venkivg-blog

[venkivg-blog]

Converting From A Vegetarian To A Vegan In India

“Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try”

What is Veganism?

The concept of veganism is actually widespread in India, but very few people actually try and understand the subject. In short, veganism is a diet and a lifestyle that excludes the use of any animal products to produce food, clothing or anything else used in daily life. 

In a country of 1.2 billion people, 500 million are vegetarians, but veganism is a relatively new concept. The vegetarian diet in India in most parts of the country is 90% vegan, unless dairy products like milk, cheese, butter, cottage cheese (paneer), ghee, etc. are added. So a vegetarian in India wanting to transition to a vegan diet would only have to give up on milk and its derivatives. When surveyed about this, most vegetarians couldn’t renounce even this one product. 

The reason for this is a substance called ‘casomorphin’. Casomorphins are present in all animal milk, and its function is to make the off spring of that animal crave for more of the milk to achieve healthy growth in their weaning period. It affects humans in a similar manner; the presence of this protein in milk and milk products makes us want that particular product more. You’d even find the word ‘milk solids’ on the food label of many products where you wouldn’t expect it to be there.

Lifestyle Changes:

When it comes to life style changes, one has to be very careful while choosing vegan products in this country. Some toothpastes have animal bone powder in them; many sarees are made from the silk obtained from silk worm; and most cosmetics have beeswax in their formula. You really have to read the labels carefully and choose the products wisely.

How Is The Change Occurring In India?

Many cities in India are now recognizing this lifestyle. Two of the leading cities that are Vegan havens are Pune and Bangalore, where activists have frequent outreach campaigns about Veganism. These campaigns have been very effective since people do consider transitioning once they understand the sensitivity of this issue. The activists also have many social media groups where they post about the availability of different vegan and animal-friendly products, provide several alternatives to any issues faced and even provide moral support when one experiences withdrawal symptoms during their transition to Veganism. You just have to ask, and you’ll be provided with answers. Other cities like Delhi and Calcutta are also joining the movement and are making a change steadily. Many restaurants are also recognizing this change and are adding vegan options to their menu. This change is slow, but firm.

[venkivg-blog]

Veganism in India

Veganism is emerging as one of the hottest topics in India, especially in social media. To start with I would like to share my own experience in Facebook where one of my friends questioned his vegan friend about the special dishes that are there in a typical vegan menu and why he was so fond of veganism? To answer this question he happily replied with pictures of different vegan dishes and delicious-looking vegan recipes. This gave me an idea about people’s interest in following a vegan diet and how they’ve become fond of the recipes.

However, the word veganism is quite new to India. People assume that veganism involves completely avoiding animal produced food including dairy products but, in fact, true veganism involves avoiding silk garments and leather products too! It also includes saying no to refined sugar, as animal bone powder is generally used to get shine for sugar. Although it is very difficult to say no to sugar in India, there are people who stick to their beliefs and completely avoid sugar in their diet. There are also true vegans, who strictly avoid silk garments and leather products too.

Although the word veganism is quite new to India, the people have been following the vegan principles right from the ancient period. The primary reason for this is the religion and Indian culture. In India people strictly say no to cow slaughtering and people believe in the notion that the Cow is holy and therefore its meat is automatically eliminated from the diet. Similarly, Hinduism places a level of importance on each animal by associating it with a God and recommends people to lead a life of sanctity, free from cruelty to other beings. This makes devout followers of Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism, Vegans.

Several restaurants have emerged in cities which serve vegan foods. It is important to understand the difference between vegetarian and vegan foods. A Vegetarian diet includes dairy products whereas a Vegan diet doesn’t.

Veganism and weight loss

Veganism and its health benefits are one of the most fascinating topics to discuss. It is especially more interesting when it comes to discussions about how a Vegan diet’s facilitates weight loss. Most studies and researches have proved that veganism has reduced the risk of heart diseases, diabetes, obesity, etc.

Thus, practising veganism for the health benefits it offers will not only keep you healthy but also save animals from cruelty and slaughter.

[venkivg-blog]

Vegan For A Night

Weekends are always fun when you are loaded with cash and unloaded of stress. As my salary got credited on Friday and office scene was away till Monday, I had the perfect time to relish in between the slogging week days.

I called my gang of friends, two from my office and three from my college, and arranged for our usual get together party. It was a more or less a ritual or an established formula. We book a ride to Juhu beach and then hop around the eateries all around. Finally to hit the bar and end the awesome evening with a lust filled dinner.

As usual, I was expecting the same routine. The new red dress that was waiting patiently for an occasion would finally get a day sway all on the field. I was dancing on my feet just like a butterfly that had just shed her cocoon.

But as they say luck is a bitch! My friends ditched the old routine and decided for a night in at one of our houses. I objected but majority always wins in such situation and my little fight was ignored by all. As the little red dress went back to the shelf, I looked around the messy place which was in no position to host and I was clearly in no mood to clean.

