFI (Hereditary Fructose Intolerance) and the only safe vegan foods I can eat are rice, bread and pasta. Those are the foods (vegan only, I also eat animal products), which I know are safe for me to eat. I'm deficient in sugars and I have to exclude honey, butter, processed foods, vegetables and fruits from my diet. I can't handle even lettuce, which is low FODMAP, in small amounts.
I haven't mentioned it in my original post but I stopped going to zoos, buying clothes with fur or animal skin, I adopt and/or rescue my pets, buy vegan and at least vegetarian care products and I try not to buy animal products that come from factory farming.
I know that the definition of veganism includes reducing consumption of animal produce as much as possible, so if you can't follow a plant based diet you can do any other things go reduce animal products.
Anyways, I was wondering if y'all though if everyone could follow a plant based diet or if in the future everyone will follow it.
I'm far less concerned with the very small number of people who cannot meet their nutritional needs with plants than the large portion of people who can, but choose not to.
If more people go vegan, we'll probably develop ways for more people in the former group to meet their needs with plants and that will resolve the issue.
Exactly. You don't design 'rules' based on the exceptions.
Agreeing with this, but as a trans woman I'm all too familiar with how framing humans as "exceptions" leads to very real needs being unaddressed.
Absolutely! My intent was that exceptions and special cases deserve special attention, not that unusual cases shouldn't be considered at all. Well worth clarifying the point.
Thank you for understanding! I really don't want it to be too much of an "um ackshwually" thing, because obviously we agree lol
Not the person you're responding to, but I would be really upset if my general statement was read to justify denying necessary care and consideration for people who need it. Trans rights are human rights, full stop.
Then don’t say stupid shit like that. Rules should always be able to have a structure and basis around exceptions
I'm sorry, what did I say that was "stupid shit"?
But I keep getting stranded on all these deserted islands
I hope so too. I would love to be vegan, truly and it's saddening that I can't because of my intolerances. Especially since I love fruits and vegetables but I had to stop consuming them because of it. Considering that not a lot of people have it and there are much greater illnesses or deseases that are deadly, dangerous or just cruel id rather they look into those first and then they'd look for a way to heal intolerances.
[deleted]
I haven't mentioned it in my post but I stopped going to zoos, buying clothes with fur or animal skin, I adopt and/or rescue my pets, buy vegan and at least vegetarian care products and I try not to buy animal products that come from factory farming.
I must say, regarding food, since you said bread and pasta are OK, maybe you can replace at least some of your animal-based protein with seitan?
You didn't mention legumes, otherwise i'd also recommend trying to have more tofu/tempeh.
I haven't tried most of legumes yet. I will try to see which I can whitstand and I will definitely try seitan, tofu and tempeh.
If you haven't tried most legumes, seitan, tofu, or tempeh, it may be a bit premature to declare you cannot possibly do a plant-based diet.
I haven't tried a lot of beans because they're aren't many where I live and the beans are tried were awful, but legumes are hell. Chickpeas, lentils and green beans are some u have where I live and they're horrible.
This seems less about your HFI and more about your dislike for foods.
When I mean horrible I mean in the symptom sense, bloatingz diarrhea, stomach pain, vomiting and tiredness. But I do have to mention I'm autistic and I can't handle certain tastes or textures but I find those more in cucumbers type foods, depends on how meat is cooked and almond.
Genuinely, can legumes/seitan/tofu/tempeh provide the same nutrients as meat/organs?
I try to eat a really varied diet and I have no idea how someone who can’t eat fruits and veggies would get a lot of their nutrition outside of having to supplement. (I assume they supplement at least)
It also sounds scary having so much cholesterol and saturated fat if someone is forced to heavily rely on meat for food…
Yes, generally those foods provide a lot of the same nutrients as meat. You would need to supplement B12, but someone who isn't eating any fruit or vegetables will already be supplementing stuff (or should be).
Not all zoos are bad- there's some that are incredibly important to protecting and reintroducing endangered species, rehabing wildlife, funding wildlife programs, and giving animals that can't be released a safe, healthy place to live. Look for zoos that are AZA accredited and have constant improvements they are doing. Supporting them is an important part of protecting wildlife, stopping poaching, and educating the public on living alongside animals rather than against them.
Vegans do support sanctuaries. Zoos, which promote the idea that humans are entitled to live animal entertainment from animals around the world -- regardless of whether or not being in the area is a particularly good idea for them -- aren't compatible with veganism. If you're displaying penguins in San Diego or hyenas in Nebraska for the amusement of local humans, that's just exploitation.
I didn't know that. Thanks for clarifying. I haven't been to many zoos but damn you should look at my response about my local zoo. Its so horrid. It's been sued many times and complained about.
There is a major difference between zoos that exist for entertainment and zoos that exist for conservation.
It sucks but people are terrible at having empathy for animals they've never seen or interacted with.
You mentioned Nebraska which kind of frustrated me. Nebraska has the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium. Many of the animals there are only there because they cannot be released into the wild.
Over the past two decades all additions and renovations have been focused on ensuring the best possible habitats and enrichment for the animals. It has completely changed from the original zoo's design because people realized the animals need to come first.
In Lincoln, NE there is the Lincoln Children's Zoo which has successful breeding programs for multiple endangered species along with highly successful animal ambassador programs to teach the public about animals.
Would I prefer if zoos didn't exist? Yes. But sometimes we have to step up and ensure animals are safe somewhere. (And yes, safe from human encroachment and conflicts.)
If you're trying to build empathy for animals by teaching children that wild animals need to justify their existence by entertaining us, I don't think that's going to be very successful.
