Why Go Vegan?

What does it mean to go vegan? Most of the population does not know the difference between vegan and vegetarian diets. The difference is that vegetarian diets eliminate meat but are still allowed to eat animal products such as eggs and cheese, while vegan diets eliminate all animal products. So why go vegan? Well there are many health benefits when following a vegan diet. The first benefit is that a vegan diet is richer in certain nutrients, since you’ll be relying on other foods that are plant based, there tends to be more nutrients provided. Nutrients such as fiber, antioxidants, magnesium, potassium, folate and vitamins A, C, and E. Another health benefit for going vegan is the positive effect on blood sugar levels and kidney function. Getting your protein from plants, as substituted from meat protein, helps lower blood sugar levels, and improve insulin sensitivity which can reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Kidney function can be improved by plant protein as well, by providing relief of neuropathy symptoms that can occur if blood sugar levels are not regulated. In addition, another benefit of this diet is the reduced risk of cancer and heart disease. An increase in antioxidants that are contained in plants helps build up the immune system and fight off infections and the risk of the development of cancer. Eating a plant-based diet benefits your heart health by lowering blood pressure and LDL cholesterol, which is the bad cholesterol in the body.

When eating a vegan diet make sure to get all the appropriate nutrients that your body needs to function and keep you healthy. Some tips to do this are by getting nutrient-rich whole plants and fortified foods, increasing consumption of whole grains, fruits, veggies, beans, peas, nuts and seeds. Adding a vitamin B12 and iron supplement might be a good option as well since B12 is naturally occurring in animal products only, and iron comes in both forms, from animal foods and plant-based foods, but the plant-based iron is less readily absorbed in the body. 

Going vegan is not going to happen at once, it takes time and effort. So how do you start? Start by adding more plant-based foods, while cutting back on animal products to your diet, especially animal products that are processed, refined foods. Make these changes gradual and as you make these changes, make sure to stop and notice how you are feeling along the way. It is also important to read food labels when grocery shopping, as many ingredients might be derived from meat or dairy products.  For a quick and easy meal, click on the following link for a delicious vegan recipe. 

https://www.freshoffthegrid.com/camping-recipe-vegan-tacos/

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                References:

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/vegan-diet-benefits#section1