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Psoriasis Vegan
How much weight can a new vegan lose?
Okay, well I'm not 100% vegan due to the fact that I still eat fish. But I don't eat dairy or any of the other stuff. Plus I avoid sugars and etc. due to allergies/eczema/psoriasis. So it's really limited to veggies, fruits, and fish. How much weight can I lose? I don't eat rice anymore, either. I drink mostly water.
Well, until you cut out fish you can't call yourself vegan.
However, your diet sounds like it's fairly healthy, assuming that you steam or bake most of your veggies and your fish... and of course, it really depends on how many calories you consume by the end of the day.
You won't lose any weight if you eat a balanced diet that meets your calorie requirements, going vegan does not guarantee weight loss. If you go vegan and you reduce your calorie intake, maybe. If you eat any type of diet, vegan or non-vegan, and reduce calorie intake, you'll lose weight.
If you do plan to lose weight I suggest 1 - 2 pounds a week, that is a moderate pace and a healthy goal... too often people try to lose 20 pounds in 2 weeks or some other insane goal and not only do they end up less healthy than when they started but ultimately it fails or turns into an eating disorder.
I'd also suggest exercise, not just diet changes, because that way you can tone and shape up what you've got... and it'll do wonders for your metabolism.
For all those vegans (and non-vegans) out there who are hesitant to supplement with fish oil there's an even better solution for you.
It's called spirulina and it is one of the most incredible foods our planet has to offer. Spirulina is a blue-green algae. Spirulina usually grows in waters of lakes naturally alkaline localized in arid zones.
Spirulina has unparalleled health benefits (explained later) and is an incredibly sustainable food source. For instance, according the journal Human Nature, spirulina presents a fast reproduction rate, dividing itself three times a day! Therefore, an area exclusively aimed at spirulina growth may produce 125 times more protein if compared to an area of the same size aimed at growing corn and 70 times more protein if compared to the breeding of cattle.
Furthermore, the spirulina presents some advantages in relation to other algae and seaweeds such as presenting no problems with digestion and no toxicity to humans. This can't be said for other seaweeds such as Chlorella.
Spirulina - the omega-3 food choice for vegans!
Now let's get to the good stuff. If you're a vegan and looking for an alternative to fish then spirulina is what you want. This is because algaes, like spirulina, are athe original source of omega-3 fatty acids. Algaes are what small, bottom-feeding fish consume. These fish are then eaten by larger ones, and then eventually by humans. Cold water fish, which are well-known for their omega-3 fatty acids, owe their "omega-3 fame" to the consumption algaes such as spirulina, even if indirectly.
Here are some more incredible nutritional characteristics of spirulina. For starters, spirulina is the probably the highest vegetarian protein source consisting of 60-70% protein! It is also rich in chlorophyll and carotenoids, vitamins (vitamin A, especially) and tons of important minerals from deep in the seabed. An important note (especially for vegetarians and vegans) is that spirulina is a terrific source of vitamin B12 and iron.
Iron is the most common mineral deficiency in the world. Since spirulina contains high iron concentrations its bioavailability has been tested in comparison to ferrous sulfate which is the typical iron supplement. One such comparison was revealed in the journal Nutrition Research, spirulina fed rats absorbed 60% more iron than rats fed the iron supplement!
So next time someone asks you where you're getting your protein, iron, or B12 from just tell them you're eating an incredible blue-green powder called spirulina.
Aside from human breast milk and evening primrose oil, spirulina is the only food source rich in gamma linoleic acid (GLA). The GLA content comprises 25% of the total polyunsaturated fatty acid content of spirulina, a number that is much higher than the GLA content of evening primrose oil (only 7%)!
The Importance of GLA
GLA is essential fatty acid that has numerous benefits to the body. Along with omega-3 fatty acids, GLA has powerful anti-inflammatory properties. Both are excellent skin fatty acids for preventing and treating eczema, psoriasis, wrinkles, rashes and more. Research has confirmed that GLA has positive effects in breast cancer treatment; they enhance lubrication in those with Sjogren's syndrome; help relieve PMS symptoms, breast pain, skin conditions (including eczema and psoriasis, and wrinkles), and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in children; improve cardiovascular health, mental health; and much more!
A British study published in 2000 observed women who had locally advanced and metastatic breast cancer (when cancer cells spread elsewhere in the body). They found that women with breast cancer who were taking Tamoxifen (a drug that blocks estrogen-receptor positive breast cancer) and received GLA demonstrated faster clinical response than those taking Tamoxifen alone. Study participants received 3 grams of GLA. The researchers concluded that GLA was a useful adjunct to primary Tamoxifen treatment with no serious side effects: "... this study suggests high-dose oral GLA to be a valuable new agent in the treatment of hormone-sensitive breast cancer."
Spirulina's Effects on Blood Lipids and Cholesterol
Numerous studies on rats have shown that spirulina has powerful effects on blood lipids and cholesterol. Almost all these studies show a reduction in LDL (bad) cholesterol, triglycerides, and fat deposits in the arteries upon consuming spirulina.
A human study investigating the cholesterol-lowering effect of spirulina published in Nutrition Reports International looked at 30 male volunteers who had mild hyperlipidemia and mild hypertension. They were divided into two groups. Group A subjects were given spirulina at 4.2 g/day and group B subjects the same amount of spirulina for 4 weeks and, then were observed for the next 4 weeks without spirulina.
The results showed a statistically significant reduction of LDL-cholesterol in Group A subjects after 8 weeks. The LDL-cholesterol also fell significantly in Group B subjects after 4 weeks of spirulina consumption, but thereafter increased to its baseline value after administration of spirulina was discontinued.
Anti-Cancer and Anti-Radioactive Properties of Spirulina
Several animal studies have shown that spirulina inhibits tumor and protects the body from cancer propagation.
There are also unpublished reports from scientists and doctors about the radioprotective effect of spirulina in experiments conducted on child victims of the Chernobyl radiation. In a study involving 49 children, 3-7 years old, in Beryozovka, administration of spirulina for 45 days resulted in an increase in T-cell suppressors and beneficial hormones. In addition, the radioactivity of the urine decreased in 83% of the children!
These are just some of the powerful benefits and healing powers possessed by spirulina. So whether or not you supplement with fish oil, I would highly recommend spirulina as an addition to your diet for lifelong health, strength, and vigor!
References:
Furst PT. Spirulina - a nutricious alga, once a staple of Aztec diet, could feed many of the world hungry people. Human Nature 1978;3:60.
Nakaya N, Honma Y, Goto Y (1988) Cholesterol lowering effect of Spirulina Nutr. Rep. Int. 37: 1329-1337.
Johnson P, Shubert LE (1986) Availability of iron to rats from Spirulina, a blue-green alga. Nutr. Res. 6: 85-94.
Nutrition Expert, Yuri Elkaim and his groundbreaking book, Eating for Energy, have helped thousands of people in over 80 countries regain control of their health and weight. Watch his new You Tube Video and watch him put spirulina to work in a delicious GREEN smoothie recipe that will keep you energized and nourished.. For more on his revolutionary healthy eating book visit http://www.EatingforEnergy.ca
