Becoming vegan in my teenage years is one of the best decisions I have made

My plant-based journey started off when my mother tried out SHARAN recipes in the kitchen. I started to genuinely enjoy these delicious and heart-warming meals. After listening to Dr Nandita and her team’s webinars and informative videos I decided to embark on adopting the SHARAN lifestyle.

Becoming a vegan in my teenage years has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made for my health and the environment. Initially, I was hesitant and thought I would miss out on many of my favourite foods. However, I quickly discovered an abundance of delicious plant-based alternatives. They not only satisfied my cravings but also nourished my body with essential nutrients and significantly reduced acne and flare-ups of dandruff. It helped in improving my confidence and increasing my energy levels in general.

I have also developed a deeper gratitude for the environment and those around me due to a more conscious and thoughtful diet which has reduced my carbon footprint. It has made me feel positively empowered and optimistic at all times. I am also working on a pioneering technology of container farming in urban spaces as well as organic non-tilled soil farming here in Dubai.

I strongly believe that following the SHARAN lifestyle has been the best decision of my life, and it can be yours too, today!

Vegan Burger

Ever heard of a healthy burger? Well this one is! We are certain not only your children, but you will also love this one. Do try it and let us know.

Ingredients

• 1 onion, diced
• 1 green or red bell pepper, diced
• 1½ cups vegetable stock
• 2½ cups tomato sauce
• 1 tbsp chilli powder
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp date paste
• 1½ cups soy granules
• Unrefined salt and pepper to taste
• Dash of hot sauce or tabasco sauce (optional)
• 5-6 whole wheat hamburger buns

Method

In a large skillet, sauté the onion and peppers for 2 to 3 minutes or until onions are soft. Reduce heat to medium-low and add the rest of the ingredients (except buns) and stir well to combine. Allow to simmer for at least 15 minutes. Spoon onto hamburger buns and serve hot with any condiment you desire.

Serves 5-6

Food For The Mind

FACEBOOK SUPPORT GROUP

1. SHARAN India is SHARAN’s main Facebook page which you can like and follow for getting useful daily updates and news from the plant based health world. You will also get news about the latest SHARAN events, see testimonials, and more.

2. SHARAN’s Vegan Support Group is an open support group to know more about vegan/plant-based lifestyle. Here you can ask questions and share inspiring stories, tips, recipes, etc.

All our doctors and presenters will be here to answer your questions and give you tips. If you have attended our events join this group to be a part of our family.

Please like the main SHARAN page and join the group(s) applicable to you.

Meat for Kids?

Mother Nature knows what is best for us. Like every parent, she wants to provide each of her children with the highest quality of food for their body. So is meat good for us or our children? Every animal eats by instinct. We are the only species that eats according to our culture, our society and advertisements.

One of the best gifts we can give to our children is a healthy foundation. Is giving them meat, strengthening that foundation or weakening it? Read on to find out why meat may be detrimental to health.

1. Excess protein is detrimental While our body does need protein for growth and repair, the quality and quantity also matter. Though animal proteins contain all the essential amino acids, they don’t contain any fibre. This enables us to eat them in excess. Plant proteins, such as beans, legumes, leafy greens etc contain good quality proteins and can easily provide the essential amino acids.

2. Meat is high in fat Animal based foods are rich in fat, causing younger people to get health issues such as obesity, high blood pressure and even heart attacks.

3. Meat contains cholesterol Only animals produce cholesterol. We are animals, and so we, too, both need and produce cholesterol. Excess cholesterol comes from animal products, including dairy in our diet. Cutting out all animal products will naturally bring down the cholesterol levels.

4. Meat lacks fibre Fibre forms the bulk of our stools. It helps to cleanse the gut and to remove the toxins that have been collected. There is no fibre in any animal products but all plants are rich in fibre.

5. Animal foods are acidic Our body is alkaline and thrives on alkaline foods such as fruits and vegetables. Meat is acid yielding in our body (proteins break down into amino acids) and this results in leaching of calcium from our bones and also increasing the risk of cancers.

6. Meat causes lethargy Since our digestive tract is designed for plants, meat is hard to digest. When we eat animal products, the body’s energy goes to the digestive system, leaving us feeling heavy and lethargic.

7. Meat can cause hormonal imbalances Since animals produce hormones, just like we do, and also since they’re often given hormones in order to grow bigger, faster, these hormones are transferred over to us when we eat meat, causing hormonal imbalances in our body. Diseases like hypothyroidism, PCOD, premature puberty, menstrual, irregularities, and even hormone dependant cancers can be linked to meat.

8. Meat is cancer causing Heme iron found in meat increases the risk of cancers, heterocyclic amines (HCAs) are the carcinogenic and mutagenic chemicals formed from cooking meat, nitrites added to processed meats promote cancer, and toxins resulting from meat cause colon cancers.

9. Meat contains antibiotics While most parents avoid giving antibiotics as much as possible to their children, they don’t realise how much of this they may get from the animal products they consume. Animals produced for consumption are treated with antibiotics, to avoid the spread of disease, due to the inhumane conditions they live in.

10. Meat causes stress When an animal is being slaughtered, their stress hormones are at their peak. When we consume that dead body, we are also consuming the stress hormones, resulting in us feeling irritated, angry, anxious or frustrated.