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Feb 15Liked by Meghan Murphy

I decided to become vegan when I turned 40. I did it carefully and caring for my health and for the animals. It was a decision that brings me joy. I became more creative in my cooking. I discovered that veggies have wonderful tastes all on their own and in interesting combinations. I learned how all plant foods have amino acids and you can get all the proteins you need there. I make my own milks and cheese from nuts. The processed “meats” I ate served to help with the transition and now I enjoy having cauliflower and fennel steaks. I’m not preachy and respect your choices. But veganism has been very good for me.

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I'm glad it's been good for you! I think for most it's very difficult to get all the nutrients they need without animal products and for me a vegetarian diet just meant a lot of pasta (and tofu) hahaha. What do you do to replace the missing fish oils (and omega-3 fatty acids kinda thing)?

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I can get omega 3 in linseeds or algae oil supplements.

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Just like your ancestors did.

Seriously, we evolved to be made of animal fats. The lipid membranes of our cells, which are intelligent and necessary for all of our life functions, evolved to be made of fish oils and other animal fats.

Linseed and algae oils require industrial processing. Those of us trying to avoid factory food avoid these.

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I don’t know who my ancestors were or what they did.

I do not eat processed linseed oil. I eat raw linseeds with other grains. I also add a spoonful of them to my baking sometimes. And algae is where fish get their omega 3. So I can sprinkle some crumpled nori seaweed on my chickpea ceviche and also get my omega 3 that way and leave out the middle fish.

You and your fellow meat eaters may have evolved to be made of fats from dead animals. That’s fine. I can only speak for myself and I know that my human cells have animal fat because humans are a species of animal. I don’t need to eat other animals to keep being an animal. I also know that in the four years since I’ve gone vegan I have never felt malnourished. I feel healthier and have more energy. I eat until I’m satisfied and not until I’m full. And I used to have constipation troubles when I was a meat eater. And now, like the raven, when I go to the bathroom, I say never more.

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My apologies for assuming you were taking algae and seed oil supplements.

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Your apologies are accepted.

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