Should You Go Vegan?

Veganism, a lifestyle that avoids animal cruelty and exploitation, means not eating animal products or purchasing anything tested on animals or containing animal products. A vegan diet is plant-based and abstains from all animal products, including dairy and eggs. A vegan diet can be healthy, help you lose weight, and minimize your risk of chronic diseases.

Veganism is commonly confused with vegetarianism because both are vegetable-based. The fundamental distinction between vegetarians and vegans is that vegetarians eat dairy products, eggs, or both. A vegan diet excludes all animal-based products. Because the vegan diet is more limited in options, vegans need to think more about nutrients.

Vegans eat fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts, and seeds. Eating a mix of these foods is crucial to get a wide range of vitamins and minerals. For many, switching from a free diet may be difficult, but many nutritious vegan options are available. Plant-based alternatives to cow’s milk include soy milk and almond milk. Plant milk tends to be lower in calories and saturated fat than cow’s milk. However, milk manufacturers often add vitamins and minerals to their products.

To cook a vegan meal, start with a base of grains, such as brown rice or quinoa, and add beans and vegetables of your choice. If you want more flavor, add salsa, guacamole, or a dressing to your liking. Many vegan recipes are available online to help you get started.

You also can buy or make plant-based cheeses, yogurts, and butter. Some vegans worry about getting enough protein, yet many plant foods are excellent sources of protein. For example, soy products, such as tofu, tempeh, and seitan, are high protein. Other options include lentils, chickpeas, and oats.

Veganism has several health benefits when planned and implemented correctly. Vegan diets help improve blood sugar control. Clinical trials show that low-fat vegan diets improve glycemic control more than standard diabetic diets. According to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, vegans generally have lower body weight and lower blood pressure.

Eating meat, mainly processed meat, may increase your risk of colon cancer and esophageal cancer. Vegan diets rich in fiber may help you avoid these issues. In addition, eliminating meat, dairy, and other animal products can help you lose weight and lower your cholesterol.

Diet plays a role in specific risk factors for heart disease. For example, vegans eat more heart-healthy foods, such as nuts, whole grains, and vegetables. This kind of diet results in a healthy heart with low cholesterol and normal blood pressure, reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Vegan diets can provide the majority of the vitamins and minerals required if it is well-balanced. However, you may need to take additional supplements. Because everyone’s body processes nutrients differently, you may need to supplement what others receive from meals. By getting regular blood tests done, you can monitor your vitamin and mineral levels. So you’ll know what you need to increase your intake or supplement with if you’re having difficulty getting it through meals.

You also should consider veganism’s environmental and ethical concerns, which can help save natural resources and stop harsh agriculture and animal testing practices. Animal breeding depletes natural resources. With more than half of the world’s crops going to food production and 60 percent of deforestation occurring due to cattle-raising and other agricultural practices, farmers could use these resources to grow more food for people.

Originally published at http://nisheetdabadgesite.wordpress.com on October 12, 2021.