Animal product substitutes

They don't taste exactly like the real thing. Don't expect them to!

I try to avoid highly processed meat substitutes as much as possible. Tofu and Tempeh are fine to cook with. I try to limit my tofu intake due to the high phytoestrogens that it contains. For women that are going through menopause or are post-menopausal, the phytoestrogens in tofu and soy can help replenish the lack of estrogen that occurs during menopause. Always be careful when buying tofu or any other soy based product that it isn't made from soy beans containing GMOs (genetically modified organisms aka genetically engineered). Stick with things that say "GMO Free" or "Certified Organic." You can't go wrong with these products.

My favorite food substitutes are:
Soy Chorizo (Trader Joe's brand)
Mozzarella Shreds (Trader Joe's brand)
Daiya substitute cheese (found at Whole Foods and Sprouts)

I use these items sparingly, but when I need cheese or something a little "meaty" this is what I choose.

How can acupuncture help your digestion?

Poor digestion can be the key indicator for less than optimal health. Anytime one's body loses its normal balance, our digestion is usually one of the first things to pipe up and say, "Um, hello...there's something wrong!" Just like pain, a digestive imbalance is the body's way of signaling that there is a problem. In a great deal of cases, digestive issues are strongly related to emotion. Studies have proven that there is an undeniable connection between one's brain and one's gut.

So, if you have poor digestion, how can acupuncture help you? Acupuncture is great at improving many health problems, but digestion is one of the areas in which acupuncture excels. As I mentioned above, the brain is strongly associated with the gut, so one might notice that stress can aggravate the digestive process.  Perhaps you have a little extra stress at work or with finances, you may find that stress manifesting in your stomach and intestines. These manifestations can come in the form of bloating, excessive gas, diarrhea or constipation. Acupuncture can work wonders not only by alleviating the symptoms (the branch) of poor digestion, but treating the underlying cause (the root). The "root" in this case would be stress and acupuncture can tell the body to relieve the stress by properly circulating Qi (energy).

Another helpful tool that one can learn in dealing with stress is meditation. Most acupuncturists are trained in meditation and can give tips on finding a style that is right for you.  Spending just 15 minutes per day with a clear head while focusing on the breath can do amazing things for reducing stress, and you might just find some inner peace while you're at it.

The wide range of veganism

Being vegan can mean so many things.  Some people use the term more loosely than others. I personally stay away from anything that comes from an animal such as dairy, eggs and especially meat of all kinds, fish included.  I also stay away from things like casein, a protein found in dairy products. Hard-core vegans also eliminate honey from their lives, but this is not me. Although I love the bees (as long as they're not flying around me) and I want them to be protected, especially since they are crucial to our precious ecosystem, I still eat honey. I have met some people that consider themselves vegan, but take fish oil as a daily supplement.  It's not my place to judge what people eat and I've always said that listening to ones body is most important in adopting a non-traditional diet.

Whatever end of the vegan spectrum you may be on, I find that my body works and feels best when I practice a Whole Food Plant Based (WFPB) lifestyle.  This doesn't mean that I fork over my paycheck to Whole Foods, the grocery chain.  It means that I cook with and eat foods that aren't overly processed.  I draw the line with breads and tortillas and stuff like that...come on, who has the time to bake bread each week? I don't! I will admit that I love the Soy Chorizo from Trader Joe's and will use it in my recipes from time to time. I also use some cheese substitutes occasionally like Daiya or Trader Joe's Mozzarella Shreds. I really do try to limit the amount of animal product substitutes that I eat the reason being, that I feel so much better when I don't eat processed foods.  When I follow the WFPB eating plan, I fall asleep easily and sleep through the night, I have plenty of energy to get through the intense workouts that I do (spinning and running). I also have spectacular digestion. I don't get bloated anymore and my elimination is always complete and consistent.

So, if you're a vegan that hasn't been feeling as well as you might expect, reevaluate your diet and see if it includes too much of the processed fake meats and cheeses.  Perhaps, you're eating too much soy.

Remember: if it comes from a plant, eat it! If it's made in a plant, dont!