A vegan diet doesn’t sound too appetizing to most meat, cheese, and egg lovers. However, a vegan diet can be kind to your health and your wallet. You also gain the benefit of knowing that you’re being kinder to animals and the environment. Making the switch isn’t easy, but you might find it a little easier if you know more about the benefits that veganism provides. It’s not necessary to make a complete change overnight. Make the change slowly over time. Note how you feel and then decide how you’d like to progress. Veganism has many advantages to offer: 1. Vegans enjoy better overall health. You can count on having lower blood pressure, cholesterol levels, body weight, risk of heart disease, and risk of Type-2 diabetes. 2. Veganism is better for the environment. The resources necessary for meat production are significant. Far more water and land are required to provide one serving of beef than one service of fruit, grains, or vegetables. Consider how much grain a cow or pig must consume to reach adult weight. 3. It’s kinder to animals. Animals raised for meat often live horrible lives, not to mention they’re all eventually killed before they die of natural causes. Poor living conditions are the norm for animals used to provide meat. Even cows raised for milk production or chickens raised for eggs often endure unpleasant living conditions. 4. You decrease your psychological dependence on food. Vegans tend to be thin. One reason is the high-bulk and low calories found in many vegan foods. The other reason has to do with the lack of psychological satisfaction vegan foods provide. A bowl of beans isn’t quite as enticing as a bowl of ice cream, especially if you’re not hungry in the first place. Vegans are much less likely to overeat. 5. Disease prevention. Vegans enjoy lower incidence of breast cancer, colon cancer, prostate cancer, macular degeneration, cataracts, arthritis, and osteoporosis. 6. Lower body weight. Vegan populations have lower body mass indices that those that consume meat regularly. 7. Longevity is increased. Those that avoid meat and milk products live an average of six years longer than those that consume those food products. A vegan lifestyle can be a reliable way to ensure you spend a few more years living your life. 8. Migraine relief. Vegan’s report having fewer migraine headaches than non-vegans. Those that routinely suffer from migraine headaches can often find relief by adopting a vegan diet. 9. Fewer contaminants in food. Meat, milk, and eggs can potentially introduce unhealthy chemicals into the diet. Many herbicides, pesticides, and heavy metals can concentrate in animal-based fat. The animals that provide these foods are often given growth hormones and antibiotics that can remain in the products you consume. 10. A vegan diet can be less expensive. Meat and cheese tend to be expensive food items. Consider how inexpensive beans, rice, oatmeal, and many vegetables can be. That’s not to say a vegan can’t spend a lot of money at the grocery store, but the option to keep food costs to a minimum is there. Becoming vegan requires dedication, planning, and sacrifice. There are many benefits you’ll enjoy by eating a vegan diet. The diet can benefit your health, finances, self-esteem, and your waistline. The environment also benefits when fewer animal products are consumed. Consider these advantages and decide if a vegan lifestyle is for you. Start slowly and have a few vegan meals each week. Notice how you feel 2-4 hours after consuming them. This alone might be a good enough reason to make the switch.
Category: Veganism
The Tremendous Health Benefits of a Vegan Diet
You’ve heard about the vegan diet. Maybe you’re not convinced that it’s for you. All you know is that it sounds extreme and boring. Still, you might consider it if there were sufficient benefits. Could you be one of those “vegan people”? Maybe you could! It might be the best decision you could make for your health and longevity. First, let’s define what a vegan diet actually is. Essentially, it’s a diet that is free of animal products. So, that means no meat of any kind, including fish and seafood, no dairy products, and no eggs. Many vegans choose to exclude honey, too. What does that leave? Every other food, including fruits, soy, vegetables, beans, grains, and nuts. There are also many processed foods as well that are vegan, such as bread and pasta. Keep in mind that a vegan food isn’t necessarily a healthy food. French fries, potato chips, and some cookies are vegan, but they certainly aren’t healthy. You can eat a very unhealthy diet and still be 100% vegan! A vegan diet with nutritious foods can provide many health benefits: 1. A vegan diet may reduce arthritis pain. Multiple studies have demonstrated that following a vegan diet can reduce the pain of rheumatoid arthritis. Study participants reported less joint swelling and less morning stiffness, too. 2. Metabolism benefits. Vegan diets can be extremely healthy. A good vegan diet is full of vitamins, minerals, fiber, and phytochemicals. Just as important, a proper vegan diet is also low in calories, cholesterol, and saturated fat. This type of diet is high in nutrition, but low in calories and disease-causing components. – There is also evidence to suggest that an improvement in gut biome in those following a vegan diet also leads to metabolic advantages. 