Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Vegans in Bangalore

A couple of months ago I visited Bangalore, and everyone I met was either a vegetarian or a non-vegetarian. I wondered why there was no huge pool of vegans, in the land of ahimsa (non-violence)- India.

I'm so happy to know that they are some vegans in Bangalore after reading this article in Deccan Herald, a newspaper from Bangalore.

17 comments:

Aparna Balasubramanian said...

I really think it is due to various factors. Many people are not aware of veganism. Not just rural India but urban India, too.
Then vegetarian Indian food and culture revolves a lot around milk. It is very difficult to change this. Most people wouldn't even see the need to. These changes have to be choices.
Then if someone wanted to be vegan, where are the alternatives in food? In metro cities of India, including Bangalore you may find some alternatives like soymilk, flax seeds, etc. but how many can afford them at those prices?
This is just my opinion. I respect that people to choose to eat or live by their choices and have cooked a few vegan dishes. Yet I'm happy being vegetarian (I'm using myself as an example).

Kumudha said...

Aparna, you are absolutely right!

I guess there would be many vegans if products such as earth balance
soy Garden™ Natural Buttery Spread, soy yogurt, dairy-free icecream, dairy-free chocolates , tofutti cream cheese, rice milk and almond milk was available in India...

Thanks for sharing your views!

urban vegan said...

There are vegans everywhere...so cool!

Unknown said...

Following vegan diet is not a problem..Why do we always look for substitutions...When we chose a path why not adapt to it..

Why to have an urge of drinking something in the morning..You can go for a juice...Why always look for a substitute like Tofu, Soya Milk..In reality, you are still thinking milk and also avoiding milk...

I have been a strict vegetarian from childhood...So I never bothered about Meat substitute.... So the key is to adapt in such a way that we dont look around for substitutes... Soya Milk can do more harm than cow's milk. Google around and you will know why...

Instead of thinking all the time about Milk Substitutes, why not develop a more interesting eating culture... Something that can be passed on the next generation...

I am a vegan myself and I have adopted this ways for a year now and I feel good about it...

Anonymous said...

Hi Aparna,

I agree you might had a bad experience with soya milk in past.

But it doesn't mean that soya milk is bad. I have been a regular taker of soya milk and it feels great and improves health in all respect.

Where ever you find anything bad about soya milk in Google,its not a proof, its just a observation and there are many dependencies in observations so we cannot directly claim soya milk.

Developed countries like US JAPAN are already using soya milk from years together. We can not conclude just like that soya milk is bad. (USA being the most health conscious country in the world)

Unknown said...

hi everyone....read all your comments....good 2 c vegans in b'lore.....i have 2 queries....i have become a vegan recently and was looking for soya milk but could'nt find it in any of the stores close to my house (in bangalore).....can anyone pls. suggest brand names of soya milk producers & the stores/malls where it is usually available? Also "ronnieanand" can you pls. suggest altenative foods that contain calcium & as much nutrition as cows milk? i was looking for food sources of calcium that we can consume on a regular basis.

Unknown said...

Soya Milk is fragmented food to begin with, not a wholesome food. Thats a whole different topic to discuss. Soya Milk has high amounts of low quality protein, which might give you quick results like increase in Muscle Mass or Fat Loss and at the same time it makes the pH balance of the body to be more acidic. Recent research also shows that Soya Milk consumption can lead to Cancer. There are 100s of research which will point you to Soya Milk increasing Cancer Risk....a

Unknown said...

US Being the most Health Conscious Country. They are the most Paranoid Country. The FDA Health Pyramid used to suggest More intake of Meat and Bread and less of Fruits and Vegetables. They have ruined an entire generation by suggesting this way. People became plain Meat and Bread eaters. FDA Health Pyramid has gone through changes. Today they still maintain more bread and less vegetables. America is the Constipation Capital of the World.

If you are interested in a true Nutrition Pyramid, check out the American Nature Hygiene Society recommendations, not the FDA recommendations. FDA is a corporate slave.

How many of you are aware that tablets like Vicks Action 500 and Disprin are more Harmful than Ciggarettes or Alcohol. Ads of Vicks Action 500 and Disprin are legal on the TV...

Unknown said...

Lasya....

For Calcium requirements, milk is not a good choice. It has high amounts of calcium but calcium to be used to in the body, there is a ratio of Calcium : Phosphorus is required. Milk has a very poor ratio of it. Most of the Calcium in the milk is not used properly by the body. Both in India and US, we consume very high quantity of milk. In India, we have this drinking Coffee / Tea in our culture. Still we have high rates of Osteoporosis. India and US ranks very high in Osteoporosis. Countries like Japan and China and many other countries dont use milk products and yet they dont have such high cases of Osteoporosis.
The answer is not in calcium. Poor absorption of calcium and also excess quantity of inferior proteins.

Black Til Seeds, Spinach, Broccoli, Deep Green Leafy Vegetables, Almonds are good sources of Calcium. Infact if you maintain a good pH balance, you dont need to worry about calcium absorption in the body. Every vegetable has a bit of calcium and protein which are of very high quality. The key is good absorption. Think quality, not quantity.

Vitamin D is very important for calcium synthesis and like it or not, you have to expose yourself to the sunlight.

Unknown said...

Thanks ronnieanand that was very informative....i will think of quality from now on just as u have said :)

Viagra Online said...

in some cases I prefer to eat a good plate with vegetables than meat, you know is more healthy, and in sometimes the flavor of the veggie food is superior to any meat kind.

Anonymous said...

I went to Bangalore and they taught me a lot of important and useful things, for example they taught me to use in the correct way viagra online because it's a good source for them.m10m

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

Fantаѕtіc blοg! Do you have any recommendations fοг aspiгing ωriterѕ?
Ӏ'm planning to start my own blog soon but I'm а lіttlе lοѕt on everything.
Would you ѕuggeѕt ѕtarting ωith a fгee ρlatform like Woгdprеss oг go for a paid option?

Thегe are sο many choices out thеre thаt I'm completely confused .. Any recommendations? Appreciate it!

my homepage :: coffee pure cleanse side effects

Anup Roy said...

Almond milk is good option to stay vegan. Almond milk is it can be made at home. Almond milk has been in use since ages.

Anonymous said...

ronnieanand - US despite of being the most health conscious is also the most obese country in the world!
Secondly,for Indians, the amount of Vitamin D3 absorbed through sunlight is very little due to the higher melanin content in the skin. That's why, despite of having ample sunlight in our country, most of the Indians are deficient in Vitamin D3 and need to take supplements.

Sharon said...

I am an vegetarian. I am looking to find out how to make soya yogurt from soya milk that is made in a soya milk machine. I also need to know what kind of soya yogurt machine to buy . does anyone know anyone that knows how to make coconut ice cream, They make one in the USA. Do you know anyone making soya cheese. I also miss that very much. Sharon Wojno