Healthy vegan guys and gals are in the media this week. There is an article in Newsweek on our favorite skinny bitches, and the Wall Street Journal today, January 25, has run a huge lead story about NFL star Tony Gonzalez, headed "The 247 lb vegan."

The Newsweek article, by Jerry Adler, is headed, "Finding Meaning in Each Mouthful; Saving the world or fitting into your jeans? Two new books urge us to eat more plants, for glamour or for good." (January 28 US edition, pg 48.)

It looks at Michael Pollan's new book, "In Defense of Food," which tells us that as opposed to eating "food products" we should "Eat Food. Not too much. Mostly plants." And it covers the new "Skinny Bitch" book, "Skinny Bitch in the Kitch: Kick-ass recipes for hungry girls who want to stop cooking crap (and start looking hot)."

Adler writes that Michael Pollan is interested in a good diet as a way to save the world while, "For the trash-talking ex-fashionistas Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin its a way to firm your butt."

He notes that the original, "Skinny Bitch" book "improbably succeeded in making veganism seem as glamorous as any cosmopolitan ever guzzled on Sex and the City."

You'll find the whole article on line at http://www.newsweek.com/id/96401

The Wall Street Journal article, "The 247-pound vegan," by Reed Albergotti, (pg W1) is accompanied by a huge photo of NFL star Tony Gonzalez looking just fabulous.

It opens with: "The protein-rich bounty of the football training table is supposed to grow the biggest and strongest athletes in professional sports. Kansas City Chiefs tight-end Tony Gonzalez was afraid it was going to kill him. 'It's the Catch-22,'  says Mr. Gonzalez, 31. 'Am I going to be unhealthy and play football? Or be healthy and get out of the league?'

"So last year, on the eve of the biggest season of his career, Mr. Gonzalez embarked on a diet resolution that smacked head-on with gridiron gospel as old as the leather helmet. He decided to try going vegan."

This is how the article comes down on the diet: "There's no evidence a vegan diet can improve an athlete's performance, says David Nieman, a professor of health and exercise at Appalachian State University. His 1988 study of vegetarian runners found they ran as well as their meat-eating rivals but no better. Although the vegetarian athletes in his study also ate eggs and dairy foods, he says, 'there is scientific evidence that veganism, when done right, won't hurt performance." But, he adds, there is only anecdotal evidence that it can help.'"

We learn that Gonzalez changed his eating habits after reading "The China Study," "a 2006 book by Cornell professor and nutrition researcher T. Colin Campbell that claims people who eat mostly plants have fewer deadly diseases than those who eat mostly animals. The evidence was drawn from diet surveys and blood samples of 6,500 men and women from across China."

He lost ten pounds in three weeks, and lost a lot of strength. We read: "Mr. Gonzalez considered scrapping the diet altogether and returning to the Chiefs' standard gut-busting menu. First, though, he called Mr. Campbell, who put him in touch with Jon Hinds, himself a vegan and the former strength coach for the Los Angeles Clippers basketball team. Mr. Hinds suggested plant foods with more protein."

But, "The Chiefs' team nutritionist, Mitzi Dulan, a former vegetarian athlete, did not believe that was enough. With the team's prospects and Mr. Gonzalez's legacy at stake, she persuaded the tight-end to incorporate small amounts of meat into his plant diet. Just no beef, pork or shellfish, he said; only a few servings of fish and chicken a week."

We read that Gonzalez, "wasn't ready to give up his new diet completely" and "stocked his pantry with tubs of soy protein powder and boxes of organic oatmeal; soy milk and Brazilian acai juice crowded the fridge."  And, "His favorite dessert became banana bread topped with soy whipped cream from the vegan cafe near his home in Orange County's Huntington Beach."

"Mr. Gonzalez soon recovered his lost pounds and strength, but prospects for a record-breaking season were still in doubt. The team lost its starting quarterback, Trent Green, in a trade, and the Chiefs' star running back was tied up in a contract dispute."

But we learn that Gonzalez broke a record that season!

A side box also discusses fighter Mac Danzig, "had long wanted to spare animals by going vegan. But he was afraid his trainers were right: that he'd lose to stronger opponents. Last month, on a diet of brown-rice protein, beans, soy, nuts and vegetables, Mr. Danzig defeated the last of his challengers in Spike TV's 'The Ultimate Fighter.'"

And we read about Salim Stoudamire, the Atlanta Hawks shooting guard, who decided to go vegan at the end of the National Basketball Association season in 2006. We read that "his biggest challenge was convincing coaches and teammates he could still perform on the court" and "he felt better, and that his performance this season improved."

You'll find the full article on line at  http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120122116182915297.html

Both of the articles cited above provide wonderful opportunities for letters to the editor from those of us flourishing on vegan diets. We can discuss the health benefits, the environmental benefits, and, of course, the treatment of animals raised for food.

Newsweek take letters at letters@newsweek.com

The Wall Street Journal takes letters at wsj.ltrs@wsj.com

Or, as the Associated Press has picked up the story it may soon be in your local paper, in which case, please respond there too!

Always include your full name, address, and daytime phone number when sending a letter to the editor. Remember that shorter letters are more likely to be published. And please be sure not to use any comments or phrases from me or from any other alerts in your letters. Editors are looking for original responses from their readers.