3. Lower risk of heart disease. The primary contributors to heart disease include high blood sugar, blood pressure, LDL and total cholesterol. A healthy vegan diet has been shown to lower all of these risk factors. 4. Cognitive benefits. Those that follow a vegan diet have shown a decreased risk of developing cognitive issues. When a cognitive issue is present, vegan diet followers show a slower rate of decline. 5. Lower risk of certain types of cancer. Adhering to a vegan diet lowers the risk of prostate, colon, and breast cancer. 6. Enhance kidney function. High blood sugar is ultimately very damaging to kidney function. It forces the kidneys to work extra hard. High blood sugar is also damaging to the blood vessels in the kidneys. Those following a vegan diet often experience great improvements in kidney function. 7. Weight loss. A healthy vegan diet is low in calories. However, not all vegan diets are healthy. You can eat nothing but potato chips and Fruit Loops and be a vegan. However, a healthy vegan diet has a low-calorie density. It would be a real challenge to eat enough to maintain a high body weight. A vegan diet can be extremely healthy if good food choices are made. If you’re looking to boost your health, lose weight, and preserve your cognitive function, a vegan diet might be the best option. Getting Started With a Vegan Diet How can you get started with a minimal amount of trouble? Follow this process: 1. First, make a list of healthy vegan foods that you enjoy. 2. Then, start by eating one vegan meal each day. 3. After a week, add in a second vegan meal. 4. Take things slowly and experiment with different recipes. You’ll struggle if you’re determined to eat nothing but salad and fruit. If eating isn’t enjoyable, it will be challenging to stick with it. Get started today, and it won’t be long before you can call yourself a legitimate vegan.
5 Foods You Need to Include in a Vegan Diet!
A vegan diet is one of the healthiest diets you could engage in when it’s done properly. On the other hand, some people struggle to find foods that are not only healthy but also tasty and calorie rich to support their busy lives. Blogging from the Dashboard Remember that the bulk of calories for most people’s diet will come from meat. When these meats are removed from your diet, it’s crucial to fill your calorie needs with foods that are rich in protein and healthy fats. Here are 5 foods that it’s important to include in your vegan diet. Pumpkin Seeds Hands down, pumpkin seeds are the most underrated and underutilized food source for anyone looking to grow stronger. Not only are pumpkin seeds super healthy because they’re loaded with good fats and are high in fiber, but they also contain a very impressive spectrum of amino acids. Pumpkin seeds are especially rich in an amino acid called leucine, which is crucially important in protein signalling after a workout. Pumpkin seeds are nearly 50% protein by weight and 50g/day would provide you with a great source of post-workout protein. Oatmeal Oatmeal is, perhaps, the king of breakfasts. Vegan or not, it’s beneficial to include oatmeal in your nutrition program. Oatmeal contains a very wide spectrum of amino acids, fiber (both soluble and insoluble), and provides a complex source of carbohydrates. Oatmeal will help you feel full and refreshed all day long while being super nutritious. High Glucose Fruit This is a food category that’s highly beneficial to include in your diet. Eating fruit that is high in glucose, like mangoes, apples, bananas, and guava, is a great way to rapidly replenish muscle glycogen levels. This makes them the perfect post-workout snack to combine with your protein. Fruit will also serve as a major source of micronutrient values in your diet, so ensure that you don’t miss this food category. Soy Over the years, the discussion for soy has been very oppositional. Soy is a bean that has been used for millennia to provide a good source of protein, while being low in fat and carbohydrates. Soy provides a great spectrum of amino acids and is considered a complete protein. Soy also contains a good supply of omega fatty acids, making it a great substitute for fish and other omega-rich meats. Sprouted Grains Traditional bread is made from processed flour and processed wheat. To support your health, consider using sprouted grains, instead. Sprouted grains are unique in the sense that they undergo very little processing and are very dense in calories. Sprouted grains are created by germinating the plant and consuming it very early on. This leads to a very dense and nutritious punch that also contains a very low glycemic index and better bioavailability. Include sprouted grains in your grocery list if you are a fan of whole-grain bread and nutritious foods. Thriving on a Vegan Diet Many people see a vegan diet as one where you cannot eat anything. In contrast, if you are still actively seeking variability in your food choices, you will notice that there is still a huge array of foods you can eat for optimal performance, health, and longevity. In order to thrive on a vegan diet, eat these five foods and continue to actively seek other nutrient-rich sources of protein, carbohydrates, and fats.