Vegan for Life: Everything You Need to Know to Be Healthy and Fit on a Plant-Based Diet Book

Introduction: Going Vegan for Life xi

1 Understanding Vegan Nutrient Needs 1

2 Protein from Plants 15

3 Vitamin B12: The Gorilla in the Room 27

4 Calcium, Vitamin D, and Bone Health 37

5 Fats: Making the Best Choices 51

6 Iron, Zinc, Iodine, and Vitamin A: Maximizing Vegan Sources 61

7 The Vegan Food Guide 83

8 Making the Transition to a Vegan Diet 105

9 A Healthy Start: Vegan Diets in Pregnancy and Breast-Feeding 133

10 Raising Vegan Children and Teens 143

11 Vegan Diets for People over Fifty 163

12 Plant Food Advantages: Health Benefits of a Vegan Diet 171

13 Managing Weight, Heart Disease, and Diabetes 179

14 Sports Nutrition 195

15 Is It Safe to Eat Soy? 205

16 Why Vegan? 217

Vegan Resources 237

A Quick Guide to Cooking Grains, Beans, and Vegetables 243

Metric Conversion Chart 248

Acknowledgments 249

Notes 255

Index 273