via people.com

Want to do more than just go veggie? Make like Oprah and go vegan! She's doing a 21-day cleanse with the help of vegan guru Kathy Freston, who went on the show recently to talk about the eight Pillars of Wellness [1] in her book.

The big O is blogging about her experience, and CGG can definitely sympathize. Veganism is tough, but for many, it can be worth it, even as a short-term detox. Taking a temporary walk on the meatless side can help your body rid itself of the stubborn animal product that not only takes longer to digest than non-meat foods, but burgers, steak, chicken, et. al., can actually clog up your your intestinal tract. One NY nutritionist CGG regularly visits said that meat can even remain stuck in corners of your colon for years. Yuck!

Vegans are different from vegetarians in that vegans stay away from not just eating meat but all animal products, including dairy. And they don't wear anything made from an animal (leather, for example) either. For example, vegan shoe designers Stella McCartney and Natalie Portman use other, animal-friendly materials in their lines, and punk-rock rooted Moby favors non-leather Doc Maarten boots.

Want to try out veganism for yourself? Check out these recipes [2]. But if you're planning to go vegan full-time, be sure to do your homework: Call a doctor or a nutritionist or visit your school nurse and get the lowdown. This is not a diet of french fries and cheese-less pizza: Vegans need to know how to get all the essential vitamins and minerals (especially protein) that they'd get from eating meat elsewhere.