AFRO DIVAS: Afro Divas 30 Day Vegan Challenge

Afro Divas is challenging you to go vegan for 30 days. A healthy, balanced vegan diet ensures a host of health benefits as well as prevention of some of the major diseases striking the USA.

If you’ve ever been interested in trying a meatless diet or are already vegan/vegetarian but wanting to eat healthier, now’s the time! Join the Afro Divas Challenge!!!The vegan challenge runs for 30 days during which the participants, will consume a vegan diet. In taking the Challenge Afro Divas encourages you to follow a vegan diet, meaning a fully plant-based diet that excludes all animal products including meat, fish, dairy, eggs and honey as well as other animal ingredients such as gelatin.

The Vegan Kick-start Challenge starts Sept.10 -Oct. 10,2013

Requirements

Join by Sept. 10, 2013 NO EXCEPTIONS!!!

What is a vegan diet?:

A vegan diet is one in which an individual consumes no animal products. Unlike vegetarians who will eat eggs or dairy, vegan diets have no animal components, not even a product that comes from an animal like milk. Some vegan diets are influenced by an individual's preference for plant based foods, some for ethical reasons, and others for the health benefits. Some vegans are extreme not even eating honey (it comes from bees) others are not so extreme. A carefully planned vegan diet is perfectly safe and tends to be very healthy. Vegans just need to watch their protein and other vitamin levels.

If you put vegan and detox together you end up with a vegan detox diet.

A vegan diet excludes all forms of animal products.

Meat: All meat, poultry and seafood is prohibited while on the vegan detox meal plan. Substitutes permitted include products made from bean curds, tofu, soybeans, grains or nuts.

Plant products: Fruits and vegetables make up the majority of a vegan detox. Try to choose organic produce. You can eat the fruits and vegetables whole or have fresh fruit juices.

Beans, nuts and legumes: All beans, nuts, and legumes are part of a vegan detox meal plan, including peanut butter, almond butter, cashew butter or any other nut butter. Beans and legumes are crucial to a vegan diet to assure adequate protein intake.

Dairy and Eggs: Since veganism goes beyond being vegetarian, vegans cannot consume dairy products because it comes from animals. Soy and rice milk are good substitutes for milk and margarine is a common substitute for butter as it is made from soybean or sunflower oil.

Gelatin: Gelatin contains an ingredient that comes from a horse, and so should be avoided.

Sweeteners: Vegans differ on whether to avoid honey as it comes from bees, but others regard it as a “biological, animal-friendly product.” Refined sugar, which is made using cow or horse bone marrow is not part of the vegan diet. Vegans can have raw brown sugar, from either sugar cane or sugar beet.

* Weight-loss bars (including Luna, Power Bars, Zone, Keta, etc.)

Preparation Week

Tasks for the week prior to taking the challenge:

1. I highly recommend watching “Food, Inc.” and “Forks Over Knives”; these movies will change the way you look at food.

2. Empty kitchen from animal derived products and replace with wholesome foods you enjoy from the following categories: Lots of fresh fruit and veg of your preference(make sure you include leafy greens) Whole meal grains (such as rice, quinoa, pasta, couscous)Legumes (such as lentils, split pea, beans) Dips and spreads (such as hummus, tahini, pesto, vegan cream cheese, almond spread, peanut butter) Treats (vegan chocolate, vegan yogurts, vegan ice cream, nuts, seeds, dry fruits.

Helpful Tips

-get brown rice pasta or buckwheat pasta instead of regular pasta (very easy to get)

-get a sprouted eziekiel bread in the freezer section of your health food store or wholefoods, or a dark german dimphilmier bread with no sugar or yeast ( in supermarkets), or manna bread (also in the freezer section).

-all-natual peanut butter (no sugar, no hydrogenated oils)

-natural oats or buckwheat groats instead of instant oats

A few vegan blogs to help you out..

VeganHealth.org is an excellent place to learn more about all things vegan; including detoxifying.

https://www.facebook.com/Engine2Diet, (My Favorite) Very good and the website is even better:)

http://www.goneraw.com/,

https://www.facebook.com/BlackVeganLove

http://www.living-foods.com/recipes/

Gone Raw

Happy Cow

What do vegan's eat?

What the hell does a vegan eat anyway?

http://www.sassy-kitchen.com/

http://ohsheglows.com/

http://www.findingvegan.com/

Fat free vegan kitchen

Little house of veggies

The health seekers kitchen

The kind project

The veggie full kitchen

The kind life

http://www.veganhealth.org/

http://www.beautifulonraw.com/raw-food-blog/raw-food-lifestyle/the-straight-poop/ this is good for questions about you bowel movements while during the challenge

Can the 21 day challenge affect my menstruation cycle?'shttp://www.30bananasaday.com/video/menstruation-on-a-raw-food-diet-part-1?xg_source=activity

***Precautions

Regardless of the length of time you choose for your vegan challenge there are some safety precautions you should follow. Before starting a vegan plan, you should consult with your doctor. While a vegan diet can be safe, it can become unhealthy if you do not watch your vitamin and protein intake.If you feel unhealthy on a vegan diet - or any diet plan for that matter, you should talk to your doctor and try another eating plan. Not all diets are suitable for all bodies.

Disclaimer

You should consult your physician or other health care professional before starting this or any other nutrition program or purchasing any related nutrition or health care products to determine if they are right for your needs. This is particularly true if you (or your family) have a history of hypoglycemia, diabetes, mental illness or if you are recovering from surgery, you should not participate without clearance from your doctor. If you are pregnant, breast feeding, you should not participate in any programs. If you are under the age of 18, you may not participate in any 30day programs. Do not start this 30 day program if your physician or health care provider advises against it. If you experience faintness, dizziness, pain or shortness of breath at any time while on this 30day challenge you should stop immediately.