The fact you are viewing all zoos as only entertainment means you are coming to this discussion in bad faith, or you have not had the opportunity to experience a zoo that properly focuses on conservation and education.
We have meta-analysis that strongly supports the hypothesis that zoos and aquariums increase people's knowledge about conservation issues and the likelihood they will take action to protect biodiversity.
Here is one such study:
https://conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cobi.14237
"Specifically, visitors were more knowledgeable about conservation issues, held more favorable attitudes toward conservation, and reported being more likely to act for the benefit of biodiversity"
Later in the abstract: "
Taken together, these findings demonstrate how behavior change frameworks can be used to describe zoo-led interventions and supports the assertion that zoos and aquariums can promote changes in beliefs and behaviors that may help protect biodiversity."
Does this have anything to do with veganism? I'm struggling to see the connection. Are we supposed to be working for people who exploit animals for entertainment to also smile about biodiversity?
Good zoos are not about entertainment, they are sanctuaries that have better funding, do public education (which is extremely important for public support for conservation), and are accessible to the public meaning they are held accountable to a higher standard. Most sanctuaries do not have the same requirements for care an AZA accredited zoo has, they often run out of funding leading the animals to being euthanized or neglected, and are more likely to end up with abused or neglected animals due to burnout and improper training. Habitats in zoos are regulated for the animals health and care, including temperature, environment, enrichment, diet, etc. I highly encourage you to look into the AZA requirements.
People who think sanctuaries are better simply because the public aren't allowed in them have never worked in a good zoo or a bad sanctuary.
Why would you put in a sanctuary for penguins in San Diego? Why put polar bears in Tucson? Arguing that these placements aren't motivated by the desire to entertain humans is absurd.
I know the AZA requirements. They're welfarism. When you look at the history of zoos, it's pure folly to try to argue that the root of zoos is the desire to display animals for entertainment. Do some zoos do a "kinder" version? Absolutely. Does that justify collecting animals from around the globe and displaying them for our amusement? I don't think so.
Every single shitty zoo that zoo defenders try to argue is totally different is there because zoo defenders accept the idea that some forms of display exploitation are okay, even praiseworthy.
This is bow i always felt. Polar bears do not belong in the desert. The amount of "bad" zoos far outweigh the "good" ones. It's more practical to just avoid them all together and make a trip to your closest animal sanctuary or rehab. Best Friends in Utah is amazing!
No such thing as a good zoo
Zoos have saved 100s of species from extinction and donated money to buy and protect hundreds of thousands of acres of pristine ecosystems from industrializationand cattle ranching. Many species they save are tiny ones thaw outgrow would ecosystems no funding for conservation, such as the Mexican Garter Snake and Narrow-mouthed Garter Snake. They've also funded pollution cleanups, school outreach programs for inner city kids, recycle programs for cities, green energy campaigns, and so much more. It is not only ignorant to say none of them are good, but also counter-productive to supporting wildlife and perusing our planet.
That could all be done without zoos. That’s like saying gangs are good because they help gang members get money that they use to feed their families lol
This right here. The public education is VITAL for conservation. Humans suck at empathizing or even sympathizing with animals they've never seen. Give them a real-life experience (best paired with educational materials!) and you have a far better shot at getting people to care.
We have so many studies showing this.
Exactly!! Public outreach and getting people to like the animals is the only way we can change people's minds. And we have proven ways to do so via proper conservation-focused zoos and aquariums.
I agree but the zoo that's closest to me is hell. I went there once as a child and I remember it was saddening. The zoo closest to me has so many problems: little space, wrong installation, plague problems, deaths of animals that aren't taken care of and many ex workers have spoken out against this. Not to mention the huge capitalization when they had an albino gorilla. Another aquatic zoo, for I remember it was good because they took in animals that are rescued and have good conditions.
Eating deer does exactly the same thing.
Zoos are abhorent.
What on earth do deer have to do with anything?
I’m not an expert or knowledgeable on your specific situation, but a quick google search shows people with HFI generally can eat things like seitan or tofu. Have you tried that?
I think the majority of people can thrive nutritionally on a plant based diet, although some people with a lot of other restrictions or allergies may want to work with a dietitian. Are there some people that literally cannot? Maybe, but I’d say it’s rare. For those people I think in the future we will have things like lab grown products to fill the gap. We already have things like lab grown whey and lab grown meat that have been developed but not yet brought to scale.
I hope too, or a way to make everyone be vegan regardless of disorders. Like I don't know make intolerances curable? I hope it makes sense. As for tofu, I believe I ate it once and couldn't bear the taste of it and I've never had seitan.
tofu is quite bland, you’ll most likely only notice a distinct taste of its own if you don’t season it or prepare it. just like most foods. look up some recipes on youtube or tiktok depending on the kind of things you like to eat (tofu nuggets if you like chicken nuggets, tofu scramble if you like scrambled eggs, etc etc).
I will thank you. I remember trying tofu years ago and not liking it at all, my cousin made it so perhaps she seasoned it?
Tofu done badly is like eating an incredibly bland washing up sponge.
you just have to go down the vegoon pipeline enough to savour the delishiousness of raw tofu
Raw? Nah.
But i am very autistic and couldn't handle seasoning for years of my life (white pasta for dinner as a child bland)
I enjoy tofu gently roasted in a pan with some oil. Or firma tofu straight from the airfryer. But i am obviously a kind of exception. Food is mostly just nutrition. I look more to "what can i eat" rather than "what tastes great."
Tofu basically tastes like whatever you put on it.
