Becoming Vegan: Comprehensive Edition

By Brenda David and Vesanto Melina
Review by Melanie Powers

Becoming Vegan Comprehensive Edition is the ONLY book you need to equip you with all things plant based nutrition. It is a complete reference guide and should be on the shelves of all health care professionals, teachers, professors and nutrition enthusiasts. It is heavily researched, fully referenced with over 400 pages of content, and almost 100 pages alone citing all the health and nutrition studies. Every health question or concern you or anyone you know could possibly have is covered in-depth in this book. Brenda David and Vesanto Melina, the authors, are both Registered Dieticians who follow a vegan diet and are leaders in the field of plant-based nutrition. They are the co-authors of 14 other health books, seven jointly.

The book starts out as it should with addressing the ethical & environmental concerns centered around eating animals and exposes the horrific conditions and the treatment of animals raised for food. It then goes on to highlight the environmental impact and the heavy price our planet is paying with animal agriculture. From there it’s all nutrition- based and provides detailed analysis of numerous studies done on human health and veganism and the countless health benefits that vegans receive over the general population. Sadly there is so much misinformation out there regarding following a vegan diet, especially with the heightened interest in a Paleo diet (which is also covered in this book). Becoming Vegan covers it all and clears up any myths and misconceptions about vegan nutrition.

Of course no good vegan nutrition book is complete without a chapter on protein and this chapter features most impressive and detailed food charts on protein and nutritional content by food type. The authors also cover in detail with detailed charts the subjects of fats, specifically addressing essential fatty acids, carbohydrates, minerals, and vitamins. Pregnancy, vegan diets for babies, children, teens & seniors, overweight and underweight vegans, and vegan athletes are also covered in this extremely well researched and detailed book.

For those of you who don’t need all the detailed scientific data and referenced studies but still want a thorough vegan nutrition book, check out the sister book Becoming Vegan, Express Edition: The Everyday Guide to Plant-based Nutrition. It is a streamlined version that is extensive yet easily understandable for those interested in nutritionally sound plant-based eating. The Express Edition received a star rating by the American Library Association as “the go-to book” on vegan nutrition, won a 2014 Canada Book Award, and was finalist with honorable mention for a ForeWord Book of the Year award in the U.S.

For more information check out www.becomingvegan.ca to learn more about both of these fantastic new books, the authors, more reviews by health professionals and the vegan food guide.

This book is getting fabulous reviews so it’s sure to be a keeper of a book and a great gift, too. Grab a copy of Becoming Vegan: Comprehensive Edition while you can!