The Great Vegan Advantage-Biochemistry Edition

Tyll

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  1. Vegan newbie
Hello everyone,

I am totally excited about the book "Becoming Vegan" by Brenda Davis and Vesanto Melina. The level of Details is great for both comprehension and arguing. It is good to have solid reasons (if you eat x, y will happen in your body - not just "x is (un)healthy"). But in this great book (and as far as I know in all "mainstream" books on the subject) the studies are all empirical and therefore "open to attack" (at least the smaller ones - to a certain degree).

Do you know some (Patho)Physiology / Biochemistry / Nutritional Medicine books covering all the processes (good and bad) on cellular level? Just an example from "Becoming Vegan":

"Recent research has shown that intestinal bacteria in nonvegetarians convert the carnitine from animal products or supplements into a toxic compound known as TMAO (trimethylamine N-oxide), which may raise the risk of atherosclerosis and lead to strokes and heart attacks."

I would love to know which type of bacteria are responsible for this metabolization and why we are protected (are the good bacteria in the microbiome of vegans not able to metabolize carnitine? Or are they able to, but it's a different reaction that leads to short-chain fatty acids that do some good things in the body, for example?).

To keep it short, is there a book that explains at a very deep level the benefits of good nutrition?

Thank you very much in advance!
 
Hello everyone,

I am totally excited about the book "Becoming Vegan" by Brenda Davis and Vesanto Melina. The level of Details is great for both comprehension and arguing. It is good to have solid reasons (if you eat x, y will happen in your body - not just "x is (un)healthy"). But in this great book (and as far as I know in all "mainstream" books on the subject) the studies are all empirical and therefore "open to attack" (at least the smaller ones - to a certain degree).

Do you know some (Patho)Physiology / Biochemistry / Nutritional Medicine books covering all the processes (good and bad) on cellular level? Just an example from "Becoming Vegan":

"Recent research has shown that intestinal bacteria in nonvegetarians convert the carnitine from animal products or supplements into a toxic compound known as TMAO (trimethylamine N-oxide), which may raise the risk of atherosclerosis and lead to strokes and heart attacks."

I would love to know which type of bacteria are responsible for this metabolization and why we are protected (are the good bacteria in the microbiome of vegans not able to metabolize carnitine? Or are they able to, but it's a different reaction that leads to short-chain fatty acids that do some good things in the body, for example?).

To keep it short, is there a book that explains at a very deep level the benefits of good nutrition?

Thank you very much in advance!

That does sound like a good book!!
I'd like to read it too.

Not sure it exists. Like you said most of the research is empirical.

I have noticed that Dr. Gregar frequently backs up his claims with science based evidence.

You might look at the back of Becoming Vegan and see what books she has as references.
you might try writing a few authors and see if they have a recommendation.

Looking forward to see what suggestions other VFers have.
 
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Definitely recommend all of Dr Gregers works- and he recommends Brenda Davis as an RD, esp for raising children
How Not to Die
How Not to Diet

Thank you! (And of course thank you too Lou :) )

In fact I'm reading How not to Diet at the moment.. but since I'm reading multiple books in parallel, it will take a while. Maybe I'm subconsciously somewhat unmotivated to read more in it, since I want to loose body fat on the one hand, but want to build muscles on the other (and I'm not sure, whether both is possible at the same time).
 
I want to loose body fat on the one hand, but want to build muscles on the other (and I'm not sure, whether both is possible at the same time).

yes its possible.
however its harder to do at the same time as opposed to one at a time.
The general strategy is to do lose body fat with your diet. but to gain muscle with your exercise program.
 
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An Australian podcaster, Simon Hill, released a book this year, The Proof is in the Plants. It's well resourced and a good read. If you listen to his podcasts, a lot of what's in the book is discussed with particular specialists.
On the Microbiome gut bacteria side, there are two books by gastroentrologists worth a read, US Will Bulsiewics, Fiber Fueled, and a UK guy, Alan Desmond and the book title eludes me....I think on insta he's something like DevonGutDr.
Edit: the podcast is called Plant Proof.
 
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