I am trying as hard as I can to be vegan, I've been raw for a year though.
The problem is that my whole family believes that you need fish to get vitamin B12. And every time I try to go vegan they will take me to a Japanese restaurant that I really love (because I am really into Japanese culture) and tempting me with sashimi, and sadly I give in. I am 14 so my parents basically force me to have it because they believe its the only way to get it. Ive tried to show them videos and the 80/10/10 book, AND freelees book but they will not listen! Please help, what is a good way that I can finally quit sashimi and not feel like I am abandoning Japanese culture, and is it OK to take B12 vitamins, because I wouldn't be able to take the shots.
Plz dont criticize me, I'm trying!!
Permalink Reply by Michael McKay-Fleming on Hi PeachyPie,
I see no one's replied, at least in public, so here it goes.
Congrats on trying to be 811! I wish my daughter and son would be like you. Be patient with your family. My mother still worries about my diet and I'm 45. Just keep talking and sharing what you've learned.
You don't have to take B12 shots you can get it in pill form, a sub lingual B-12.
As for the eating out, if you're not worried too much about eating cooked food once in awhile there are many vegan options at Sushi places. If you're in doubt just ask the waiter. Avocado rolls, cucumber rolls, etc.
Hope that helps!
Permalink Reply by PeachyPie on Thank you for answering, I thought no one was going to!
Thats good to hear I am not the only one, and thanks for the encouragement! I will check out the vitamin b12 pills thanks!
Lots of thanks haha
Permalink Reply by Jon Fergus on Hi Peachy Pie. Sorry... didn't see this post earlier.
As a youth, living at home with unsupportive parents, it can be quite difficult to live this lifestyle. We have many members currently in situations similar to yours, and my general advice is to do the best you can when it comes to sticking with the 811 program. If your parents are buying the food, it can be difficult, so do the best you can, and when you're free to leave the house as an adult you can do it your own way.
In terms of being vegan though, I personally feel much stronger and recommend more drastic measures. I was a very stubborn kid, especially in my teen years, and I have no problems with advocating stubbornness when it comes to issues like this. If I were in your position, I would simply refuse to eat animal products. Simply refuse. It may become a battle of will-power between yourself and them, but if it is necessary to keep from participating in the killing of animals, I say go for it. Show them all just how determined you are to be vegan! :)
p.s. when going out for dinner, just order the 'vegan sushi' - avocado rolls, cucumber rolls, etc., or go for a giant plate of rice and veggies. Japanese culture certainly has vegan choices for you, and while they may not all be optimal for this lifestyle, in your current position they're not so bad.
p.p.s. If they're so concerned about B12, ask them why those who eat meat can (and often are) also B12 deficient. B12 is NOT a vegan issue. Just keep pushing info at them until they give in ;P
Permalink Reply by pradtf on If they're so concerned about B12, ask them why those who eat meat can (and often are) also B12 deficient.
in fact, nearly 40% of the usa pop has b12 problems according to the tufts study back around 2000:
here is a link regarding the tufts study (i have others, but i think this is sufficient):
http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2000/000802.htm
this is an interesting paragraph from wikipedia regarding the above:
Recent research indicates that B12 deficiency is far more widespread than formerly believed. A large study in the US found that 39 percent of studied group of 3,000 had low values.[23] This study at Tufts University used the B12 concentration 258 pmol/l (= 350 pg/liter) as a criterion of "low level". However, a recent research[citation needed] has found that B12 deficiency may occur at a much higher B12 concentration (500–600 pg/l). On this basis Mitsuyama and Kogoh [24] proposed 550 pg/l, and Tiggelen et al.[25] proposed 600 pg/l. Against this background, there are reasons to believe that B12 deficiency is present in a far greater proportion of the population than 39% as reported by Tufts University.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitamin_B12_deficiency
so, peachypie, as jon puts it:
B12 is NOT a vegan issue.
in fact, it's often not even a adequate intake issue, but an inadequate absorption problem (for various genetic and/or lifestyle matters). supplementation is definitely recommended by 30bad if your body has difficulty absorbing sufficient amounts.
good for you for trying to hold your own too and welcome to 30bad!
in friendship,
prad
Permalink Reply by Peter on I would acknowledge that indeed there may be an increased risk of B12 deficiency amongst vegans however as highlighted a significant proportion of the population may have a low level of B12.
Maybe you should take a blood test which includes a B12 reading to know what your actual level of B12 is. You would have something to show your parents. Re-take the test again in six months after taking B12 to monitor your levels. You will be in control and be able to demonstrate what your actual level of B12 is, something that your parents' probably won't be able to. If you have a normal level of B12 maybe they won't be as concerned.
When I last had a blood test my reading was in the middle of the standard range even though a was taking a B12 supplement inconsistently. I break up a B12 tablet into six pieces and take a piece most days. One tablet lasts me a week. The bottle with 75 tablets lasts me approx. 18 months, so this is a cheap option. That's the only supplement I take.
I usually eat the avocado or veggie rolls when I go to a sushi restaurant and make sure there are no animal products in these rolls.
Permalink Reply by Jon Fergus on Oh, PeachyPie, I also wanted to send you to this group:
http://www.30bananasaday.com/group/Youngins
Not sure how active it is, but you'll find a bunch of our young members gathered there. Might be a good place to find others in similar situations and help each other through. :)
Permalink Reply by Peter Csere on Eat 4,000 calories from fruit the day they bring you to the restaurant. You will have absolutely no problem resisting the fish. Hold firm. Offer them info, including the book "Could it Be B12?" and cite the tufts university study (over 39% of the entire adult U.S. population is deficient). Tell them flat-out that they are wrong about the fish.
Don't take a run of hte mill drugstore B12 supp. It will probably have cyanocobalamin which has cyanide in it. Take a sublingual methylcobalamin or get an injection of methylcobalamin or hydroxocobalamin from a doctor. However, I don't recommend anyone take supplements unless they actually test positive for a deficiency, with a Urinary MMA test (methylmalonic acid) and NOT a homocysteine or blood serum B12 test as those two are inaccurate for many reasons.
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