Hey, I used to think that I couldn’t ever go vegan either, and now I’ve been a vegan for over 4 yrs now! The key to that is going at your own pace, and very slowly cutting things out. It took me several months to go vegan since I took my time. I first cut out milk and switched to soy milk (Zen Soy is delicious!). I then cut out eggs such as scrambled eggs, and other dishes made with eggs. Eventually I cut out snacks that had milk in it, then snacks with eggs in it. After a while I cut out other drinks with milk such as milk shakes, etc. Then cut out food made with milk such as cheese, etc. I took it as a step-by-step approach.

Anyone going out and beyond to make a difference in the lives of animals is important. You are no better no less than any other animal lover. Of course we can do more, as vegans. It is important that you are comfortable with your health and self before you make the transition. Start slow. Even if it’s being vegan for a day, just cut as much animal products out of meals as you can. I am not vegan. But I am trying to learn more about nutrition and eat less dairy. I don’t eat eggs or milk but I do consume things with that are made from them. Don’t let anyone put you down… because you are not vegan. Just understand that animals still suffer… :/
But I believe in the strength of humanity, and I believe in you ^.^ Although I don’t know you. I think you can be. We both can. Everyone moves at their own pace… as long as there is an effort being made and not just talking about it.

I’m sorry, nomeatnodairy, but it is true. There is always someone who will not be able to. It’s nothing about lying. Some people have a lot of allergies and intolerances…common ones are nuts, soy, gluten…etc. You combine them all together in one person, and they will have a tough time being vegan. And you may think we are a herbivore, but even though our body is more like a herbivore than a carnivore, we are still non obligate omnivores. I also did not say there is magic in animal products or whatever straw man you seek to pose. I also know that nutrients can be obtained from different sources other animal products, but if you get ill by consuming those other sources, you clearly have a medical condition inhibiting such intake.

There are cases in the world where people can eat only one thing and not tolerate anything else. One girl in England could only tolerate eating tic tacs. Everything else made her throw up. You really gonna suggest she goes vegan?

“but there are certain people who are incapable of being vegan due to medical conditions”

Sorry @chenli, but that simply isn’t true.
There are people who claim that they can’t drop animal products because of a medical condition but they are either incorrect or lying.
There is nothing magical about animal products.
Any essential nutrient in an animal product can be obtained from a different source.
There certainly is no medical condition which requires a human (an herbivore) to consume animal products.

I didn’t see the calcium thing either tbh, but there are certain people who are incapable of being vegan due to medical conditions, but the same goes for those who cannot eat meat, dairy, etc due to medical conditions. Btw, dairy can cause anaemia since dairy blocks iron intake in the blood.

“Secondary factors also influence the absorption of iron from ingested foods. Absorption depends upon the acidity of the stomach, the amount of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) in the foods, the kinds of amino acids present, the amount of fiber in the diet, and the form in which the iron is presented (whether heme or non-heme). Ascorbic acid is one of the main enhancers of iron absorption, and fruits and vegetables provide plentiful amounts of this vitamin. All red meats, poultry, and fish are deficient in ascorbic acid. Dairy products are not only deficient in ascorbic acid, they are also very low in iron content, and actually inhibit the absorption of iron present in other foods (for example, calcium and phosphates in milk form insoluble complexes with iron). Coffee and the tannic acid in tea will also decrease absorption of iron from foods.”

http://www.drmcdougall.com/med_anemia.html

I think it’s entirely your opinion. You shouldn’t feel guilty for what you believe. I am currently vegetarian, but I’m (slowly) going vegan. Right now, I don’t drink milk or eat cheese, but it’s just too hard for me to give up ice cream. If you want to go vegan, and it’s really hard for you to give up a certain dairy product, try giving up just one product a week. Start with the one you like best, so the hard stuff is behind you. Hope that helped.

i think it´s all up to you . It´s your decision . If you feel good with eating cheese and milk it´s your choice . Sometimes its hard to become vegab just for our health .

It isn’t BAD but it could be BETTER. If i were you, i would go vegan for a month or so and see if you can manage it. If not, being vegetarian is definitely a good thing to stick with instead.

