While it’s certainly true that a vegan diet provides many health benefits, even vegans aren’t invincible and it is harmful to pretend that we are. Virginia Messina, MPH, RD, points out that people abandon vegan diets for many reasons, one of which is losing faith in the benefits of eating this way. Having unrealistic expectations is probably part of the reason for why 84% of vegetarians/vegans abandon their diet. Even Vegans Dieby Carol J. Adams, Patti Breitman, and Virginia Messina, MPH, RD, provides a balanced perspective on health and disease in the vegan community, and empowers us to be more realistic and effective. We hope that participating in the PDX VEG CHALLENGE will provide you with a firm foundation for continuing on the vegan path and helping others to do so too.