4.5
Customers say
Customers find the book informative and a complete reference on veganism. They find the text easy to read, clear, and well-organized. The book provides useful references and recipes.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Internationally acclaimed dietitians Brenda Davis and Vesanto Melina specifically designed this fully referenced, comprehensive edition to meet the needs of health professionals, academic librarians, and curriculum developers as well as lay readers with a deep interest in nutrition. The authors explore the health benefits of vegan diets compared to other dietary choices; explain protein and amino acid requirements at various stages of life; describe fats and essential fatty acids and their value in plant-based diets; investigate carbohydrate facts and fallacies; reveal the truth about wheat, gluten, and grains; pinpoint where to obtain calcium, iron, zinc and other minerals without animal products; clarify the importance of obtaining vitamin B12; and show how to attain optimal nutrition during pregnancy and lactation. Nutritional guidelines are provided for infants, children, teens, and adults, including seniors; and a section is devoted on how to achieve and maintain healthy weights and exceptional fitness on a vegan diet. Numerous tables and graphs illustrate each section. A handy graphic of the vegan plate offers a daily plan for healthful eating. Equally beneficial are the sample menus designed for people of various caloric needs. While much of the emphasis is on the health advantages that vegan diets offer, an opening chapter is devoted to the impact of animal agriculture on the environment, and the degree of inhumanity that has dominated the industry. Plant-based nutrition truly benefits the entire planet, and every bite makes a difference.
Publisher : Book Pub Co; Comprehensive edition (August 15, 2014)
Language : English
Paperback : 611 pages
ISBN-10 : 1570672970
ISBN-13 : 978-1570672972
Item Weight : 2.31 pounds
Dimensions : 7 x 1.25 x 9.75 inches
Rick C –
Amazing information
This is a very large compilation of information going from an ethical and spiritual perspective through information on protein, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, babies, growth, pregnancy, as well as menu items. It is not just a simple cookbook, but outlines an entire perspective on the why and how of becoming vegan. I would recommend it to anyone who is very serious about about becoming vegan.
Joy Schwabach –
A Perfect Guide for a More Perfect Planet and a More Perfect You
“It is possible that the greatest injustice of our time doesn’t involve humans at all, but rather our fellow beings, non-human animals,” Brenda Davis writes.Davis started her own vegan journey after she challenged a deer-hunting friend not to pull the trigger. He said she pulled the trigger just as much as he did, whenever she ate meat. At least the animal he shot “had a life.”This book will be an eye-opener even if you’ve already read about the cruelties of factory farms. Cramped pens and cages, disease, mutilation and horrific endings are what life is all about for 99.9 percent of chickens, 97 percent of laying hens, 99 percent of turkeys, 95 percent of pigs and 78 percent of cattle.You might think farm animals have no feelings, but Davis gives examples showing just the opposite. Pigs have been known to go for miles to find the right nesting ground, and have separate areas for feeding, grooming, sleeping and elimination. Cows have been known to search for miles to find the calf that was forcibly taken from them. Even chickens are more human than you’d ever dream. Each can recognize 90 different faces–hence their complex pecking order. Yet they can be boiled alive, since no animal welfare law applies to them.What about our own welfare? Here is where Davis’s background as a nutritional scientist shines. She explains where you get your protein and how to find the best sources of essential vitamins, minerals and micro-nutrients. The basics are easy to follow. On her recommendations, you’ll easily reach your ideal weight as well as achieving beautiful hair, skin and near-perfect immunity from the diseases that plague most people. Becoming vegan is the smartest thing you can do on your own. And Brenda’s book is the best guide you could have.
Laura M –
Invaluable Resource for Anyone Considering or Already Following Vegan Lifestyle
After reading Becoming Raw, I felt that my diet was sub-par, to say the least. I had started a raw diet several months previous to reading Becoming Raw, following the advice of several “experts,” much of which turned out to be dangerous to my health. I decided a completely raw diet was not healthful for me, and returned to veganism with cooked foods and ordered this book for guidance because I so trusted the authors.Becoming Vegan is the most thorough (and easy-to-read) book on veganism that I have found, and has a ton of research for further study. The authors are both registered dieticians and completely honest about the often-missed and neglected areas of veganism. They offer easy and doable suggestions on correcting imbalances in the diet.After taking the information in this edition to heart and putting it into practice, my follow-up lab tests have confirmed that many of the imbalances and problems I had previously, before reading Becoming Raw and Becoming Vegan, have been corrected. Those that have not been corrected completely are showing improvement with time. I highly recommend Becoming Vegan, for anyone considering or already following a vegan lifestyle.(As a side note, Cooking Vegan – the “companion” to this book – is often mentioned in Becoming Vegan. The recipes are very simple and I could see how it may help a person unfamiliar with veganism to more easily adapt; I would not recommend for long-time vegans, though.)
