A: It depends. A vegan diet includes only plant-based foods (no beef, eggs, dairy, or animal-based foods of any sort). It does not, however, require the selection of wholesome foods. In the end, doughnuts, French fries, corn chips, and lollipops can qualify as vegan if indeed they contain veg oil instead of butter or lard. Most vegetarians, vegans and meat eaters don't use enough extra virgin olive oil,” says Kim Larson, RDN, Compact disc, CSSD, nationwide spokesperson for the Academy of Diet & Dietetics. Extra virgin olive oil helps reduce inflammation and can have a similar effect of ibuprofen. However, she advises using it at low temperature because high temperature destroys its beneficial compounds, called polyphenols - so put it to use in salad dressings or for tossing pasta, for example (not for frying and baking).

My diet without the prior knowledge or decisions! It's what I love to eat normally. I seldom eat meat rather than eat processed food. A whole lot of cereals, especially whole wheat and barley. No dairy except for cheese occasionally. Fruit and vegetables, fresh and dried fruits always present. Almonds & dries dates are a dessert. I am hoping to master my diet through reading such helpful articles as yours. Thanks for pushing, Alena.

That is a significant amount of protein and a case of overkill. For sports athletes, 0.7 to at least one 1 gram of proteins per pound of lean muscle is best for increasing strength and size. For example, if you think about 180lb and also have ten percent bodyfat, then you should aim for 150-160 grams of health proteins to make more muscle. If you wish to sustain your size, then 100-120 is going to be sufficient.

You may get many of the health benefits from learning to be a vegetarian without heading all the way. For instance, a Mediterranean eating pattern - regarded as associated with longer life and reduced threat of several chronic diseases - features an emphasis on herb foods with a sparing use of meats. Even though you don't want to become a complete vegetarian, you can steer your diet in that path with a few simple substitutions, such as plant-based resources of protein - coffee beans or tofu, for example - or fish instead of beef a couple of times a week.

My battles are my challenges, my difficulties are my challenges, and for the others of my life I'm going to be around food, and people eating food, and food images, and supermodels in LA. I must find a way to deal with that and the thoughts I've when I see it, hear it, etc. I must work my program and my steps and build my very own support system. I really do supplement it with the support of several of you, who help me in my own darkest hours. Just knowing you're there can be a comfort, but I also can't live in a bubble. I am sympathetic, but that sympathy doesn't suggest I will modify my absolute dedication to total transparency.