| Ken's Page |
| P.O. Box 126 * Negaunee, MI 49866 * (906) 236-1279 * info@northernvegans.com |
Congratulations! If you are reading this you are either vegan or considering going vegan. If you’ve done some
reading on the vegan diet/lifestyle, you may get the impression that if you are vegan nothing can go wrong, or be
wrong, with your health. Vegans don’t get cancer, aren’t obese, don’t get diabetes or heart disease, don’t get
Alzheimer’s disease or have strokes, have more energy and are perfectly healthy in every way - right?
Unfortunately, this often is not the truth. Don’t misconstrue - I’m not suggesting that the vegan diet is not healthy, but
it is not the end of the road to a healthy lifestyle as much as it is just the beginning.
Not long ago, I was talking with an old friend of mine. He preached on and on about his new diet. He has lost
weight, has more energy, and is a respected athlete. The diet he was bragging about was one of extremely high fat
and animal products. But how could this be I wondered? This goes against everything I’ve read, learned and
experienced as a vegan.
There are probably two reasons for this man’s success on his high fat diet. The first is simply that if any of us
eliminates a food group from our diet we will lose weight - due mostly to ingesting fewer calories. But the second
reason for his success is a bit more complex and offers a lesson for all people, vegan and non-vegan alike.
The loose thread toward unraveling this complex issue has it’s roots in our evolutionary history. We evolved as raw
food vegans - or possibly as raw food vegetarians - perhaps ingesting small amounts of animal protein from time to
time - I mention this though I realize this concept is highly argumentative and can never be “won”. The point I am
trying to make however, is that raw/live foods contain live enzymes which are the cornerstone to our digestion and
good health. Raw foodists have known this for a very long time.
Some of the enzymes we use to digest our food are produced in our bodies, and some need to be ingested in our
food. When we cook our food or eat highly processed or refined foods, we are ingesting no beneficial enzymes. And
as we age, our bodies tend to produce less enzymes - thus even the most devoted raw foodists may need an
enzyme supplement.
Here in the great white north, we can usually ingest plenty of enzymes if we eat raw foods directly from our gardens
and farmers markets during the warmer times of year. But what happens in the winter? Most of us tend to eat frozen
veggies, which have been blanched and have no enzymes, and eat more complex carbohydrates in the form of
soups, breads, casseroles, etc. After all, there is nothing like hot food on a cold blustery winter’s day.
If our food is not being digested properly due to a lack of enzymes, a toxic situation occurs in our bodies, which often
leads to a cascade of health problems including; allergies, chronic fatigue, insomnia, female hormone
imbalances, blood sugar fluctuations, high triglycerides, and cholesterol, liver and gall disease, muscle and joint
pain, chronic sinus/respiratory problems, weight management issues, frequent colds and flu, and a host of other
immunity problems - it is the beginning to the end. Again, this can occur whether we are eating vegan or the
Standard American Diet.
Alpha-galactosidase is an enzyme produced in some seeds, nuts and roots and is also the enzyme in the common
over-the counter product known as Beano. This enzyme helps us digest some complex carbohydrates (it’s not just
for beans anymore). Many people lack this (and other) important enzyme(s) thus have difficulty digesting complex
carbohydrates. This can lead to a condition known as Complex Carbohydrate Intolerance (CCI). It is most often
mistaken for - or leads to many other conditions and ailments including Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Leaky Gut
Syndrome, Chronic Fatigue and many, many more.
This is why so many people feel better when switching to a high fat/animal foods diet. Their bodies are lacking
enzymes which break down complex carbohydrates, thus eating “carbs” causes a host of problems within their
bodies. Eliminating carbohydrates from their diet makes them feel better. Now more of their food is being digested
and they not only have more energy, they also lose weight. Unfortunately, as well informed vegans, we all know
about the detrimental effects of eating animal fats and proteins.
