A vegan diet is an excellent foundation for a healthy lifestyle. Vegans do not eat products like eggs, honey, dairy or gelatin. Also, vegans avoid using clothes, soaps, or any other products that are animal-sourced in any way. But, a vegan diet is a highly nutritious choice, as it is rich in nutrients and low in saturated fat. Nevertheless, starting out on an animal-free diet without proper planning may lead to some health risks. All vitamins, protein, and minerals must come from non-animal sources, so food choice and preparation are important.
According to a recent survey in 2016, around 2.5 percent of people in the United States follow a vegan lifestyle. Isn’t it amazing? Let’s dig a bit deeper to know more about vegan diet.
Interesting facts about the vegan diet:
- Mushrooms, tofu, and tempeh are three of the many alternatives than can provide the nutrients found in meat.
- The vegan diet contains only plant-based foods.
- Supplements are recommended to substitute levels of several nutrients that are found in meat, such as vitamin B-12.
- A vegan diet helps you in protecting bone and heart health, and it also lower the risk of cancer.
Pro Tip: Not all wines, beers and cakes are vegan. Preservatives, colorings and additional flavors can be derived from animal ingredients, so look for a vegan labels or vegan cakes before purchasing.
Benefits of Vegan Diet:
Heart health: Vegan diet involves fewer calories as compared to non-vegan diet. Hence, people taking vegan diet have a reduced risk of obesity, a maintained cholesterol and have a lower risk of ischemic heart disease and mortality from stroke.
Lower cancer risk: Non-vegans are at a higher risk of prostate and colorectal cancers. The vegan diet consists of higher volumes of fruits, legumes, fiber, and vegetables, and vitamin C. These are believed to protect against a variety of cancers.
Zero animal fats: Animal fats have been associated with a wide range of illnesses and conditions, which includes diabetes, hypertension, cancer and heart disease. Animal sources are considered as 13 of the top 15 sources of cholesterol-raising fats in Australia. If you cut animal fats from your diet, you can reduce the risk of many health issues. Healthy and plant-based oils and fats, such as olive oil, produce essential fatty acids without raising levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol.
Experts say that "In general, a vegan diet contains far more nutrients than the average Australian diet."
People are shifting towards the vegan diet, in fact many vegan bakeries and restaurants have recently opened in Australia. Are you thinking to cut out dairy products, meat, and eggs from your diet? Following a vegan diet routine can be a sound method to eat when your dinners are brimming with vegetables, natural products, vegetables, fruits, legumes, and multi-grains. You need a well-planned vegan diet to make sure you don’t miss out on essential nutrients or end up eating only processed vegan foods.