Seitan is made of the protein from wheat. It’s very high in protein and you can make it from flour or buy isolated wheat gluten and make it at home, which might be good for you since you can omit other ingredients you can’t eat.
I’ve made it at home by blending the wheat gluten in a food processor with water and then you can just steam it on the stove. You can also blend in tofu and you won’t taste it.
How did you prepare the tofu? I think tofu can be really good if prepared right. Check out this video from rainbow plant life: https://youtube.com/shorts/cxHJpllVUYw?si=I78VqH8BQPRsnsUV
Also you can try things like TVP which have a completely different texture than tofu but are also made from soy. It has a meaty texture and you can season it however you like.
But yeah, would be cool if we had cures for intolerances in the future!
I will try seitan, TVP and tofu, thank you so much for your recipe and the video. My cousin prepared the tofu, I don't know exactly what she did but I will do it at home to be safe.
Here are other protein sources: Plain firm tofu (no marinades) Plain tempeh (check labels carefully) Pumpkin seeds Hemp seeds Chia seeds (small amounts) Rice protein isolate only if confirmed fructose-free
And here's where we start to see the non-veganism. Friend, this is a life or death conversation. Eating animal products because you don't like the taste of tofu just makes you a carnist animal abuser like any other nonvegan.
Bro if you'd read my other responses you'd see I'm willing to try tofu again, I will do it again angry tempeh and seitan.
Great, I hope you go vegan and stop abusing and exploiting animals for your taste pleasure as well.
Why are you asking? You have a disorder that affects 1 in 20k people. Eat what you need to and maybe, if you sincerely want to help, stop posting as if that's a reason for most people to not go vegan
I'm just asking because I'm curious.
Are you able to eat seitan?
I haven't tried it, or if I did I don't remember. I will try it, though to see. I will try tofu again as well.
Try it with 25% nutritional yeast
https://youtu.be/4DSZd1zrp3Y?si=qPk0leBrAJheg1Ev
The attitude in this comment right here is why most people never consider going vegan and many actively eat more meat I'm not in either of those groups but I've seen it countless times among friends and family.
What is an HFI?
In this context, I'm guessing hereditary fructose intolerance.
Ah, I feel like there was no context where I could have determined that. I assumed it was some sort of condition, but that was all.
Looking it up online, it seems a diet avoiding fructose is less restrictive than a low-FODMAP diet (as low-FODMAP diets apparently avoid fructose as well). I know there are plenty of low-FODMAP vegans.
It also seems that tofu and nuts are safe for hereditary fructose intolerance, so I’m not sure what animal products would have special that wouldn’t also be present in vegan sources, and supplements can help fill in the cracks.
I’m not understanding how a reader of OP’s post is supposed to assume they meant Hereditary Fructose Intolerance and know what that is, and after reading about it online from sources that even advocate for eating animal products, it doesn’t seem that someone with the condition would be unable to have a vegan diet. I’m confused about the matter-of-factness with which the post discusses the basis for the question OP asked.
I wasn't critiquing you for not knowing, by the way. I didn't know it myself until I met someone with the same thing a couple years ago (she, however, can eat low fructose vegetables).
Oh of course, thanks! I just was saying, idk how we were supposed to know that haha
It's not very known and it's rare. My friend was fructose intolerant and she could eat lettuce but I, cant. It varies person to person. Also yes, I should have clarified what HFI means. For example today I ate just two small slices of tomatos and I have had stomach pain, bloating, gases and diarreah since.
Well frankly, and I don’t mean to be rude, if you’re willing to occasionally eat foods that contain fructose even when they cause you trouble, like tomatoes, then you should be able to eat a vegan plant-based diet, as things like tofu, nuts, beans, many main staples either contain very trace amounts or often do not contain any fructose. Vitamins can assist with specific nutrients that you can’t get from vegetables, which would still apply probably on an omni diet, as meat and bread and eggs and milk is not a complete diet nutritionally. Your post makes a blanket statement that people with HFI cannot eat a vegan plant based diet, but that claim is not supported by scientific evidence, regardless of your personal situation. HFI alone is not scientifically difficult to be vegan on, because fructose is entirely absent from many vegan foods beyond rice, bread, and pasta. And you don’t even avoid fructose entirely, you said that yourself, so I’m not understanding how the vegan diet is too restrictive for someone with HFI. Maybe there’s more at play or some other reason.
I have to eat foods that are low FODMAP from time to time to get nutrients. However, following a full plant based diet and consuming sorbitol, surcrrose and fructose long term can cause kidney and liver failure. Oh and beans are horrible. And as I said, it varies to person what they can or can't whitstand.
An excuse
I definitely haven’t ever heard of a condition that forced someone to only eat rice, bread, pasta (without sauce), fish, meat, eggs, and milk, with no other foods allowed at all. I also am reading online that people with HFI can eat more than just those items only, including nuts and tofu. Even on sources that advocate for eating animal products, it doesn’t appear to ever claim it’s impossible for people with HFI to be vegan or avoid animal products. I’m pretty confused.
MCAS is one of gjorde conditions. I know people who are anaphylactic or otherwise super reactive to all but two foods. I could only eat rutabaga and flags frozen steamed form frozen plain cod for six months time before I began stabilising. Some don’t stabilise or only regain a few foods. I was lucky, some aren’t.
Thanks for the info, I apologize for the ignorance. Have you heard of anyone with MCAS eating a vegan/plant based diet?
Yes, not everyone has a severe case. I’m 95-97 % plant based myself these days. I know several people who are fully vegan due to them reacting to all animal products etc.