@aquarius no, one doesn’t need a degree in nutrition to know some things, but other things can be highly misconstrued and mixed with opinions instead of straight facts. Also, it isn’t that your opinion isn’t what I wanted to hear, I just felt as if you were saying having medical conditions is an just an excuse for eating animal products.

woah, what? i definitely didn’t have any malicious intent behind what I said, what gives? i’m assuming you felt somehow attacked? I was in no way attempting to invalidate your condition. I never stated that the need for calcium or proteins is bullshit, I said the idea of needing to get them from animal sources is – there’s plenty of other places to get them. One doesn’t need a degree in nutrition to figure that out. And that statement wasn’t even directed at you personally, I was stating it as a general concept. In fact, there was someone else in the comments who stated something about anemia, which is why I brought that up. But at the end of the day, if you or anybody else for that matter chooses to get calcium and protein from animal sources, that’s your call. Putting all personal feelings aside, secretions from animals are not healthy for humans, especially when you consider all of the chemicals and hormones in the mix. Once again, I’m not singling you out in saying so, so I’m not quite sure I understand your defensiveness. There is evidence to support my claim, but even still, you’re welcome to disagree. I mean, you DID ask for other people’s opinions..I guess mine wasn’t what you wanted to hear so it was dismissed. If you want the green light to continue eating dairy and eggs without a second thought, just ask any regular person on the street and you’ll get the answer you seek.

@aquarius I’m sorry, but don’t tell me what causes harm to my body or not. There are people who can get sick from not eating certain things. I’ve had anemia for years. Not getting calcium, or other proteins and vitamins fuck with my body. It isn’t bullshit either. You need calcium in your body. It doesn’t matter what form it’s in, as long as you get it. If knowledge is power, I recommend you get some in the medical/nutritional field before you start telling people what’s bullshit and what not.

I see vegetarianism as more of a transition period, whereas veganism is seeing the bigger picture. i’m not trying to attack you personally, but i think that the idea that one “needs” to consume animal products for their health is bs and buying into the lies of the dairy industry. in fact, it’s extremely unhealthy and humans are physically herbivores (fact). i will applaud your efforts on being vegetarian as it is a step more people will not take or even consider. however, anemia is not caused by lack of animal products…i have been a vegan for a very long time and i just recently had blood work done and all of my levels are healthy. if this is a case of “missing” dairy products, i reccomend Tofutti brand (vegan sour cream, vegan cream cheese, vegan ricotta, vegan cheeses, vegan ice cream) and also daiya cheese shreds. For mayo, vegenaise is great, Nasoya “Nayonaise” is another option. I think a lot of times, people attempt to go vegan without knowledge of these substitutions, and wind up feeling “punished” and like there’s nothing they can eat. I understand the emotional attachment to certain comfort foods, but there’s always a tasty, cruelty-free substitution! Knowledge is power.
Also, a lot of vegetarians aren’t aware of rennet in cheese (made from cow stomach). I have trouble considering cheese to be “vegetarian” because of this.
In conclusion, i’d say yes, it is “bad”. You’re a female…Dairy and eggs are products of the exploitation, domination, and abuse of the feminine. Cows are forcefully impregnanted using what is called a “rape rack” (look it up) to produce milk. They are used, abused, and violated in order to produce it, and then have their calfs taken from them, causing major psychological stress and suffering. It’s just soooo unnecessary to purchase and consume these products. They are non-foods!! And if you believe in the transfer of energy, think about the fear and terror these animals go through..you’re eating and drinking that fear. Remember, your dollar is your vote. When you pay for these items, you’re voting “yes” to all of this. I’m not trying to guilt-trip you, I have nothing against you personally, but it is the truth and sometimes the truth hurts.

Christine, there is a difference between a vegetarian who does not know they are causing cruelty, and one that does but does nothing about it.

I’m a vegetarian, so I may harbor a bias. I personally feel that those who decide to try to make vegetarians feel bad are the ones in the wrong. “Of course vegan is better, but a vegetarian diet still helps animals.” Should be the answer. Whenever I hear, “OF COURSE IT’S BAD!” followed by facts, insults, and guilt trips all it makes me want to do is quit everything. That’s what happened to my very few vegetarian friends. You catch more flies with honey and some effort is better than none. If you try to be vegan in all other respects you’re certainly doing more than half of the effort vegans do. I feel for you. I have something weird in my genetic make-up. I’m severely anemic and if I don’t eat a CRAZY amount of protein my muscles honestly just snap. (I’ll stand for a long time, or lift a 20lb box. That’s all it takes for my leg or wrist to be screwed for a few weeks) I would have to be constantly preparing food and eating in order to get what I need. (I already basically am doing that) I would like to be vegan, and someday I may, right now it isn’t an intelligent option. However those who want to be rude will be, and you just have to live with that.

I wouldn’t say that it is bad because you are still helping animals. You are still supporting cruelty though.