We know that the earth could never support 6 billion people eating a high fat/animal foods diet; it also cannot
support 6 billion people eating raw food vegan. There would need to be a steady stream of semi-trucks from the
tropics and subtropics heading north in order for all of us to eat raw and fresh during winter months. In such a case,
the resource usage would be incomprehensible. Yet producing and shipping supplemental enzymes is something
the earth can support. I think everyone should eat as much fresh raw food as reasonably possible and we should
all eat at least some raw fresh food everyday, but it may be unrealistic to expect everyone to be staunch raw
foodists - especially this far north.
Thus, we have come full circle. Our species evolved in the tropics and subtropics sustaining itself on raw fruits,
vegetables, nuts and berries. We expanded our range northward and with that expansion came a reduction in the
average life expectancy until our society became sophisticated enough to aid the aging process with medical
support. It may be true that humans are not designed to live this far north, but those of us who live here love it for its
forests, lakes, rivers, skiing, sledding, etc. It is a high quality life, if we can utilize modern technology, including the
ingestion of digestive aids.
Often, while promoting the vegan lifestyle, someone will say to me that they have tried going vegan and rattle off a
number of past health problems; concluding that the vegan diet doesn’t work for them. The truth of the matter is that
the vegan diet can work for everyone despite blood type, medical history or genetics. For every “failed” vegan, there
are a number of devoted followers who will never try veganism - convinced that it will not work for them either. Thus it
is of utmost importance to not only promote the vegan diet, but to promote a healthy vegan diet. And for many of us -
especially those of us getting along in years, enzyme supplementation is key.
It should also be noted that manufactured enzymes are available in both animal and non-animal sources. Animal
enzymes should not be taken since they are not vegan. Animal based enzymes also do not survive the highly acidic
environment in the stomach and if they do, they work too slowly to aid the digestive process. If you buy enzymes, you
should be purchasing a good quality, broad spectrum vegetarian based enzyme supplement. If you cannot find
these locally, they are readily available on the Web.
Be well,
Ken Damro
Ken Damro is a Northern Vegans founding board member and holds a degree in Vegan Nutrition Consulting.
reading on the vegan diet/lifestyle, you may get the impression that if you are vegan nothing can go wrong, or be
wrong, with your health. Vegans don’t get cancer, aren’t obese, don’t get diabetes or heart disease, don’t get
Alzheimer’s disease or have strokes, have more energy and are perfectly healthy in every way - right?
Unfortunately, this often is not the truth. Don’t misconstrue - I’m not suggesting that the vegan diet is not healthy, but
it is not the end of the road to a healthy lifestyle as much as it is just the beginning.
Not long ago, I was talking with an old friend of mine. He preached on and on about his new diet. He has lost
weight, has more energy, and is a respected athlete. The diet he was bragging about was one of extremely high fat
and animal products. But how could this be I wondered? This goes against everything I’ve read, learned and
experienced as a vegan.
There are probably two reasons for this man’s success on his high fat diet. The first is simply that if any of us
eliminates a food group from our diet we will lose weight - due mostly to ingesting fewer calories. But the second
reason for his success is a bit more complex and offers a lesson for all people, vegan and non-vegan alike.
The loose thread toward unraveling this complex issue has it’s roots in our evolutionary history. We evolved as raw
food vegans - or possibly as raw food vegetarians - perhaps ingesting small amounts of animal protein from time to
time - I mention this though I realize this concept is highly argumentative and can never be “won”. The point I am
trying to make however, is that raw/live foods contain live enzymes which are the cornerstone to our digestion and
good health. Raw foodists have known this for a very long time.
Some of the enzymes we use to digest our food are produced in our bodies, and some need to be ingested in our
food. When we cook our food or eat highly processed or refined foods, we are ingesting no beneficial enzymes. And
as we age, our bodies tend to produce less enzymes - thus even the most devoted raw foodists may need an
enzyme supplement.