We finalized the meet at Rishi’s home. Snacks, dinner, drinks and Netflix and we were sorted. But wait. Why was everything vegetarian and why on earth would someone arrange herbal sherbat while we should be taking down shots

My college friends who are working at the same place shared that they turned vegan after the seminar on health and fitness conducted last Friday in their office. And now they want us to do the same. I still could not believe it, neither my eyes nor my ears.

“What! Veganism? How can someone turn vegan overnight like this? Veganism is only for the Jains, not for us. No meat, no alcohol? We are young people meant to live life and we still have time before taking the path to salvation.” I screamed aloud.

They were adamant; veganism has become a trend in the country. As if it were some epidemic and half of the country is falling prey to it. In the times, when diseases have taken the forewheels of our life, it is only sensible to make healthy choices before getting hooked to the machines for long.

After a long protest and even longer persuasion, I guess I too turned vegan for the night!

[venkivg-blog]

3 Reasons Why You Should Take Up Veganism

A way of living different from others is what veganism is? No, not at all. Veganism is basically a diet and concept where vegan people avoid the way of living by which animals are treated with cruelty for food or clothes. The philosophy of veganism is not the latest concept, but the idea of going vegan is getting popular nowadays. Going vegan, in my opinion, is not at all wrong because why not save animals and adopt a healthy lifestyle. After celebrities have started adopting a vegan lifestyle, normal people are going crazy for a vegan diet.

A vegan diet includes avoiding dairy products, eggs and any other product that is originated from an animal. A perfect definition of veganism says that veganism is “the liberation of animals from victimization by gentlemen”. Any harm to animals for clothes, food or anything else is restricted if you are on a vegan diet. I have noticed people going vegan due to some really amusing reasons. Some of them include :

Moral Reason

There is a moral reason why people go on a vegan diet. Some people believe that all creatures on this planet have an equal right to live their life with freedom. This may sound a little wearisome but that is how it is with some people.

Health Reason

A hale and hearty reason to go vegan is to adopt a healthy lifestyle and consume the benefits of veganism. People go vegan because there are amazing health benefits to a vegan diet. The risk of diseases like cancer, diabetes and heart diseases reduces to a great extent if you are on a vegan diet. Lowering body weight is also one of the prime reasons to go vegan.

Empathy Reason

A vegan diet has several other sub-heads like raw food vegan, dietary vegan, whole-food vegans and many more. But, the principal theme of the vegan diet is to avoid or say cut down several foods from your diet. These foods include Diary, eggs, fish, meat, chicken, honey and shellfish. Not only this, but vegans also discourage products that contain any animal ingredients in them. Lactic acid, gelatin, pepsin, Vitamin D3 and carmine are some basic ingredients from animals and they are not allowed in a vegan diet.

Veganism is a virtuous approach to save animals and a splendid change in your lifestyle to lose weight. Going vegan and adopting a vegan diet chart is beneficial in numerous ways. Vegans are doing an amazing job by saving and protecting animals along with grabbing some amazing health benefits of the diet.  

[venkivg-blog]

Carrot Soup

It was a holiday and my daughter woke up with a high fever. I felt bad as holidays are the times when the children spend time playing around at home. I had carrots in my refrigerator and decided to make carrot soup that day. It was awesome and everyone loved it.

 Soups are ideal for dinner along with some sandwich or fried rice. This carrot soup is ideal to serve as a health food. We are so busy, day in and day out, we forget to take proper food every day. Vegetables and fruits are hardly eaten and junk food such as burger and pizza are loved by all.

Carrot soup is healthy and tasty. It may be served for lunch or dinner.  This is the ideal way to feed fussy children. It is vegan and gluten-free.

 Here are some questions that may come in your mind.

 1)    Is Carrot Soup ideal for all age groups?

         Yes, carrot soup can be had by people of all ages.

 2)    Can we store the carrot soup?

          Carrot soup stays good for 2-3 days if refrigerated. But, remember to reheat and serve.      

                              Free pic from www.visualhunt.com

Let’s get to the recipe of Carrot Soup:

Ingredients: measurement used : 1 cup = 240 ml

·       5 cup carrot pieces

·       2 onion

·       2 cloves garlic

·       1 tablespoon olive oil

·       1 teaspoon coriander leaves ( a little)

·       4 cup vegetable stock

·       Salt to taste

·       ½ teaspoon pepper powder

Method:

1.    Wash the carrot and cut into cubes.

2.    Cut the onion.

3.    Take oil in a pan, add onion and garlic to it and saute for some time.

4.    Put the coriander and carrot into it. Saute it.

5.    Let it cook for five minutes. Sprinkle some water and continue cooking.

6.    Allow to cool.

7.    Make a puree of it.

8.    Put the puree in a pan, add stock to it.

9.    Put salt and pepper powder, let boil for some time. Carrot soup is ready to serve.

Pro Tip:

Vegetable stock is made by boiling some vegetables in water. It adds more taste to the dish. If you do not have vegetable stock, add water.

[venkivg-blog]

My First Post

Hello everyone,

This is my first post. I’m Venki a.k.a Venkatraman. I’m a vegan and would love to share vegan recipes here, for you.