I also have MCAS and live vegan. I am a mild stabilised case now but also went through a period of basically living off oats and hemp seeds for a while. Each person with MCAS has different food triggers, and many (most?) people with MCAS simply do not have the luxury to choose what they eat.
I wonder if maybe a vegan diet is less triggering overall for many people with that condition
I am vegan, and have MCAS and fructose intolerance (not as severe as yours, but almost all "low fructose. considered safe for fructose intolerance" fruits and veggies i cant tolerate, or can only do small amounts).
ive struggled trying to find protein powders and have a protein deficiency as my MCAS has worsened over the years so I tolerate less and less. but fructose intolerance isn't a barrier for me for that, its the MCAS and other conditions/issues.
I understand how hard it can be with a complex diet, severe restrictions, and meeting nutritional needs. I definitely recommend making online posts in different communities for recommendations of what to try!
People online have given me more resources and recommendations to try than an dietician ever has. even if its not something that reduces the animal products you consume, getting more variety and finding new foods you can tolerate is always a blessing.
I believe you may have responded to me instead of OP by mistake! I’m sorry to hear it has been difficult for you, but I am glad to hear that you have been able to find a way that works for you, more or less. Hopefully that information could help OP
I replied to you. It varies to person. Rice, bread and pasta are the safe vegan foods I know I can tolerate and eat. I eat animal products, but not honey and butter. I will try tofu to see if it's safe because I haven't tried it in years.
It's hard to say for someone we don't know. All I can do is take what you are saying and nitpick things that may or may not be true for you. Is this something you are interested in? How comfortable are you discussing your specific medical diagnosis?
Anyway, by definition anyone can be vegan it just requires honestly
Yes, I mean by definition everyone can be vegan. That's why I clarified that I meant in this case vegan as in follow a plant based diet. I buy vegan care products, stop buying clothes with fur or animal skin, try to buy bio, stop going to zoos, adopt and rescue instead of buying... Since I can't follow a vegan diet the least I can do is do these things.
Ok
Are you here to tell us what you can or cannot do without discussion or are you open to a discussion about it? Are you comfortable discussing your specific medical conditions?
Again, I meant vegan by plant based diet. As I know currently the only vegan options that haven't caused symptoms are rice, bread and pasta. I wouldn't get nutrients and would be deficient. Usually I'm fine discussing this as long as it's respectful, we both hear each other out and symptoms aren't neglected. I will try tofu again to see if it's safe but at the moment I'm just saying what I know doesn't give me symptoms. Even lettuce makes me have symptoms and foods that are low FODMAP. I obviously have taken junk food, honey and processed foods out of my diet.
I just have seen a lot of people come to vegan spaces with very rare conditions and bait people into discussion that is extremely one sided because they get offended when you question things so I just wanted to make sure you are open to discussing it before we continue, that's all.
What nutrients are you concerned with getting and how do you currently get them? Seems to me that those nutrients you would have difficulty getting are those that come from plant based sources so you'd have to find the right vegetables that work for you. Or perhaps have to assist with supplementation assuming you don't already do that.
Tofu sounds like a good option, but as it seems like if even lettuce is setting you off I would suggest you try tempeh instead as the fermentation processes would eat the tiny amount of fructose that tofu could have. Another good protein option is seitan which is bread based and extremely high in protein.
As someone who really has no idea, it seems fermentation is going to be your friend here as it'll take low fructose foods and the fermentation will break down the fructose.
I would look at your current diet and see what you could replace, once you've rinsed and repeated that as much as you can and exhausted all practicable options well you've exhausted all practicable options at that point.
You make a good point about the specific nutrient deficiencies. Sugar comes from plants, so eating animal products isn’t going to help.
If it’s just “my diet is extremely limited, therefore I eat animal products to make it a more enjoyable experience”, that’s very different from “my diet is extremely limited, and so I eat animal products because I need them to stay alive and there are no plant based options/solutions available”.
I will try to do that and tofu, tempeh and seitan. Other people have suggested tofu and seitan so I'll definitely try them. Currently, I'm low on sugar and vitamin D. I take suplements for vitamin D, as for the sugar it's a bit bellow the moderate amount I should have so I don't concern myself much with that. Sometimes I get dizzy and have a quick piece of candy and I'm fine. I do try to buy animal produce that is bio and avoid processed animal products. I don't look for excuses, I'm open to things to try and improve.
I would definitely try to discuss this with a dietician, especially one that specializes in plant based diets. It sounds very doable to me to be plant based and HFI but I am by far not an expert with HFI.
Seems like you could incorporate glucose only candy and vitamin d supplements as an easy fallback on those two areas you are struggling with until you figure it out better. I may be ignorant on this but having a good healthy sustaining breakfast should keep your blood sugar fine without the need to have glucose.
Then just keep going with that, do your best. It's okay, especially with difficulties with diet, to slowly adjust and figure out what works best for you. A lot of the time people feel the need to make quick extreme overnight changes (changing to vegan or really anything) and find themselves changing too quickly, having difficulties, and giving up. It's better to take it step by step and do it as quickly as you can without hurting yourself in the process.
i think there are some situations in which it is not possible (or at least not smart) for a person to follow a 100% plant based diet, like you already mentioned certain medical conditions may hinder a person’s ability to do so
Yes. Everyone can do this, barring medical necessity.
Who can't follow a plant-based diet?
I think that the vast majority of people (90%-99%) can be safely vegan with no health issues and with little effort, and that most of the remaining 1%-10% can do so with some effort or at worst a minimal consumption of animal products.
It is very very rare to see someone who really can't have a healthy and varied plant-based diet with a moderate level of effort.
How do you currently survive without any vegetables?
