Beatboxer Vincent Bantasan: Vegan Vs Meat Eating?

A couple months back, Vince posed a question about veganism, carnivores, and eating raw food. Vincent Bantasan came through for a Raw Possibility event delivering a stellar performance of vocal gestation.  The interspersed beats, hooks, vocals, and a plethora of sound effects emitted by Vincent’s talented throat were impressive and the fact that he is a vegan made it all the more fitting for the event. Here is my response: The western diet, meat and dairy, has scientifically been proven to cause disease. The China Study is the utmost authoritative study about the effects of meat and dairy on the human body. It’s been around for a decade, the results of the study, and still people continue to graze over their meat filled plates at the dinning room table. This is because we are omnivores; as homo sapiens we can eat meat, plants, and stuff that can kill us. It’s up to us to choose. We have stomachs that can break down both flesh and plants, and use it to maintain our body’s alkaline balance (expressed as pH). I mention this because we were raised to believe that meat is good. You ate it. You didn’t claim to be “carnivorous.” You didn’t know about “trans-fat,” “carbs,” or “fats.” You simply ate meat; it was food. Before the organic hippie movement, it was just a taco, a hamburger, or a hot-pocket. But times have changed, and food has become a hot topic for our generation especially since cancer is killing us like a virus. The cure for cancer is not on the shelves, and the cause of it is still lurking in the dark. Just like the denial of global warming, the officials are denying any direct “cause and effect” relationship between meat and disease. But then again, politicians and legislators are not scientist. The scientist that have studied the effects of dairy and meat, in the China Study for example, have shown significant statistical links between dairy and meat t to disease.

The reason the USDA and the Western diet is the way it is (i.e. the food pyramid) is because they have been bought out by corporations and industry lobbyist. They want you to buy what they are selling so they can profit. It’s a business, not a religion, not a family, and this is why it dominates our diets.

On the other hand, plants and vegetables didn’t rise to fame like meat did. At fast-food drive-throughs, lettuce, tomatoes, and onions are the only veggies that made the cut. Plants did not get governement money the way meat did. Meat is highly subsidized, so it’s everywhere and cheap. Nowadays, ordering meat is cheaper than the veggie alternative. On the other side of the issue are plants which give their life when you eat them but not the same way that animals do when they are killed in the slaughterhouse. Why should you choose plants over animals? Because plants do not tax your body the way meat does. Plants consume energy and their food from the sun, they absorb nutrients through the soil, and when we eat them they release the nutrients we need for good health. Like green vegetables that nourish our cardiovascular systems with a vitality necessary to maintain blood pressure. But of course, everything has to be done in moderation. Why take a natural supplement if you don’t need it? Anything in excess can become toxic. People buy Vitamin E and shove them down their throats on a daily basis without getting the green light from a licensed nutritionist or a medical professional.  This entire topic of vegetarianism and veganism can be a bit complex when you think of all the business’ trying to ride the trendy wave of “natural” foods. It isn’t natural to eat meat every day. It is isn’t natural to have a vitamin supplement you don’t need everyday. Food is natural. Vegetables and water is natural but how much of it and what it contains are becoming the challenging questions. I advocate the vegan diet because it’s a choice I make at every meal. Veganism: Veganism is no joke. It’s a tough step to take. I was only able to go that far out after I had been vegetarian for years. I was the first vegetarian that I intimately knew. A few things I figured out right away is that to be a healthy vegetarian or vegan, I had to have B-12s (found in meat), Vitamins, and Omega-3s. Going vegan is a wonderful lifestyle if you live in California. Every emerging cafe and contemporary restaurant has a vegan option now a days. The health benefits alone outweigh any of the pros of meat. Humans are evolving and so is their diet. I think veganism is an evolved diet. It keeps you in great shape when it’s done right. It is a daily choice and a right everyone reserves and can practice on the West Coast. Going raw is the next level. Raw foods offer a treasure chest of nutrients for our human body suit. Raw foods infuse our organs with a potent source of nutrients. The crunch and freshness of raw foods is unique. Given that we are moving so fast as a human species because of major progress in science and technology, I think it’s time to rethink our food in-take and veganism is that idea but into action.

Pho Viet in Canyon Country (SCV)

The sweet ashy smell of burning incense welcome you in to this treasure trove in Canyon Country; Pho Viet is laid out on Soledad Canyon, across the Edwards Cinema plaza. I love vegan Vietnamese food because it taste like my childhood: the soy sauce, the mint leaves, fresh sprouts, the bak choy and the grinded chili pepper paste. I embrace the happy and big bellied Buddha, the lime green lanterns and red chopsticks as if they were my uncle Truc’s house or my uncle Ri’s apartment during the holidays. Pho is our traditional soup that bursts the definition of soup at its steamy seams. Pho is rice noodle in a vegetable broth that takes hours to make. The herbs and spices are from the coastal inlets in Vietnam. This bowl of savory culinary excellence is a gift.

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Vegan: The Decadent Diet

It’s not a religion but it is an ethical diet. It’s what you eat, what you wear, and what you support. Vegans are not down with animal cruelty in any shape, way, or form.

It’s also a healthy diet. The China Study advocates a vegan diet to prevent disease.

It’s also just delicious food.

For those curious vegetarians who want to know what to do to take that final step to vegansim, here are a few basic pointers:

Número Uno: the only way to do it, is to do it. Once you have made the decision to not eat animals, you don’t eat anything with animals even if it’s sprinkling hot cheetos outside. Make the decision and stick to it.*

Two: you can be a fat vegan; don’t doubt that for a second. Once you become vegan, fast food and most of the homecooked food in your household will be off limits. All of sudden you have to be completely accountable and responsible for your meals. So prepare your meals, stuff your frigerator, pack snacks in your bag, leave bars and nuts at your desk. Pretend that no one will offer you food for the entire day; even if you pay for it (because what’s out there is mostly likely not vegan).

Tres: Vitamins, you’re gonna need them, especially B-12s and Omega-3s which are not found in your new diet. Now that you’re vegan, going to the grocery store will be like going to the library. You’ll start reading the back of your food products ingredients religiously. It becomes an exciting game after awhile, especially when you discover that Oreos are vegan.

Four: Now that you have changed your diet and feel healthy, what should you do with all your new found energy? Exercise. Its part of the transition: dropping crappy food liberates your body’s energy. The best you can do with this energy is burn it off, break a sweat, bump the radio and dance in your new skin.

A vegan diet is healthy only if done right. You can go to the 99cent store and find dirt cheap vegan products that are made with genetically modified soy because it’s cheaper and last longer. It’s not healthy though. When you first become vegan it’s frustrating. It’s not easy but nothing worth doing is easy. You have to reach out for fruits and a variety of veggies. You must spend time behind the stove. You will open a whole new world too; after-all its a specialty food.

Some soothing advice to alleviate your anxiety and doubt:

You are probably reading this, curious about the vegan diet, or considering a new lifestyle because you have a need. A need to change the way you feel, look, and act. Try it for three months. Stick with it until you’re over the three month mark then make your decision to stay with it or go back to eating meat.

It gets easier. Its a specialty food now, huge on the West-coast. You’ll find people and fellow vegans, there’s even vegan beer fest, vegan food trucks, and this trending feature helps make it easier for you.

The pay off is in the change in your weight, skin, mind, and health. Give it enough heart and dedication, in three months you’ll see total change in the mirror.

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