tackam said:

Fortified orange juice? Not if you're vegan. At some point in the recent past, the manufacturers of calcium-fortified orange juice started adding vitamin D as well. That's actually a good idea, as vitamin D aids in calcium absorption. But here's the problem for vegans: for whatever reason, it's always vitamin D3, which is always animal-based. What you want is vitamin D2, which is always plant-based, and is what you'll find in some other fortified products, such as Silk soymilk.

The one exception I've found is Simply Orange, which produces a calcium-fortified OJ without any vitamin D. Their distribution isn't the greatest, though... I've noticed that many supermarkets don't carry it.

The bigger problem here is the tendency of vegetarians and vegans to rely on fortified foods and supplements to meet their dietary needs. Consider: if your diet needs supplementation to be adequate, then the diet itself is necessary inadequate. (Modus Tollens in action, for those of you who have studied logic.)

While I realize that whether a food is "natural" or not is, strictly speaking, irrelevant to the question of whether it's vegetarian or vegan, many folks who promote this type of diet want their food "natural" (e.g., they want organic produce and GMO-free foods). And yet when they're questioned about possible nutritional deficiencies, they suggest... fortified "Frankenfoods" or popping pills (supplements)?

You can make better choices for yourself and/or animals without being religous about it (ie. fussing about the source of vitamins).

And you don't HAVE to supplement, but it makes it easier (for anybody) to meet certainly dietary recommendations.

AsianBoi777 said:

Neither is soy that's been processed in such a way to make it look and taste like a hamburger, but I haven't heard of vegetarians avoiding Boca Burgers because they're "unnatural."

(BTW, Boca Burgers are a product of Altria Group, formerly known as Philip Morris. If you buy Boca Burgers, you're putting money in the pockets of "Big Tobacco.")

The natural/unnatural distiniction is a poor litmus test for putting together a healthy diet. Most foods in these modern times are hardly "natural." I just took a look in the fridge, and while we admittedly need to do some grocery shopping, the only "natural" things I saw were two oranges and two lemons. And even those aren't "natural" here in western Washington state, where the climate is such that growing citrus fruit is difficult, if not impossible.

sweetserene said:

Brocoli and Spinach have as much calcium as milk.

JasmineFire said:

Why? Veggies and legumes are cheap compared to other foods.

But I must apologize to EVERYONE for this entire thread. I never meant for it to be taken so seriously and actually spawn intelligent dialogue.

Again, my apologies.


,

AsianBomb777 said:

This is a good thread I've stopped drinking milk but do dabble w/ soy @ times. BUT when I get my
Starbucks I don't request soy I should really start



.
[Edited 1/24/05 5:07am]

But I must apologize to EVERYONE for this entire thread. I never meant for it to be taken so seriously and actually spawn intelligent dialogue.

Again, my apologies.

This also proves a theory I've indulged in.

Milk is unnatural for us to consume.

AsianBoi777 said:

Unnatural?

tackam said:

not where i live. it's cheaper to buy gummy fruit snacks than it is to buy fresh fruit and veggies. that being so, i try my best and avoid the gummy fruit snacks.

Some people are just full of shit, basically.

This also proves a theory I've indulged in.

Milk is unnatural for us to consume.

When I stopped drinking milk and all dairy, my skin cleared up and looke years younger. When the instestinal track is overworked or invaded by foreign unatural "food" other organs (of which the skin is one) react by trying to help eliminate some of the mucus formed by it. The mucus goes into the blood, out through your feases, and into your lungs. YOur skin tries to rid some of the chemicals that are created by this process---Milk is nasty nasty stuff.

AsianBoi777 said:

Unnatural?

PANDURITO said:

We ARE supposed to drink milk from other humans, not from COWS.

Miguel

MIGUELGOMEZ said:

I still do it.

Only I spit--I don't swallow.