Vampa –
Excellent reference source
For anyone who needs to be a total herbivore, this is an excellent source and resource for the nutrition aspects of veganism. It deserves a 5-star rank. That said, there are a few things a buyer should know.Don’t let the first chapter put you off. That’s the one about the philosophical/environmental/Progressive/animal rights need for Vegans. The authors get that over with early and don’t bring it up again. If that’s all you care about, you will be disappointed. However if you are facing life-threatening illness and need to know the nutritional aspects of your food, this book is for you.There is quite a bit of repetition, much of it unnecessary. The trouble there is the resultant huge size of the Index, which makes it hard to look up subjects. There’s just too much. Sometimes I could not tell which letter of the alphabet was showing. That should be corrected with dictionary guides in the upper corners of the pages.Some items are clearly unnecessary. I would argue that the niacin content of durians is irrelevant. Most people who can read this book (i.e. English speaking) would not venture anywhere near a durian.I purchased this book because it was recommended by Michael Greger, M.D. (“How Not to Die”). If you have to go herbivore and need a good nutritional reference, this is it.
Enya –
Great source of info.♥
The book tells you everything about veganism in which is very cool, gives you a bunch of good information you need if you want to start from scratch or at least tells you what you need.
Amazon Customer –
I’ve been very lucky recently – two excellent vegan book purchases – Kind by Alicia Silverstone and this one.Highly recommended.
HD –
Lots of technical bits that one may have to read again to fully grasp the concepts, even if the English is very clear. A lot of plant-based nutrition, and nutrition in general to consider and learn here. Theories, hypotheses, citations — all there, all well researched. What a wealth of information.
Lucas –
Awesome book! Everything you need to know about vegan lifestyle, based on solid science!
Stasiyana –
Ich nenne sie meine “vegane Bibel”, weil da wirklich alles drin steht, was man zu wissen braucht, um als Veganer sich gesund zu ernähren. Es ist ein wahres Wunderwerk und ich kann es nicht genug empfehlen!Es ist alles wunderbar durchstrukturiert mit vielen Tabellen und Beispielen, was einem das Leben erleichtert, weil man schnell nachschlagen kann, wenn man was braucht.Alles ist zudem mit Studien belegt, doch man wird auch klugerweise immer wieder daran erinnert, dass man auch seinen eigen Kopf nutzen sollte, denn Studien sind nicht immer absolut korrekt und man sollte sie auch mit Vorsicht genießen.Ich habe das komplette Buch durchgearbeitet und konspektiert und rate das jedem zu machen – man kann damit sehr viele Fehler in der Ernährung vermeiden!Klare Kaufempfehlung meinerseits, ich kann es wirklich nicht genug loben!
Elena –
Davvero un libro ben scritto, ci sono tutte le informazioni di cui ha bisogno per avvicinarsi con consapevolezza al veganismo.Una prima parte riporta gli effetti degli allevamenti e della pesca sull’ambiente, numerosissimi studi sulla correlazione tra malattie e alimentazione onnivora e i risultati di studi clinici sui miglioramenti di salute a seguito di una dieta esclusivamente vegetale.Una seconda parte si occupa in modo piuttosto esaustivo dei macro e micronutrienti che fanno parte di una dieta (proteine, carboidrati, omega 3 e omega 6, ferro, vitamine ecc…)e di come reperirli nei vegetali. In ultima analisi vengono riportati alcuni esempi di menù e ricette completamente vegetali.Certo, tutti i dati e gli studi riportati si basano sulla realtà americana, ma immagino che la realtà europea e italiana non si discosti molto dai nostri amici oltre oceano. L’ho ritenuto comunque molto utile, consigliato.