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Although I’ve been plant-based for over 28 years, ten years ago, a nutritionist convinced me to ditch my omega-3 supplement made from flaxseeds in favor of using a non-vegan supplement made from fish oil. Internally, chronic inflammation from diets that include dairy and animal meat contain too much omega-6, which may lead to cancer, heart disease, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, and other chronic diseases. It’s the edible oils [corn oil, olive oil, peanut oil, soybean oil, etc.] “If you eat an inflammatory diet, the answer is not to eat a bunch of fish oil supplements, because unless you get your omega-6 intake down, you can’t even convert that fish oil downstream to DHA and EPA.

Many children outgrow this allergy, but children with high levels of cow’s milk antibodies in their blood continue to be allergic to cow’s milk well after infancy (2). There are several reasons for why this may occur: Cow’s milk is a poor source of iron and it has low bioavailability (meaning the body cannot absorb this iron well) and children who consume cow’s milk regularly have been shown to have an increased risk of anemia ( Cow’s milk also has high levels of calcium and phosphorus, both which inhibit the absorption of iron and could potentially explain why children experience anemia. Children who experience gastrointestinal issues as a result of inflammation from consuming cow’s milk may experience chronic diarrhea and blood loss, which leads to loss of iron ( The earlier a child is introduced to cow’s milk, the greater the risk a child has of developing anemia. Homemade non-dairy beverages are also not recommended as a one-for-one cow’s milk swap, as they are not fortified with essential nutrients that children need, such as calcium, Vitamin D, Iron and Vitamin B12.

My platform, @artsyagnes, receives daily messages from athletes and nonathletes all over the world asking for advice and guidance on how to transition to a plant-based lifestyle, and I am honored that these people trust me and my opinion. Being on the Vegan Athlete panel at the SoCal Vegfest this past year was also a cool experience! Ditching dairy and becoming vegan affected every single area of my life including my athletic performance. My goal is to adopt a completely raw vegan diet.

Melt uses ethically-grown, sustainable palm oil to make its antioxidant and omega-3 rich plant-based butters, while Miyoko’s Kitchen makes its dairy-free butter without palm oil. If your kid can’t get enough bagel and schmear, swap out the saturated fat-filled dairy cream cheese for a plant-based variety, like Kite Hill. Swap Whipped Cream for Coconut Cream Adults and kids alike love their whipped cream, whether that’s sprayed directly out of a canister or dolloped on top of a special ice cream sundae or a cup of cocoa. Both Follow Your Heart and So Delicious make non-dairy cheese shreds that melt and taste like dairy cheese, and try Miyoko’s Kitchen brand for standout melty mozzarella.