I'm low on sugar. Form time to time I eat something with vegetables that's low on fructose to get nutrients.
Oh ok. You might want to edit your post as it says “the only safe vegan foods I can eat are rice, bread, and pasta”
Yea I suck at expressing myself at writing.
Bait question. Do you think people successfully follow a meat centered diet considering the obesity rates amongst people who eat meat?
There are people with HFI who are vegan, here’s some things to try from the AI:
Vegetables: Most, but be cautious with high-fructose ones like asparagus, peas, and watermelon; focus on leafy greens, potatoes, onions, etc..
Grains: Rice, pasta, oats, and breads/crackers made without sugar or sorbitol.
Proteins: Tofu, tempeh, lentils, beans, nuts, and seeds (pure, unsweetened).
Fats: Oils, pure peanut butter, margarine without added sugars.
I'll list those that I can eat, that you mentioned. Rice, pasta, bread, sesame seeds and oil.
And you’ve tried the rest? Is wheat the only grain you can eat? Seitan is a good source of protein.
Lentils and beans are hell. Recently I've been trying nuts, I had nuts and they font cause pain but bloating. I will try seitan because I haven't yet, I didn't know what it was until I posted this.
A list would be great to provide, but the AI can only generate a convincing list, not a reputable and accurate one. Don’t trust the AI, look at actual sources.
Do you have sources?
I guess I've known during my life a couple of hundred people close enough to know if they had any kind of widespread intolerance to plants to prevent them from being vegan.
Of all those people (friends, relatives, co-workers, classmates, neighbors, romantic partners etc) I've only known two who had very bad cases of food intolerances to some/many plants. Well, three including me because I'm acutely wheat intolerant.
Of the other two, one had indeed an acute intolerance to one single type of plants, peppers, which according to him could kill him. So, this person might need to be a bit careful when eating out in general or after going vegan.
The other case is the only one I would say would indeed have a big problem. She's intolerant to a wide variety of plants and I've witnessed how terribly sick she can get.
So, although of course that's not a representative sample, in terms of health, most of the people I've known in my already very long life could have been vegan indeed.
Then of course come the practicalities: those people live, in their majority, in my country, where vegan options are extremely rare.
If those people need to eat at least one of their meals out of their home, like in a school, work canteen, hospital, nursing home etc, it would be much more difficult than in my case, working from home several days a week, and allowed to cook at work/reheat meals when I'm there (a situation, for example, I've only had for a few years; before that, I would have been stuck with a canteen at work with extremely few possibilities to eat vegan).
Like 99% of the world I think can in theory like anatomically speaking and for that small amount of outliers I hope they are the first to have access to lab grown meat along with carnivorous rescued animals.
But when you bring contemporary accessibility issues into the picture, it becomes way more complicated because just because someone can be plant based anatomically, doesn’t mean they have access to proper accommodations to help them survive and thrive and also like food apartheid exists and so many other interconnected issues. This is a big reason why animal liberation REQUIRES human liberation
Nope, probably not.
I think there are legitimate reasons why someone couldn't be vegan. I just think that most people, at least in the developed world, could if they really wanted to.
There are people in the suburbs who live half a mile from the closest Walmart talking about "Well not everyone can be vegan! What about people from uncontacted tribes on a remote island, who are celiac, and also allergic to every vegetable imaginable???" and they use that as an excuse for why veganism isn't doable in general.
I don't use being HFI in an excuse but an explanation. I also don't like people who say that, it's so fake. I didn't mention it in the post but since u can't follow a plant based diet I buy clothes that don't contain fur or animal skin, buy bio, care products that are at least vegetarian and adopt and rescue pets.
As long as you are genuinely making reasonable efforts to be as vegan as possible (not wearing animals or using non-vegan skincare products, not eating more animal products than you have to, etc.) and not making excuses, then I think it could be argued that you fall under the definition of veganism that says you should avoid exploitation, cruelty, and harm to animals as much as is practicable, since for you, abstaining from consuming animal products completely is not practicable.
That said, I don't know if I would necessarily go around telling people "I'm vegan" when you're eating meat.
That's why I said I'm not vegan, to avoid confusion.
There's so much more to veganism than diet. We harm animals in our toiletries, makeup, cleaning products, clothing, entertainment choices etc. Those things can contain animal ingredients, animal exploitation and animal testing. If you can't make your diet cruelty free there's plenty of other stuff you can do
I think most people can be vegan. I don’t think everyone can in regards to poverty, some eating disorders and some conditions that overlap to make things impossible without serious help that no one is simply willing to give. That’s the human answer.
However I think EVERYONE can reduce meat or animal product intake.
If you can’t medically do it, and you’re doing all of the other things, great!
Whether or not it’ll actually happen, if we make lab grown meat a thing, I think it can be considered mostly vegan* and thus can get a larger share of humanity away from exploiting animals.
*as of now you have to take a biopsy from an animal, though it shouldn’t necessarily be a very painful procedure and theoretically only need to do so once per type of animal (per manufacturer I guess, too). Often the substrate uses fetal bovine serum but I believe there’s some new promising versions without needing the use of more animal exploitation as a growth medium. Whether or not most vegans will consider it to be vegan is contentious but I think it’s a huge net gain.
No, I don’t think everyone can. I mean based on the comments, there could’ve edge cases where someone is allergic to gluten or soy and that would cut out some of the suggestions people have made. So I don’t think everyone can. Or if they can, it would cause extreme issues.
Have you ever used Fructase? (Intoleran is one brand.) It's like lactase for people who are lactose intolerant; fructase is for people who are fructose intolerant.
