Living a vegan lifestyle is more than saving the planet or the animals- It’s to save ourselves. There are endless benefits of a vegan diet for healthy living as it can lower the risk of various diseases, reduction in cholesterol and sugar levels, and more.
According to a recent study, nearly 5% of the US people are vegetarian (near to 16 mn people), and approximately half of those are on a vegan diet, around 7.5 mn Americans don’t use any product that has an animal source. These percentages show that people are aware of the health benefits of eating vegan food.
Great Personalities Who Are Following Vegan Lifestyle
Greta Thunberg
A climate activist Great Thunberg very well knows the benefits of a vegan diet and even convinced her parents to go with veganism.
Sir Paul McCartney
Sir Paul McCartney, an English singer, a songwriter is fully vegan and still advocates for the way of life.
Lewis Hamilton
A famous sports personality and formula one champion Lewis Hamilton admits that his plant-based meal has helped him feel life at its best.
So, by seeing the most renowned personalities have adapted to a vegan lifestyle, you would also be thinking about the same. That’s why we have discussed some of the remarkable benefits that you will get by eating vegan food.
Top Benefits Of Eating A Vegan Diet
Veganism is spreading everywhere in the world, and people are discarding animal products since many specialists agree that vegan food can encourage you to live a healthier and longer life. So, in favor of that, we have discussed many benefits of a vegan diet here.
1. Vegan diet benefits with good metabolism
2. Lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease
3. Vegan diet reduces the possibility of cancer disease
4. Cognitive benefits of a vegan diet
5. Nutrition rich vegan diet for healthy living
6. Vegan diet works on immunity
7. Helps in enhancing glow and beauty
8. Eating vegan food is good for mental health
9. Benefits over inflammatory diseases
10. Bodybuilding (Physical benefits of going vegan)
1. Vegan diet benefits with good metabolism
Vegans benefit from a prolonged intake of vegetables because these diets are typically rich in folic acid, magnesium, phytochemicals, fiber, and vitamins C and E. Conversely, they tend to be lesser in calories, cholesterol, saturated fat, and omega 3 fatty acids.
Research in the small and medium-term has found that vegan diets can increase energy metabolism in normal, obese, and type-2 diabetic people. Some think that this is because of positive changes in the gut microbiome that are proposed due to vegan nutrition. It is also proved that vegans take up more protective phytochemicals and nutritious elements than non-vegans.
“Vegans tend to have a lesser calorie consumption than people who eat meat and plant food. If you are on a vegan diet, then make sure you eat proper plant food that meets your calorie requirements.”
2. Lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease
Having a diet plan that is complete with fruits, vegetables, nuts, vegetable oils, and whole grains is normally linked to decreased rates of cardiovascular ailments. These diets conventionally involve Asian and Mediterranean food, but latterly the vegan diet has been supposed to have the same effects.
The risk of cardiovascular disease can be lessened to some extent by a vegetarian diet, where dairy products are included. This seems because of the extended eating of vegetables and fruits, which involve beneficial nutrients with fiber and antioxidant vitamins, and have been individually connected with a moderate risk of cardiovascular disorders.
Whereas a vegan diet for healthy living is more viewed as having decreased fat content and vegans are generally thinner, the real benefits of fat consumption linked to veganism on cardiovascular diseases are argued. But, the fact is that vegetable oils are perceived more advantageous than animal fat on account of their amount of vitamin E, monounsaturated fats, and α-linolenic acid.
“Doctors and physicians around the world are suggesting their patients restrict the intake of red and processed meat in order to decrease their risk of diseases.”
3. A vegan diet reduces the possibility of cancer disease
There is enough evidence indicating that vegans have a very low risk of different types of cancers, both due to nutrient absorption and consequent effects. For instance, being overweight is an important factor in increasing cancer risk, and because of the lower Body Mass Index of vegan individuals, they also possess a lower risk of cancer.
Vegetables and fruits have been reported as dropping the risk of mouth, lung, esophagus, and stomach cancer, and vegans have a higher tendency to consume fruits and vegetables. Phytochemicals, which are in higher quantities in vegetables and occur at an increasing amount in vegan diets, have antioxidant features and obstruct cells to block the growth of cancer.
“Vegans mostly have declined cancer rates than vegetarians and non-vegetarians. For instance, vegan women possessed 34% lower rates of cancers such as breast, cervical, and ovary. Same results were seen for prostate cancer in men.”
4. Cognitive benefits of a vegan diet
One of the very less researched fields in how vegan diets can have an impact on individuals is neurobiology and cognitive capacity. Research that converged on this has found easy or moderate changes when patients are distressed with multiple sclerosis, migraine, rheumatoid arthritis, and fibromyalgia. These studies are mixed by not considering the gluten content in the plant-based food and by small samples.
