Going vegan: What Beyoncé, Natalie Portman and more stars have to say about the diet

When it comes to eating, being vegan continues to stay at the top of healthy lifestyles. However, one of the main arguments against veganism is that most plant-based foods do not include all nine essential amino acids – the ones the body can't produce on its own and which combine to make 'complete' protein.
“You just have to be smart and choose a wide variety of plant proteins," New York Times best-selling author and registered dietician and nutritionist Joy Bauer, whose latest book 'From Junk Food to Joy Food' comes out in February, tells HELLO!. "Mix it up at meals… work in lentils, beans, tofu, edamame in the pod, nuts/seeds and nut/seed butters along with soy milk and other soy dairy alternatives. Make sure each meal incorporates a protein-rich food."

Which stars have tried the diet? We've tracked down what vegan celebrities have to say about it – and have even looked into their fave recipes to pinpoint their star ingredients. Click through to find out!

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EMILY DESCHANEL, 39, remained faithful to the vegan creed even when pregnant. “I work with a nutritionist to make sure I have the protein I need,” she told Us Weekly when she was expecting her second son Lamar. Of course, it's not always easy to keep to such a specific diet but the 'Bones' star believes, “Planning ahead is really important and definitely worth it.”

Emily's star ingredient - Seitan
Made from wheat gluten, seitan is low in carbs and rich in protein with a kickass iron content to rival tofu's. On the down side, this complete protein is high in sodium.

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BEYONCÉ, 34, reaffirmed her commitment to veganism in 2015 on 'Good Morning America.' “I am not naturally the thinnest woman,” she told GMA viewers. “And I have struggled since a young age with diets. And finding something that actually works for me and actually keeps the weight off has been difficult for me.”

Beyoncé's star ingredient - Raw walnuts
Though not a complete protein, raw walnuts are packed with goodies like omega-3, manganese, copper and polyphenol antioxidants.

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JESSICA CHASTAIN was a vegetarian for 15 years before turning vegan in 2007. In fact, 'The Help' star even has a pic on Facebook with the words, "Vegan IS my diet." “I used to think about dieting, but I'm a vegan now so it's not really a problem,” she told the New York Times.

Jessica's star ingredient - Chia seeds
Rated among the healthiest foods on the planet, chia is the ancient Mayan word for strength. The seeds, which can be sprinkled on almost anything or soaked and substituted for egg white, are a complete protein and contain large amounts of fiber, omega-3 and several essential minerals and antioxidants.

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OLIVIA WILDE talked about the challenges of being a vegan to the Huffington Post in 2012. “[Being vegan] is not always easy and accessible," she said, "but it's a way of life and makes me as a person feel really good and physically look better.” Clearly, however, there have been times when she was ready to throw in the towel: “Fear of carbs, of gluten, of everything… We've distanced ourselves from the beauty of food, the art of it,” she told Allure. “It makes me sad when people say, 'Oh, I don't eat gluten. I don't eat cheese. I don't eat this. So I eat cardboard.”

Olivia's star ingredient - Tempeh
A variation on tofu, tempeh is made by formenting cooked soybeans, turning out a product which contains even more complete protein than tofu as well as more fiber.

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NATALIE PORTMAN, 34, indicated in an interview with Yahoo this summer that she had returned to the plant-based diet which she credits for her flawless skin after ditching it during her 2011 pregnancy. “I'm vegan, and I drink a lot of water. If I have dairy, I immediately break out.”

Natalie's star ingredient - Quinoa
Hailed as one of the planet's most nutritious foodstuffs, quinoa is a complete protein, containing all of the essential amino acids in such excellently-balanced proportions that NASA feeds it to astronauts on long space missions.

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ELLEN DEGENERES, 57, turned vegan in 2008, and she and actress wife Portia de Rossi offered guests a vegan menu at their wedding. “I want to be on my toes, I want to have energy,” she explained to Shape. “And as much as the [vegan] diet seems like a sacrifice, it's helping me.”
Ellen's star ingredient - Red Beans
Although not a complete protein, red beans do contain the essential amino acid lysine which is the one amino acid generally missing in plant proteins. Low in fat and high in fiber, they are a great source of vitamins and minerals.

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CARL LEWIS, one of the most extraordinary athletes ever, credits his switch to a vegan diet for his record-breaking 100m sprint at the 1991 World Championships. “I've found that a person does not need protein from meat to be a successful athlete. In fact, my best year of track competition was the first year I ate a vegan diet,” he wrote in the introduction to 'The Complete Vegan Kitchen' by Jannequin Bennett. “Moreover, by continuing to eat a vegan diet, my weight is under control, I like the way I look. (I know that sounds vain but all of us want to like the way we look). I enjoy eating more and I feel great.”

Carl's star ingredient - Lentils
Cultivated for 8,500 years, lentils are second only to soybeans when it comes to their protein content. Like beans they are not a complete protein but, containing lysine, this is easily remedied by combining them with vegetables or rice. And besides being rich in potassium, zinc, magnesium and B6, they are fiber fantastic!

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