I don't think there's any world in which 100.0% of people could be plant based diet, but I think 95-99% could, especially if those foods were subsidized to be cheaper.
You are doing what you can. That is enough for me. Thank you 🙏
Do I think that everyone can follow it? Yeah. Even those with a disorder like the one you’ve mentioned. If lettuce is bothering you it’s most likely not from the HFI but another gut issue like IBS. Not a metabolic issue but a fermentation issue.
I would first suggest talking with a clinical nutritionist / dietician who specializes in metabolic disorders like yours who is also very supportive of a plant based diet. Do I think that having multiple disorders can severely limit your diet choices, yes. Do I think it’s impossible to reduce or eliminate animal products and byproducts from your life? Probably not. It would just take far more caution and training and meal planning and probably having other disorders checked out.
However I don’t place human animal lives over non human animal lives or over other non human animals lives. By that I don’t mean you don’t deserve to live because you believe you need to consume them but that if indeed you can only survive by eating other beings then I would view it the same as with a spider, a snake or whatever. I would not view your eating habits as evil.
I love ecology. I love snakes and spiders. I don’t feel that the spider is a jerk just because it eats other insects. I also still feed sad that butterflies, moths or whatever die to do so. But it’s the nature of reality. Nothing we can do about it. So I think your right to live is a very real right. That just because I feel sad a cow or pig may need to die for you to survive does not make me think that you’re evil. If the the case then that’s the case. As others have mentioned you do the best you can. Perhaps with a dietician’s help you can find more and more plants and mushrooms to add to your diet and find ways to reduce animal products and byproducts. If you can eat bread and pasta though while leafy greens like lettuce affects you there is a very real possibility you have more than one disorder and while one disorder may not be able to be overcame perhaps the other has different causes that could be addressed.
I'm changing insurances and after finding a new psychologist u will get another dietitian because I also think I have other problems, like IBS.
🌾 Grains & Starches (Main Safe Foods) • White rice • Brown rice • Rice noodles • Plain pasta (wheat or rice; no egg, no sugar) • Plain bread (white or wheat with NO sugar, honey, malt, fruit additives) • Wheat flour • Rice flour • Oats (plain, unsweetened) • Cornstarch • Plain crackers (ingredients: flour, water, salt, oil)
Plain tofu (ingredients: soybeans + water only) • Plain tempeh (no added sugars; tolerance varies) • Seitan (wheat gluten; homemade safest) Salt • Baking soda • Baking powder (verified fructose-free) • Plain dried herbs (single-ingredient only) • Single-ingredient spices (no blends) • White distilled vinegar (only if not fruit-derived) Olive oil • Canola oil • Sunflower oil • Safflower oil • Coconut oil (pure, no additives) • Plain vegetable oil Here we goo !! If you want to know how to balance it if you are female you can kindly add me on my Facebook more gladly help . No cost needed I love sharing recipe 🙂
Thank you. I got diagnosed recently so I still have to look for things I can handle. St the moment I know I can handle rice, bread and pasta. I will try those you mentioned as well.
I know not everyone can follow a plant based diet. That's why I don't police other people's food choices. In fact, imo, playing cop is not vegan
Awareness raising should be done on a broad scale, addressing the issues as a whole and not attacking random people whose circumstances you may not be aware of
I don’t know the deep ins and outs of nutrition when you can’t have fruits and veggies tbh. That sounds super limiting and unfortunate. So I’m not really wanting to pass judgment here.
If you end up being able to eat vegan protein sources (nuts, tofu, seitan, edamame/beans/legumes, lentils) there are a ton of tasty potential vegan foods though!
Just to brainstorm ideas that you may or may not be able to have:
Tofu: Make vegan “chicken” katsu, miso soup, ramen, “”chicken”” tenders/nuggets/sandwiches.
Chickpea salad sandwiches.
Soy curls exist and you can throw those in some sauce and rice or something unless that is too processed for you?
You maybe could make black bean burgers. Lentil bolognese!
(If your body can handle curry sauces, that is a fun avenue to explore with either soy, chickpea, and/or nuts)
You can make vegan “meat” balls for spaghetti or “meat”ball subs. You don’t have to buy prepackaged processed vegan meat if you don’t want, you can throw ingredients in a food processor or cut/mash by hand.
I definitely like bean burritos and beans and rice, but those might be obvious suggestions.
Can you eat falafel? I love falafel!
I don’t eat much seitan so I don’t have advice for that… but a lot of vegan YouTube cooks or vegan food blogs online have tons of recipes that are really heavy on vegan protein foods rather than fruits and vegetables.
Thank you so much for the food proposals I will definitely try them.
There certainly are rare exceptions where people genuinely can't eat a vegan diet and remain healthy, but there aren't very many.
I’m a low fodmaps, gluten free, low histamine vegan and I still have plenty to eat. I can eat lots of veg, a tiny bit of fruit but luckily can have some nuts, tofu and tempeh.
I also can’t eat many processed foods either so I have to prepare everything. It’d be pretty difficult, nutritionally if you can’t eat any vegies.
Yea, it's hard but I'm listening to suggestions others have recommended like tofu and tempeh because even if I can't have a full plant based diet I want to reduce my meat and fish intake even though those are my safest foods.
[removed]
Your comment was removed because you must be flaired as a vegan to make top level comments (per rule #6). People come to AskVegans looking for answers from vegans. Please flair appropriately using these instructions: https://support.reddithelp.com/hc/en-us/articles/205242695-How-do-I-get-user-flair-
If you are caught intentionally subverting the automod by flairing as a vegan when you are not, this will result in a ban.