Studies on particular nutrients show some clues that eating vegan food can be useful for cognition and mental wellness. Absorption of phytochemicals, which seems to be more in vegans, is linked to profitable effects on mental strength. In the variation, lesser absorption of vitamin B-12, which is prevalent in vegans, is correlated with adverse effects on the neurologic arrangement and cognitive states like stroke, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s disease.
“For some individuals being vegan is a dietary preference, whereas, for others, it’s all about lifestyle.”
5. Nutrition rich vegan diet for healthy living
A vegan diet is abundant in many nutrients such as minerals, vitamins, iron, calcium, protein, etc. It is also filled up with a large sum of fiber and antioxidants, as well as low on soggy or saturated fats. Thus, a nutrition-rich vegan diet looks after most of the health problems we come across today, for example, diabetes, obesity, blood pressure, etc.
“The British Dietetic Association recognizes that a well-planned vegan diet can be perfect for people of all ages, for example, all through pregnancy and breastfeeding.”
6. A vegan diet works on immunity
Increasing immunity is one of the most essential benefits of a vegan diet that assists you to have better energy levels to keep you active and powerful throughout the day. When after your regular physical exercise the muscles are torn down, only a vegan diet can help your muscles to improve in a very effective way. This method helps you in boosting the immune system to a very large amount.
Fruits and vegetables provide phytochemicals in enough quantities, therefore helping you to fight off many diseases. Antioxidants and nutrients in vegan food support the immune system, thereby making it competent to work against diseases as harmful as cancer.
“By staying away from animal products, the risk of producing dangerous diseases like cancers falls adequately upto 40%.”
7. Helps in enhancing glow and beauty
It is a fact that whatever you eat reflects in your looks. Most vegan people have healthy, good-looking, and glowing skin, and it is not just a coexistence; vegetables and fruits have a significant role to play. Shifting to a plant-based diet considerably reduces spots, pimples, bad breath, and body smell. Also, it helps you with stronger, healthier hair and nails.
“30% of UK adults aged between 16 to 24 admit that a vegan diet is best for the climate and health.”
8. Eating vegan food is good for mental health
Veganism is a choice that can make your body and mind healthier. The body and brain are always related, and that signifies the way you take care of your body will affect the working of your mind and mental state. So, how you think and what you eat matters a lot, and being vegan is an ideal example of how that functions in practice.
From the values to the physical benefits of going vegan can change food into a feature of your life that inspires you to have a positive outlook and feel more genuine about the world around you.
“A study done by The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition recommends that optimizing your eating of these foods is helpful in increasing the chance of you living a longer and healthier life.”
9. Benefits over inflammatory diseases
As per the data, your food and lifestyle can either develop a pro-inflammatory situation or an anti-inflammatory one. Indeed, inflammation or pain may come out as one of the
key causes of why healthy and plant-based eating improves health, and other eating methods increase disease.
Vegan eating options like olive oil, tomatoes, blueberries, green vegetables, cherries, oranges, and others involve anti-inflammatory attributes that are useful in different health issues like high blood sugar levels, cardiovascular complications, and a lot more.
10. Bodybuilding (Physical benefits of going vegan)
Commonly, meat is selected over a vegan diet when we talk about bodybuilding. The benefits of a vegan diet are not regarded as effective as non-veg foods. But it has been seen that many top athletes in the world follow a vegan diet by nature and they have noticed a radical change in their athletic performance when they shifted to a vegan diet from a non-vegan. Also, vegan food supplements for bodybuilding involve more nutrition than a non-veg diet, and that is their secret to improved performance.
Best Vegan Recipes To Look For Healthy Diet And Lifestyle
- For vegans who wish to live healthy, taking up a diet rich in nutrients with raw and fortified food is very essential.
- A healthful vegan diet should include a range of proteins, whole grains, healthy fats, vegetables, and fruits.
- Recipes made of seeds, nuts, soy products, legumes, and nutritional yeast can help in increasing your protein absorption all through the day.
- Coconut oil, avocado oil, and olive oil are of nutritive nature, and help you make healthy vegan recipes.
Summary
A vegan lifestyle signifies eating more fruits and vegetables, which a regular diet lacks. This pandemic situation has compelled us to put health first over taste buds. But it doesn’t indicate that vegan food is tasteless. Yes, these are extremely tasty and there are several benefits of a vegan diet. Therefore, If you think to go for a plant-based diet, then now is the time to do so.
References:
https://www.dosomething.org/us/facts/11-facts-about-vegan-living
https://www.vegansociety.com/get-involved/campaigns/vegan-thriving/facts
https://chooseveg.com/blog/7-facts-you-probably-didnt-know-about-vegans/
https://www.futurekind.com/blogs/vegan/6-surprising-facts
