Q: What exactly is plant-based?

• A:  Well-designed research studies continue to pile up in support of the massive benefits of a *healthy* plant-based diet, known as a Whole Food Plant-Based Diet (WFPBD). A WFPBD incorporates a variety of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts and seeds, while avoiding ultraprocessed foods.

Q: What are some different reasons people may be interested in becoming plant-based?

• A: Going plant-based is a great opportunity to learn more about nutrition and cooking, and improve your diet. Getting your nutrients from plant foods allows more room in your diet for health-promoting options like whole grains, fruit, nuts, seeds, and vegetables, which are packed full of beneficial fiber, phytochemicals, vitamins, and minerals. 

Q: Is soy healthy?

• A:  Absolutely. Several recent, well-designed studies indicate that those consuming higher amounts of soy foods (e.g. tofu, tempeh, edammame) have better health outcomes. In particular, women diagnosed with breast cancer who are on higher soy diets have a lower recurrence of cancer than those with lower soy diets.

Q: What would happen if everyone became vegan?

• A: If we all went vegan, the world's food-related emissions would drop by 70% by 2050 according to a recent report on food and climate in the journal Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). 

Q: Why should I be vegan if humans are omnivores by nature?

• A: Although many humans choose to eat both plants and meat, earning us the dubious title of “omnivore,” we’re anatomically herbivorous. Check out this article to learn more!

Q: What are essential amino acids and how do vegans get them?

• A: Essential amino acids cannot be made by the body. As a result, they must come from food. The 9 essential amino acids are: histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, and valine. Vegans consume these amino acids the same way as anyone else: by consuming protein. Vegan sources of protein include nuts, peanut butter, seeds, grains, legumes, tofu, and soymilk. 

Q: What is a good vegan source of B-12?

• A: Very low B12 intakes can cause anemia and nervous system damage. Vitamin B12 is more difficult to get from vegan sources. The most reliable vegan sources of B12 are foods fortified with B12 and B12 supplements. Vegan sources of vitamin B12 include: nutritional yeast, Marmite and yeast spreads, fortified soy and almond milk, plant-based meats, fortified cereals, tempeh, chlorella, nori seaweed, and cremini mushrooms.