If you are a non-vegan with a question, please create a new post following the sub rules #2-5 for questions. Thank you.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
[removed]
Your comment was removed because you must be flaired as a vegan to make top level comments (per rule #6). People come to AskVegans looking for answers from vegans. Please flair appropriately using these instructions: https://support.reddithelp.com/hc/en-us/articles/205242695-How-do-I-get-user-flair-
If you are caught intentionally subverting the automod by flairing as a vegan when you are not, this will result in a ban.
If you are a non-vegan with a question, please create a new post following the sub rules #2-5 for questions. Thank you.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
[removed]
Your comment was removed because you must be flaired as a vegan to make top level comments (per rule #6). People come to AskVegans looking for answers from vegans. Please flair appropriately using these instructions: https://support.reddithelp.com/hc/en-us/articles/205242695-How-do-I-get-user-flair-
If you are caught intentionally subverting the automod by flairing as a vegan when you are not, this will result in a ban.
If you are a non-vegan with a question, please create a new post following the sub rules #2-5 for questions. Thank you.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
[removed]
Your comment was removed because you must be flaired as a vegan to make top level comments (per rule #6). People come to AskVegans looking for answers from vegans. Please flair appropriately using these instructions: https://support.reddithelp.com/hc/en-us/articles/205242695-How-do-I-get-user-flair-
If you are caught intentionally subverting the automod by flairing as a vegan when you are not, this will result in a ban.
If you are a non-vegan with a question, please create a new post following the sub rules #2-5 for questions. Thank you.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
[removed]
Your comment was removed because you must be flaired as a vegan to make top level comments (per rule #6). People come to AskVegans looking for answers from vegans. Please flair appropriately using these instructions: https://support.reddithelp.com/hc/en-us/articles/205242695-How-do-I-get-user-flair-
If you are caught intentionally subverting the automod by flairing as a vegan when you are not, this will result in a ban.
If you are a non-vegan with a question, please create a new post following the sub rules #2-5 for questions. Thank you.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
[removed]
Your comment was removed because you must be flaired as a vegan to make top level comments (per rule #6). People come to AskVegans looking for answers from vegans. Please flair appropriately using these instructions: https://support.reddithelp.com/hc/en-us/articles/205242695-How-do-I-get-user-flair-
If you are caught intentionally subverting the automod by flairing as a vegan when you are not, this will result in a ban.
If you are a non-vegan with a question, please create a new post following the sub rules #2-5 for questions. Thank you.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
You can still follow a vegan diet with HFI.
You can eat tofu, grains, and vegetables like cauliflower and broccoli, as well as mushrooms.
Even with a medically restricted diet, your desire to eat animal products is not more important than the animals' lives.
Yes. You can literally just eat potatoes.
No. Literally no. I ate potatoes and had diarreah for like 4 times that day
Was that the only time in your life you ate potatoes?
Before I was diagnosed I ate potatoes and I still got diarreah
Every time in your life that you've eaten potatoes you've gotten diarrhea?
When you ate the potatoes, did you eat ONLY potatoes, or were you eating other things with them?
Were the potatoes you ate not seasoned or dressed in any way, or fried in oil? No salt, oil, or sauce? Butter, sour cream, bacon bits?
Assuming you did not eat the potatoes in isolation (i.e. undressed with no other courses/dishes/condiments/edible items), have you considered that it may be one of the other items or a combination of one or more of those items with the potatoes, and not just the potatoes themselves, that caused your diarrhea?
Boiled and smashed with nothing else, yes. It's not the potatoes but my intolerance to sorbitol, fructose and surcrrose. However I do think I'm HFI. I've had fried potatoes and I get symptoms but if I eat, lets say, fried fish it's fine. It's not the oil or salt I have a problem with.
I don't know about "everyone" being able to be vegan, but HFI doesn't prevent you based on a quick search...
Basically, yeah. Based on the rule, not the exception
[removed]
Your comment was removed because you must be flaired as a vegan to make top level comments (per rule #6). People come to AskVegans looking for answers from vegans. Please flair appropriately using these instructions: https://support.reddithelp.com/hc/en-us/articles/205242695-How-do-I-get-user-flair-
If you are caught intentionally subverting the automod by flairing as a vegan when you are not, this will result in a ban.
If you are a non-vegan with a question, please create a new post following the sub rules #2-5 for questions. Thank you.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
[removed]
Your comment was removed because you must be flaired as a vegan to make top level comments (per rule #6). People come to AskVegans looking for answers from vegans. Please flair appropriately using these instructions: https://support.reddithelp.com/hc/en-us/articles/205242695-How-do-I-get-user-flair-
If you are caught intentionally subverting the automod by flairing as a vegan when you are not, this will result in a ban.
If you are a non-vegan with a question, please create a new post following the sub rules #2-5 for questions. Thank you.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
[removed]
Hey. I have MCAS, which can really limit my diet in a bad flare. While I don't react to FODMAPs, some people with MCAS do, and I did trial a low FODMAP diet. I'm also vegan. So here's some food ideas to help you eat more plant-based meals.
First of all, these are all high protein grains with around 12g of protein per 1/2 dry. I'm pretty sure they're all low FODMAP, but double check. Quinoa, millet, buckwheat, sorghum, amaranth, teff, and fonio. Quinoa, millet, and buckwheat are all small, roundish grains, with millet being the driest, and buckwheat being the wettest. Sorghum is a larger round grain, and is similar to brown rice in texture. Amaranth, teff, and fonio are all tiny grains that make good polenta or porridge.
Some nuts and seeds seem to be low FODMAP as well. I don't know if you can tolerate them.
