Guess who's vegan?
Carl Lewis
World-famous track runner and Olympic gold medalist Carl Lewis says he had the best race of his life at the 1991 World Championships, after he turned vegan to prepare for the race, Mother Nature Network reports. It was that year that he won ABC's Wide World of Sports Athlete of the Year and set a world record.
In the introduction to Very Vegetarian by Jannequin Bennett, Lewis explains that he went vegan after meeting two people, a doctor and a nutritionist, that inspired him to switch his diet. Though he acknowledges there were hurdles to cross, such as cravings for meat and salt, he found other substances like lemon juice and lentils to make his diet enjoyable. (Photo by Popperfoto/Getty Images)
World-famous track runner and Olympic gold medalist Carl Lewis says he had the best race of his life at the 1991 World Championships, after he turned vegan to prepare for the race, Mother Nature Network reports. It was that year that he won ABC's Wide World of Sports Athlete of the Year and set a world record.
In the introduction to Very Vegetarian by Jannequin Bennett, Lewis explains that he went vegan after meeting two people, a doctor and a nutritionist, that inspired him to switch his diet. Though he acknowledges there were hurdles to cross, such as cravings for meat and salt, he found other substances like lemon juice and lentils to make his diet enjoyable. (Photo by Popperfoto/Getty Images)
John Salley
A retired American professional basketball player, actor and talk show host. Salley was the first player in NBA history to play on three different championship-winning franchises, as well as the first player (and only one of two, the other being Tim Duncan) in the NBA to win a championship in three different decades. In addition, Salley is a wellness advocate, entrepreneur, and most importantly, an outspoken vegan who sticks up for animals every chance he gets. A partner with Vegan Vine Wines. (Photo by mmamania.com)
A retired American professional basketball player, actor and talk show host. Salley was the first player in NBA history to play on three different championship-winning franchises, as well as the first player (and only one of two, the other being Tim Duncan) in the NBA to win a championship in three different decades. In addition, Salley is a wellness advocate, entrepreneur, and most importantly, an outspoken vegan who sticks up for animals every chance he gets. A partner with Vegan Vine Wines. (Photo by mmamania.com)
Alicia Silverstone
This "Clueless" star went vegan more than 15 years ago at age 21, according to Health Magazine. Prior to the dietary switch, Silverstone told Oprah that she had puffy eyes, asthma, acne and insomnia and constipation.
The New York Times reports that this lifelong animal lover made the switch after watching documentaries on the food industry. Silverstone authored The Kind Diet, a book on vegan cuisine in 2009, and offers other diet pointers and green tips on her website, The Kind Life.
(Photo by Toby Canham/Getty Images)
This "Clueless" star went vegan more than 15 years ago at age 21, according to Health Magazine. Prior to the dietary switch, Silverstone told Oprah that she had puffy eyes, asthma, acne and insomnia and constipation.
The New York Times reports that this lifelong animal lover made the switch after watching documentaries on the food industry. Silverstone authored The Kind Diet, a book on vegan cuisine in 2009, and offers other diet pointers and green tips on her website, The Kind Life.
(Photo by Toby Canham/Getty Images)
Carrie Underwood
Growing up on a farm, Carrie Underwood says she became a vegetarian at age 13 after witnessing animal killings first-hand. Slightly lactose intolerant, PETA's Sexiest Vegetarian Celebrity of 2005 and 2007 jumped to being a vegan in 2011.
It's not a completely strict meatless and dairy-free diet for this country star, though: She'll slip up for cultural or social reasons if need be. "I am a vegan but I consider myself to be a practical vegan," she told Entertainment Wise. "If I order something on a menu and it has a sprinkling of cheese on top I'm not going to send it back."
(Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Growing up on a farm, Carrie Underwood says she became a vegetarian at age 13 after witnessing animal killings first-hand. Slightly lactose intolerant, PETA's Sexiest Vegetarian Celebrity of 2005 and 2007 jumped to being a vegan in 2011.
It's not a completely strict meatless and dairy-free diet for this country star, though: She'll slip up for cultural or social reasons if need be. "I am a vegan but I consider myself to be a practical vegan," she told Entertainment Wise. "If I order something on a menu and it has a sprinkling of cheese on top I'm not going to send it back."
(Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Natalie Portman
Long-time vegetarian Natalie Portman went vegan in 2009 after reading Jonathan Safran Foer's Eating Animals. She even went on to blog about it on The Huffington Post. "The human cost of factory farming -- both the compromised welfare of slaughterhouse workers and, even more, the environmental effects of the mass production of animals -- is staggering," she wrote.
The actress reverted to vegetarianism during her 2011 pregnancy, US Weekly reports, citing that her body was craving foods made with eggs and cheese. Post-pregnancy, Portman readopted the animal-free lifestyle. Her 2012 wedding was actually catered with an all-vegan menu. (Photo by Andrew Cowie/AFP/Getty Images)
Long-time vegetarian Natalie Portman went vegan in 2009 after reading Jonathan Safran Foer's Eating Animals. She even went on to blog about it on The Huffington Post. "The human cost of factory farming -- both the compromised welfare of slaughterhouse workers and, even more, the environmental effects of the mass production of animals -- is staggering," she wrote.
The actress reverted to vegetarianism during her 2011 pregnancy, US Weekly reports, citing that her body was craving foods made with eggs and cheese. Post-pregnancy, Portman readopted the animal-free lifestyle. Her 2012 wedding was actually catered with an all-vegan menu. (Photo by Andrew Cowie/AFP/Getty Images)
Mike Tyson
Former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson turned vegan in 2010, and has since loss 100 pounds. “Becoming a vegan gave me another opportunity to live a healthy life. I was so congested from all the drugs and bad cocaine, I could hardly breathe, [I had] high blood pressure, [was] almost dying [and had] arthritis. And once I became a vegan all that stuff diminished,” said Tyson earlier this year on"Oprah: Where Are They now?".
(Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)
Former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson turned vegan in 2010, and has since loss 100 pounds. “Becoming a vegan gave me another opportunity to live a healthy life. I was so congested from all the drugs and bad cocaine, I could hardly breathe, [I had] high blood pressure, [was] almost dying [and had] arthritis. And once I became a vegan all that stuff diminished,” said Tyson earlier this year on"Oprah: Where Are They now?".
(Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)
Ellen DeGeneres
Similar to Natalie Portman, comedian and talk-show host Ellen DeGeneres switched to a vegan diet in 2008 after reading several books on animal rights and diets. "I do it because I love animals," DeGeneres told Katie Couric. "And I saw the reality and I just couldn't ignore it anymore." Degeneres' wife, Portia de Rossi, shares the same diet, and their 2008 wedding featured a vegan menu.
Perhaps one of the more vocal celebrities on this diet, she even has her own vegan blog, "Going Vegan With Ellen," and she and de Rossi are slated to open their own vegan restaurant, though its opening date is unknown.
(Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Similar to Natalie Portman, comedian and talk-show host Ellen DeGeneres switched to a vegan diet in 2008 after reading several books on animal rights and diets. "I do it because I love animals," DeGeneres told Katie Couric. "And I saw the reality and I just couldn't ignore it anymore." Degeneres' wife, Portia de Rossi, shares the same diet, and their 2008 wedding featured a vegan menu.
Perhaps one of the more vocal celebrities on this diet, she even has her own vegan blog, "Going Vegan With Ellen," and she and de Rossi are slated to open their own vegan restaurant, though its opening date is unknown.
(Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Usher
This singer-songwriter-dancer went vegan in 2012, according to Mother Nature Network. His dad died of a heart attack in 2008, and RadarOnline reports that Usher is determined to take charge of his fate with this healthier diet.
Usher apparently tried to get his protégé, Justin Bieber, aboard the vegan train too, but he hasn't stuck with it.
(Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
This singer-songwriter-dancer went vegan in 2012, according to Mother Nature Network. His dad died of a heart attack in 2008, and RadarOnline reports that Usher is determined to take charge of his fate with this healthier diet.
Usher apparently tried to get his protégé, Justin Bieber, aboard the vegan train too, but he hasn't stuck with it.
(Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
"15 Vegan Celebrities Who've Given Up Animal Products For A Healthier Lifestyle" Huffington Post 12/04/2013. Online.
