What is Vegan Diet?
With time, more and more people are deciding to go vegan. There are several reasons to do that. Some prefer veganism because they could lower the risk of several diseases, while others want to save the environment and don’t want to harm animals. What is a Vegan Diet? A vegan diet, also known as plant plant-based diet, means eating only plant-based food and beverages. In veganism, all animal products are avoided,d such as meat, fish, dairy and eggs. Some not even prefer having honey and gelatin. As per the Vegan Society, the definition is as follows: “Veganism is a way of living which seeks to exclude, as far as is possible and practicable, all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose.” Generally, a vegan diet consists of vegetables , fruits , beans , lentils , nuts and seeds . Why a Vegan diet? The ultimate goal of going vegan is to stop the use and harm of living beings. Veganism is now taken as an entire lifestyle. Vegan people may even avoid the products that use or contain parts of animals, i.e soaps, clothes, belts, bags, etc. Is a Vegan diet different from vegetarian? Yes, that’s right. Vegan and vegetarian are different. While vegetarians do not eat meat ( cow, buffalo, lamb, pig, chicken ), they consume dairy products and eggs, but a vegan diet restricts all food item that comes from animals. Point to consider before turning Vegan? As vegan diet excludes all animal-based food, it becomes a bit tought to meet daily dietry requirements though not impossible. Therefore, if you are thinking to follow plant based diet then you need to take care and ensure that all the key nutrients like iron, protein, calcium, vitamin D , vitamin B12 etc. are there in your diet . What are the benefits of Vegan Diet ? People tend to be a bit sceptical when it comes to plant based diet but let me assure you that va egan lifestyle can improve your life significantly. From health to happiness, opting a vegan diet has plenty of benefits. Some of the benefits of veganism are as follows – Helpful in weight loss – As many people are turning out to be vegan. Many have done it with the hope of weight loss. Research has shown that a vegan diet is more effective for weight loss than any other diet. Interestingly, in a study, people following a vegan diet lost more weight than the people who were following low low-calorie, restrictive diet, even when vegans were allowed to eat till they felt full. For a vegan diet, there is no need to put extra effort into focusing on cutting calories because it has a natural tendency to reduce calorie intake. Maintain sugar levels and kidney health – According to the American Heart Association vegan diet lowers the sugar levels in diabetics. Consuming a vegan diet lowers the risk of type 2 diabetes by 78%. Studies have reported that diabetes patients who have removed meat and adopted plant protein to their diet have reduced the risk of poor kidney function. · Improves Heart health – A Vegan diet is associated with great heart health. A study in 2019 says , reducing the take of animals food and increasing intake of plant based food significantally lower the risk of heart diseases and death in adults. In an article American Heart Association has said, having animal products like meat, cheese and butter, which contain saturated fat in a great amounts, increases the cholesterol levels in the body . Increased cholesterol increases the risk of heart disease and stroke . Plant-based foods are rich in fiber which is essential and very helpful for better heart health. Vegetables and grains are the best plant-based foods that are rich in fibre. Reduce cancer risk – According to WHO, red meat is carcinogenic means it may produce cancer in humans. Eliminating red and processed meat and adding rich plant-based food can significantly reduce the risk of cancer by 15%. Plant-based foods are rich in fibre, vitamins and phytochemicals that protect against cancer. Reduced pain from arthritis – Different studies have shown that a plant-based diet has a positive impact on arthritis. A study was conducted among a number of people. Half of the candidates were suggested to switch to a whole plant-based diet while the other half of the candidates were to continue with their omnivorous diet. Higher energy levels and general function of the body was reprted by those who opted vegan diet than those who didn’t change their diet. Significant improvement in the pain, swelling and stiffness was reported by a vegan group. Boost your mood – A study found that vegans and vegetarians are happier than meat eaters. Complex carbohydrates present in vegan diets increase the production of feel-good hormones in the brain. When opting for veganism, you would be consuming a great amount of essential nutrients, which results in great immune system. Ultimately, It improves your health and good health is equal to good mood. Isn’t it? For example, Vitamin C stimulates the production of white blood cells and eventually boosts your immune system. Being an antioxidant, it helps fighting against infections. Studies have shown, vegan diet helps you improve your sleep quality. Improves digestion – with a plant-based diet, you would be consuming a high amount of fibre, which elevates your digestive health and also reduces inflammation. Improves skin – Being a vegan, you avoid dairy products, and avoiding dairy products can have a great impact on your skin health, especially for acne sufferers. In addition, if you are going vegan, you are amping up with number of fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables are a rich source of antioxidants, which improve your skin and overall health
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