I can’t believe this, but OPRAH IS EATING VEGAN FOR 21 DAYS! How excit
ing is that? I’m a couple days behind, so this might be old news for some of you, but it’s new to me so I thought I’d share. As you probably know, Oprah has struggled with her weight for decades, never really finding anything that has worked to keep her consistently at her ideal body weight. Vegan author Kathy Freston was on Oprah’s show recently and talked with her about “conscious eating” and “spiritual integrity” and apparently it really influenced the talk show host.
Freston’s “21 day cleanse” is vegan, but goes beyond just following a vegan diet in that it requires adherents to also avoid gluten, alcohol, caffeine (what??) and sugar. Oprah is keeping a blog about her 21 day cleanse. My favorite excerpts so far:
She speaks of “spiritual integrity.” How can you say you’re trying to spiritually evolve, without even a thought about what happens to the animals whose lives are sacrificed in the name of gluttony?
Well said. One of the things I really like about Oprah is that I feel she genuinely does try to work toward self-improvement. I don’t think this is just about her weight, and I feel optimistic that this cleanse will impact her eating habits (and hopefully other product purchase habits) going forward. (Fingers crossed!)
Wow, wow, wow! I never imagined meatless meals could be so satisfying. I had been focused on what I had to give up—sugar, gluten, alcohol, meat, chicken, fish, eggs, cheese. “What’s left?” I thought. Apparently a lot. I can honestly say every meal was a surprise and a delight, beginning with breakfast—strawberry rhubarb wheat-free crepes.
Thank you, Oprah! This is what I’ve been trying to tell people–I have discovered so many new, wonderful foods that are satisfying, delicious, and healthy. These are foods I never would have tried had I not decided to start following a vegan diet. Now if only I could get a personal chef of my own to whip up some strawberry rhubarb crepes, I’d be set! How about it, Oprah? Feel like sharing? Please?
Okay, maybe Oprah won’t be sharing her chef with me, but I’m grateful for the number of people her journey will reach. Oprah is possibly the most influential person in American culture today, and watching her follow this cleanse might show people that avoiding animal products really can be done and that we should all be concerned about how our food is raised and how much suffering it causes to the animals who are – as Oprah says – “sacrificed in the name of gluttony”.
I’ll definitely be following Oprah’s blog and will share things with you as her cleanse progresses.
Turning vegan is great, but i really hope she never resorts to drugs
http://www.starvsstar.tv/top10-meth/10-oprah-winfrey.html
Awesome.
I have my issues with Oprah (really, I have my issues with almost everybody), but she has been a force for good when it comes to awareness of animal issues. From puppy mills to factory farming (which she did way back in the 90s) and now veganism.
Is she mentioning this blog and diet regularly on the show? I wonder if she’ll do a show about it after she’s all done.
AND, is she going to stop eating vegan after 21 days? She’d better effing not, though I’m not holding my breath. Something about the phrase “21 day cleanse” connotes that what is cleansed is then free to get dirty again.
I’m pleased to see that she’s not just focusing on the personal “cleansing” aspect of the diet, but also on the horror that animals go through to fuel the standard American diet.
You go girl. You go Oprah.
This is interesting. I don’t believe for a minute that she’ll become a vegan but it does shine a bright spotlight on veganism and ethical eating. Go Oprah.
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BECKY – Clearly that photo is doctored! You best not be talkin’ trash about my Oprah.
AL – I was really happy that she mentioned farm animal suffering in her decision to be a more conscious eater as well. Because of that, I have to believe she’ll at the very least REDUCE her meat/dairy/egg intake. I hope!
NOTHONEY – Yeah, I doubt she’ll turn vegan, but I imagine if she feels really good during/post cleanse she’ll at least reduce her animal product intake–and, best of all, she’s reaching millions of people who might just start to think about where their food is coming from (and hopefully make the logical switch to veganism!). Wishful thinking? Maybe…but we gotta stay optimistic, right??
zomg i like your blog. I’m adding it to my blogroll (see http://veganalternative.wordpress.com)
Well, the cynic in me says she probably won’t keep to it, but then I’m only on Day 22 myself. Anything which puts veganism into the mainstream and out of the “freaky” category has to be a good thing!
Looks like Oprah’s not doing it any longer. Her blog hasn’t been updated in a week.
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