Here in the great white north, we can usually ingest plenty of enzymes if we eat raw foods directly from our gardens
and farmers markets during the warmer times of year. But what happens in the winter? Most of us tend to eat frozen
veggies, which have been blanched and have no enzymes, and eat more complex carbohydrates in the form of
soups, breads, casseroles, etc. After all, there is nothing like hot food on a cold blustery winter’s day.
If our food is not being digested properly due to a lack of enzymes, a toxic situation occurs in our bodies, which often
leads to a cascade of health problems including; allergies, chronic fatigue, insomnia, female hormone
imbalances, blood sugar fluctuations, high triglycerides, and cholesterol, liver and gall disease, muscle and joint
pain, chronic sinus/respiratory problems, weight management issues, frequent colds and flu, and a host of other
immunity problems - it is the beginning to the end. Again, this can occur whether we are eating vegan or the
Standard American Diet.
Alpha-galactosidase is an enzyme produced in some seeds, nuts and roots and is also the enzyme in the common
over-the counter product known as Beano. This enzyme helps us digest some complex carbohydrates (it’s not just
for beans anymore). Many people lack this (and other) important enzyme(s) thus have difficulty digesting complex
carbohydrates. This can lead to a condition known as Complex Carbohydrate Intolerance (CCI). It is most often
mistaken for - or leads to many other conditions and ailments including Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Leaky Gut
Syndrome, Chronic Fatigue and many, many more.
This is why so many people feel better when switching to a high fat/animal foods diet. Their bodies are lacking
enzymes which break down complex carbohydrates, thus eating “carbs” causes a host of problems within their
bodies. Eliminating carbohydrates from their diet makes them feel better. Now more of their food is being digested
and they not only have more energy, they also lose weight. Unfortunately, as well informed vegans, we all know
about the detrimental effects of eating animal fats and proteins.
We know that the earth could never support 6 billion people eating a high fat/animal foods diet; it also cannot
support 6 billion people eating raw food vegan. There would need to be a steady stream of semi-trucks from the
tropics and subtropics heading north in order for all of us to eat raw and fresh during winter months. In such a case,
the resource usage would be incomprehensible. Yet producing and shipping supplemental enzymes is something
the earth can support. I think everyone should eat as much fresh raw food as reasonably possible and we should
all eat at least some raw fresh food everyday, but it may be unrealistic to expect everyone to be staunch raw
foodists - especially this far north.
Thus, we have come full circle. Our species evolved in the tropics and subtropics sustaining itself on raw fruits,
vegetables, nuts and berries. We expanded our range northward and with that expansion came a reduction in the
average life expectancy until our society became sophisticated enough to aid the aging process with medical
support. It may be true that humans are not designed to live this far north, but those of us who live here love it for its
forests, lakes, rivers, skiing, sledding, etc. It is a high quality life, if we can utilize modern technology, including the
ingestion of digestive aids.
Often, while promoting the vegan lifestyle, someone will say to me that they have tried going vegan and rattle off a
number of past health problems; concluding that the vegan diet doesn’t work for them. The truth of the matter is that
the vegan diet can work for everyone despite blood type, medical history or genetics. For every “failed” vegan, there
are a number of devoted followers who will never try veganism - convinced that it will not work for them either. Thus it
is of utmost importance to not only promote the vegan diet, but to promote a healthy vegan diet. And for many of us -
especially those of us getting along in years, enzyme supplementation is key.
It should also be noted that manufactured enzymes are available in both animal and non-animal sources. Animal
enzymes should not be taken since they are not vegan. Animal based enzymes also do not survive the highly acidic
environment in the stomach and if they do, they work too slowly to aid the digestive process. If you buy enzymes, you
should be purchasing a good quality, broad spectrum vegetarian based enzyme supplement. If you cannot find
these locally, they are readily available on the Web.
Be well,
Ken Damro
Ken Damro is a Northern Vegans founding board member and holds a degree in Vegan Nutrition Consulting.
| The Wonder of Enzymes |