Is a Vegan Diet Right For You?

Maybe you've asked yourself "Is a Vegan diet right for me?" Maybe you're a Vegan already. And that's OK... we all make mistakes; let's talk about it.

Let's take a look at why Veganism may not be ideal for many people. IMO, the main issues are that it is difficult to achieve balanced nutrition on a vegan diet, especially if you are strength training. That doesn't mean it's all bad... I do agree with reducing dairy, eating less processed foods, staying hydrated, eating more veggies, staying alkaline, more fiber, etc...but I do suggest caution with such an extreme/restrtictive approach. It may be better to take what works and leave the rest (what some call being a "flexitarian").

Here are some of the main issues with a vegan diet:

Deficient in essential nutrients:

http://authoritynutrition.com/5-brain-nutrients-in-meat-fish-eggs/

http://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/baby-breastfed-by-vegan-mother-dies/

http://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/12-year-old-vegan-has-the-degenerating-bones-of-80-year-old/

http://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/veganism-almost-killed-angelina-jolie/

Low fat, high carb diets are based on certain myths and misconceptions:
http://authoritynutrition.com/11-biggest-lies-of-mainstream-nutrition/

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Now what about DR and those YouTubers who suggest high carb, low fat, low protein diets and lots of cardio? Check out these links to learn the real issues with excessive cardio:

http://top-form-fitness.com/fitness-blog/cardio-for-weight-loss/

http://fitness.mercola.com/sites/fitness/archive/2012/01/06/dr-doug-mcguff-on-exercise.aspx?e_cid=20120106_FNL_art_1

Both endurance and strength athletes need more protein:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7550257

Protein for fat loss:
http://www.stonehearthnewsletters.com/women-eating-more-protein-report-weight-loss-success/nutrition-dietitians/

Also remember, there are NO essential carbohydrates, but there are essential amino acids (protein), and essential fatty acids (in fat). If we stopped eating ALL fat, we die. If we stopped eating ALL protein, we also die. But we can live without carbs.

I'm not suggesting to stop eating all carbs... just making a point that your body can function without them. In fact, FAT is a far more efficient fuel source. Find out why at the links below (interesting shit!):

Get Fat Adapted: 
http://top-form-fitness.com/fitness-blog/body-favors-fat-fuel/

Shift Your Metabolism:
http://www.marksdailyapple.com/a-metabolic-paradigm-shift-fat-carbs-human-body-metabolism/

But the biggest problem with a Vegan diet is: NO Bacon!

#DurianRider #Vegan

IIFYM vs Clean Eating - Eat to Transform your Physique

Is it really "IIFYM vs Clean Eating" or are these 2 approaches really complementary? Here I discuss the virtues and drawbacks of IIFYM and "eating clean" and offer some suggestions on how to create your own nutrition plan based on this information.

This video is an excerpt from a longer video in which I also discuss what calorie and macronutrient ratios to use... check that out here:

http://youtu.be/b9prazEv0nQ

Here is the link to my blog post on IIFYM:

http://top-form-fitness.com/fitness-blog/iifym-flexible-dieting-vs-clean-eating/

Remember, my goal is to help you reach your goals!  Send me your #nutrition, #fitness, #performance, #FatLoss, or #muscle-building questions by posting a comment on my Facebook Page and I'll post a response for you:

http://www.facebook.com/topformfitness

It's time to #GetInTopForm