Is a vegan diet better?
Meat-free diets have been very famous and widely known all around the world for thousands of years; although in the last decade their popularity had strongly increased as more celebrities such as Beyoncé, Ariana Grande have been reported to follow them.
What are the benefits of a Vegan Diet?
One type of vegetarianism is called veganism, and its
dedicated followers abstain from not only eating meat, but also from using all
ingredients of animal origin. They also refuse to wear garments made of animal
skins, fur, wool or even silk. Veganism is ideally a combination of
diet-conscious approach to life and a special lifestyle. Some people might
choose to become vegans for ethical or environmental beliefs, while others
choose it for health reasons.
Those following a strict vegan lifestyle would never consume eggs, cheese or other dairy products, and some would even reside from the consumption of honey – basically from any product or ingredient whose production is directly linked to animals.
Vegan diets benefit the body in several ways; recent research shows that people with Type-2 diabetes can highly benefit from a diet-conscious lifestyle. Those with the condition, who adopted a vegan diet, reduced their ‘low density lipoprotein’ cholesterol by 20 percent. A Vegan diet will also help lower blood pressure. A recent scientific research found that removing meat from your diet can lower the blood pressure by 10% which is equivalent to losing five kilos of body fat.
Furthermore, it is also undeniable, that vegan food is much richer in dietary fiber, which helps regulate bowel movements – not only preventing constipation, but also highly reducing the risk of colon cancer. Different fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes and nuts – which are all the very foundation of vegan-friendly diet – have all have protective features against several popular chronic diseases. These products all have high content of potassium, magnesium, health-promoting folic acid, and the antioxidant vitamins C and E.
Are there any downsides to having a Vegan diet?
Putting all the convincing advantages of a Vegan diet aside, there are some draw backs.
- Lack of protein
- Iron deficiency
- Expensive
However, people combat these draw backs by:
Using Nuts, beans, and plant based milks to compensate for the lack of protein.
Using supplements to increase iron intake and plant based alternatives (A Bowl of spinach is equal to
Meal preparation allows vegans to spend as little as £3 on their meals per day and
The biggest downside of vegan lifestyle is that it can be seriously dangerous for people with certain medical conditions. These include osteoporosis and certain types of diabetes. For this reason, it is critical to consult with your physician or a registered dietician when planning to adopt a vegan eating plan. It is also essential to remember that vegan diet should be strictly forbidden for children in their early years, as the lack of sufficient nutrients, fibre, vitamins and minerals can cause serious deficits and diseases.
At the moment, there is no definitive answer as to whether or not being vegan is the best way to go. At the end of the day, the optimal diet for any person depends on a lot of factors. Depending on a person’s age, gender, activity level, metabolic health and personal preference, vegan diet may be appropriate for some people, but not for others.
The most important thing to remember if you decide to go vegan is to include all essential elements in your diet or make sure to take appropriate supplements. Check what you eat and what your meals lack, talk to your physician and always listen to your body. It knows best what is good for you and what not.
