#40 Buzzworthy Bites: Navigating the Avocado Vegan Controversy

In this episode Rachel, having been asked a number of times if she’s actually vegan because she has bought an avocado, thought it was time to explore the issue and create an episode to answer questions such as these: are almonds and avocados vegan? can vegans eat avocado? do vegans eat avocados? how are avocados not vegan? why aren’t avocados vegan? why is veganism so associated with avocados? fellow vegans do you purchase and consume avocados?   For a keto-vegan avocados are an excellent choice of food because their nutritional values, per 100g, are: fat 19.5, carbs 2.9, protein 1.9 fibre 3.4. They also include 485 mg of potassium, vitamin C, folate, vitamin B6, pantothenic acid (vitamin B5), vitamin E, and magnesium.   Find out how Rachel thinks we can change the world; if she remembers the first time she ever had some avocado; and whether she does or does not buy them.   It is claimed that avocados have been blamed for driving millennials to the brink of financial ruin, (this links to an Australian article claiming that eating Avocados on toast is costing millennials the price of a house deposit! Take this article with a pinch of salt I feel!) Avocados also then became a health hazard with the proliferation of “avocado hand” injuries (caused by sloppy attempts to remove the pit with a chef’s knife). Finally, and Rachel thinks this is the biggest controversy QI asked that fateful question around avocados not being vegan. The Vegan Society, who created the word ‘vegan’ and ‘veganism’ states the definition of being a vegan: "is a way of living which seeks to exclude—as far as is possible and practicable—all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals ... In dietary terms it denotes the practice of dispensing with all products derived wholly or partly from animals."  In an ideal world, we would live entirely independent of animals, and would not take advantage of their natural processes. But the definition acknowledges that it is not possible for every individual to completely avoid all forms of exploitation. Because many crops, in the mass quantity needed, are difficult to cultivate naturally, they rely on bees which are taken, in their hives, on backs of trucks, long distances across California, USA. This is known as migratory bee-keeping. It is an unnatural use of animals.   Valuable Resources For an extensive list of foods with their carb, fat and protein count, go here: https://www.rachelgtherapy.co.uk/1-what-why-and-how For a keto-vegan start-up menu and shopping list go here: https://www.rachelgtherapy.co.uk/1-what-why-and-how Articles Rachel used in researching this important issue: https://www.thekitchn.com/are-avocados-vegan-migratory-bees-263550 https://www.tastingtable.com/849272/why-some-people-believe-avocados-arent-vegan/ https://www.veganfoodandliving.com/features/are-avocados-vegan/   Host Bio Rachel, a once morbidly obese individual, experienced a remarkable body transformation through the keto diet. Later, she embraced veganism and now shares her extensive knowledge and obsession with carbs in vegan proteins on The Keto Vegan podcast. Her goal is to demonstrate the simplicity of combining the keto diet with a vegan lifestyle. Resources: https://www.rachelgtherapy.co.uk/the-keto-vegan Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/@TheKetoVegan/podcasts Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/821471059206067 Email: [email protected] https://theketovegan.podbean.com/