There's also single ingredient protein powders like rice, hemp, pea, and others based on what you tolerate. It can be used as a binder, or in breading, or plenty of other things.
You can make good non-veggie veggie burgers with a mix of grains. Use any of the fist four I listed for texture, and one the smallest as a binder. Add in chopped nuts if you can tolerate them, and some protein powder if you want.
Polenta and porridge are good with the tiny grains.
Pilafs and any other grain dish are good with the larger grains.
Oh, wait, you can have gluten, right?! (I react to gluten.) Google any and every seitan recipe. It's easy to make, and is one of the best fake meats around that is extremely versatile. I don't know if there are any premade seitan foods that you can tolerate, but it's easy to meal prep. Basically any kind of meat, you can make a seitan version. The very basis of seitan is gluten (as a powder/flour) mixed with water, and then cooked. Add in whatever you want when you mix in the water, shape it however you want, and different cooking methods will make different textures. It's wonderful.
So yeah, seitan and any grain can be turned into anything. Go find some recipes, and start experimenting.
[removed]
Your comment was removed because you must be flaired as a vegan to make top level comments (per rule #6). People come to AskVegans looking for answers from vegans. Please flair appropriately using these instructions: https://support.reddithelp.com/hc/en-us/articles/205242695-How-do-I-get-user-flair-
If you are caught intentionally subverting the automod by flairing as a vegan when you are not, this will result in a ban.
If you are a non-vegan with a question, please create a new post following the sub rules #2-5 for questions. Thank you.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
[removed]
Your comment was removed because you must be flaired as a vegan to make top level comments (per rule #6). People come to AskVegans looking for answers from vegans. Please flair appropriately using these instructions: https://support.reddithelp.com/hc/en-us/articles/205242695-How-do-I-get-user-flair-
If you are caught intentionally subverting the automod by flairing as a vegan when you are not, this will result in a ban.
If you are a non-vegan with a question, please create a new post following the sub rules #2-5 for questions. Thank you.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
Everyone can be vegan.
[removed]
Your comment was removed because you must be flaired as a vegan to make top level comments (per rule #6). People come to AskVegans looking for answers from vegans. Please flair appropriately using these instructions: https://support.reddithelp.com/hc/en-us/articles/205242695-How-do-I-get-user-flair-
If you are caught intentionally subverting the automod by flairing as a vegan when you are not, this will result in a ban.
If you are a non-vegan with a question, please create a new post following the sub rules #2-5 for questions. Thank you.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
[removed]
Your comment was removed because you must be flaired as a vegan to make top level comments (per rule #6). People come to AskVegans looking for answers from vegans. Please flair appropriately using these instructions: https://support.reddithelp.com/hc/en-us/articles/205242695-How-do-I-get-user-flair-
If you are caught intentionally subverting the automod by flairing as a vegan when you are not, this will result in a ban.
If you are a non-vegan with a question, please create a new post following the sub rules #2-5 for questions. Thank you.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
[removed]
Your comment was removed because you must be flaired as a vegan to make top level comments (per rule #6). People come to AskVegans looking for answers from vegans. Please flair appropriately using these instructions: https://support.reddithelp.com/hc/en-us/articles/205242695-How-do-I-get-user-flair-
If you are caught intentionally subverting the automod by flairing as a vegan when you are not, this will result in a ban.
If you are a non-vegan with a question, please create a new post following the sub rules #2-5 for questions. Thank you.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
[removed]
Your comment was removed because you must be flaired as a vegan to make top level comments (per rule #6). People come to AskVegans looking for answers from vegans. Please flair appropriately using these instructions: https://support.reddithelp.com/hc/en-us/articles/205242695-How-do-I-get-user-flair-
If you are caught intentionally subverting the automod by flairing as a vegan when you are not, this will result in a ban.
If you are a non-vegan with a question, please create a new post following the sub rules #2-5 for questions. Thank you.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
You can be vegan. Just don’t eat fruits, foods with fructose.
I'm also intolerant to sorbitol and surcrose
[removed]
Your comment was removed because you must be flaired as a vegan to make top level comments (per rule #6). People come to AskVegans looking for answers from vegans. Please flair appropriately using these instructions: https://support.reddithelp.com/hc/en-us/articles/205242695-How-do-I-get-user-flair-
If you are caught intentionally subverting the automod by flairing as a vegan when you are not, this will result in a ban.
If you are a non-vegan with a question, please create a new post following the sub rules #2-5 for questions. Thank you.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
In the US, lots of people want to tell women what they should/not do with their bodies. I am against anyone telling me what the fuck I can do with my body. So I sure as hell am not gonna be telling other people what to do with theirs. I am a dietary vegan. My body works better without animal protein. My husband is an ethical vegan. Yet still, he doesn’t try to tell me what to eat/not eat. He believes that if more people were vegan, the planet would be in better shape. I don’t doubt that, but I prefer to look at the bigger picture and believe there’s a lot more damage done by big business, predatory capitalism, and greed, that concerns me.
but you’re not against billions of animals being “told what to do with their bodies” aka being forced into inhumane conditions and murdered? make it make sense.
Oh honey, if life were that simple. I’m just not a hypocrite about it. I don’t blast other people with my beliefs as if they were the enemy.
How would you be a hypocrite if you called out people for doing what you say you're against (forcing others to use their bodies to provide products against their will)?
If someone wanted to use your body against your will, I'd call it out.
I agree with you and your husband. The world would be better vegan and the world would be better without some issues you mentioned.
i love you
🥰
[removed]
[removed]
[removed]
This subreddit is for honest questions and learning. It is not the right place for debating.
Please take your debates to r/DebateAVegan