1.0HappyCowhttps://www.happycow.net/blogVicki Cosiohttps://www.happycow.net/blog/author/vickicosio/rich600338<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="ZTQyz9BvdR"><a href="https://www.happycow.net/blog/do-vegans-get-fewer-colds-2/">Do Vegans Get Fewer Colds?</a></blockquote><iframe sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" src="https://www.happycow.net/blog/do-vegans-get-fewer-colds-2/embed/#?secret=ZTQyz9BvdR" width="600" height="338" title="“Do Vegans Get Fewer Colds?” — HappyCow" data-secret="ZTQyz9BvdR" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" class="wp-embedded-content"></iframe><script type="text/javascript"> /* <![CDATA[ */ /*! This file is auto-generated */ !function(d,l){"use strict";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&"undefined"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!/[^a-zA-Z0-9]/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),c=new RegExp("^https?:$","i"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display="none";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute("style"),"height"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):"link"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute("src")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener("message",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll("iframe.wp-embedded-content"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute("data-secret"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+="#?secret="+t,e.setAttribute("data-secret",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:"ready",secret:t},"*")},!1)))}(window,document); /* ]]> */ </script> https://www.happycow.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/DSC04519.jpg1024768If you’re vegan, do you think you get fewer colds than the average person? Speaking for myself, I have to answer with a resounding “yes.” I’ve been vegan for the last 15 years. In that time, I have never had the flu. I get a cold about every 3 to 5 years, and the duration and severity of the cold are far less than when I wasn’t vegan. The colds I have gotten since being vegan are more of an annoyance than anything…just enough to make me feel a little under the weather. The same holds true for my husband, who has been vegan for the same amount of time. There has not been a lot of research on whether or not vegans get less sick than the rest of the population. However, it wouldn’t surprise me if this was true. The majority of vegans consume many more fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, beans, legumes and soy than non-vegans, and without the addition of meat, dairy or eggs. All of these plant foods contain antioxidants, which help support the immune system. Could the phytochemicals in soy products like tofu and tempeh play a part? A 2009 study published in the U.S. […]