Veganism allows us to experience improved health, void of the ill-effects of eating meat and meat by-products. Since we have made such an important commitment to improve our health and wellbeing, we must be vigilant to align ourselves with practices that will safeguard our health from serious illnesses that befall vegans and non vegans alike. One such practice is to eliminate refined foods from our diet; inclusive of refined sugars, grains and oils.

Refined Sugars are Dangerous

Because refined sugars have no nutrients, in the process of their digestion, they use up the minerals and vitamins in our bodies. One of the biggest problems this causes is calcium and magnesium deficiencies and their resultant bone problems. Also, the unnatural passage of refined sugars into our bloodstream is too quick, which throws off our insulin production and blood sugar levels. Hypoglycemia and or diabetics can be the result. Refined sugars also suppress our immune systems, increase our cholesterol, and upset our digestive systems due to the acidic environment they proliferate.

“Because refined sugar is devoid of minerals, vitamins, fiber and has such a deteriorating effect on the endocrine system, major researchers and major health organizations (American Dietetic Association and American Diabetic Association) agree that sugar consumption in America is one of the three major causes of degenerative diseases.”Healing Daily

The fact that we are vegans is not going to change this reality.

We can, however, enhance our veganism and better secure our health by addressing our sugar cravings and our consumption of sweets. The blood sugar imbalance caused by refined sugars, is part of what causes our sugar cravings. Consuming unrefined sugars and more healthy alternative sweeteners will help in this regard. Inadequate protein in our diet also causes a desire for more sugary foods, because protein metabolism and carbohydrate metabolism directly regulate one another. So, likewise, eating too much refined sugar will cause a desire for more concentrated protein; such as meat. It is a vicious cycle. Complex carbohydrates such as fresh vegetables, whole grains and legumes are foods that provide balanced amounts of carbohydrate and protein nutrients.
(- Healing With Whole Foods by Paul Pitchford)

So many convenience items we purchase, such as mayonnaise, ketchup, salad dressing, cereals, fruit drinks, soft drinks and more, can have added sugar in them. It is important to avoid these additions by purchasing items without the added sugar (or harmful artificial sweeteners) or even by producing our own fresh versions of them. Some less harmful sweeteners are barley malt, brown rice syrup and maple syrup. The most nutritious sweeteners are Stevia and Xylitol.

“Even though Xylitol is derived from fruits and vegetables, it is not the same as fructose. Xylitol is a five-carbon sugar, which means that it is anti-microbial (prevents the growth of bacteria), whereas all the other forms of sugar (sucrose and fructose) are six-carbon sugars, which cause bacterial and fungi overgrowth.” Natural News

Stevia is a plant; a whole food. “…stevia actually suppresses dental bacteria growth rather than feeding it as sugars do. Other studies have shown a beneficial relationship between stevia and the regulation of blood sugar levels…Japanese and Latin American scientists have discovered other attributes of stevia including tonic, diuretic properties; stevia also treats mental and physical fatigue, harmonizes digestion, regulates blood pressure, and assists weight loss.” (Healing With Whole Foods by Paul Pitchford)

Stevia powder can sometimes have an herbal after taste, which can be remedied by using it along with xylitol.

Dangers of Refined Grains

The ill-effects of consuming refined grains are closely related to those of refined sugars. Refined grains have been stripped of the parts that provide their nutrients; namely their germ and bran. What is left is pure starch, which converts to simple sugar and enters the bloodstream like refined sugar and causes the same ill effects. The nutrition-less starch does not move through the intestines very easily either. Whole grains are complex carbohydrates with natural sweetness and they provide great nutrition; protein, B vitamins, Vitamin C, bioflavanoids, essential minerals and fiber. It is the fiber of foods; the grain’s bran, the fruit’s peeling and the fruit juice’s pulp, that slow down the sugar release into the bloodstream.

Beware of Refined Oils

Refined oils, such as commercial soybean, safflower and corn oils are so devastating to our health. They are over processed with heat and chemicals that remove their natural nutrients and cause oxidation, which makes them become rancid and full of free radicals. By becoming vegans, we want to distance ourselves from cancer and other degenerative diseases caused by free radicals. The refining process of oils also uses cancer causing materials such as the metal nickel, and petroleum-based solvents. The result of continued refined oil consumption is rampant inflammations throughout the body, cancer and heart disease. Heat processes from 320 degrees Fahrenheit and above, transform beneficial fatty acids in oils, into synthetic trans-fats that raise cholesterol levels in the arteries.

Replacing these oils with cold-pressed unrefined oils adds years onto our lives. They are excellent sources of essential fatty acids. (Oils from Olive, Sesame, Sunflower, Safflower, Almond, Avocado, Flax, Chia seed, Pumpkin seed) Fatty acids, (Omega 3 and Omega 6) influence so many aspects of the body’s functions. We need them for healthy skin and hair, for a strong immune system; specifically the thyroid and adrenal functions, for healthy blood, nerves and arteries and to break down cholesterol in the body. Including high quality fatty acids into our diets is one of the best things we can do to boost our health. For those who are suffering from the ill effects of too much saturated fat in the diet, and the resultant high levels of cholesterol, Omega 3 fatty acids actually work to eliminate these fats and cholesterol from your body.

Replacing refined sugars, grains and oils with more nutritious, unrefined versions, truly enhances our vegan quest for improved health and longevity. They not only increase our nutrient intake, but they also help to correct the damage done during our meat-eating years. Let us be encouraged to begin now to implement these healthy practices into our happy, vegan existence.