A few cool things about plants
by Adam Kochanowicz
June 12, 2009
Any essential animal-derived ingredient can be found in a vegan source.
It's a popular idea that vegans need to take supplements because certain nutrients are just impossible to get from a vegan diet. While many vegans do indeed take supplements and I would encourage the taking of plant-based supplements for any diet to ensure optimal health, a vegan wouldn't need to perish without it.
Ingredients like DHA, Taurine, B12, protein, Omega-3/6, and Iodine can easily be found from vegan sources. For more detail on the health benefits of a vegan diet and it's implication on children and pregnant mothers, check out our very own Seattle Vegan Examiner, Virginia Messina. Virignia is a registered dietitian and long-time vegan.
Some plants eat and use the labor of insects for surival
You may already know about plants like the Venus Flytrap which depend on nitrogenous nutrition from insects (due to their unusual soil or aquatic environments,) but did you know some plants depend on the labor of insects and give back mutually.
One of my favorite plants is the Dischidia major. D. major is an unusual plant with flat, pouched leaves. These leaves attract ants who make their homes in the leaves where they receive protection and nutrition.
Meanwhile, the ants bring their insect prey back to the leaves for consumption. Leaving behind the inconsumable parts of their dinner, the D. major is happy to consume the remains for essential nutrition.
To read the full article:
http://www.examiner.com/x-4198-Vegan-Examiner~y2009m6d12-A-few-cool-things-about-plants
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