Judging by the kind of questions I get about what I eat, you’d think the only vegan food item was a piece of lettuce. And from the kind of questions I get about my nutrition, you’d think choosing to become vegan meant choosing to risk your life.

Goodness, no. There is so much delicious vegan food in the world. And rather than jeopardizing your health, veganism is actually awesome for you — just ask the nearest cardiologist. Or if you don’t have a cardiologist handy, keep reading.