Health benefits of a vegan diet

Health benefits of a vegan diet

Over the last few years, there has been a consistent increase in the number of people that are choosing to go vegan or embrace a plant-based diet. The reason for this is accrued to several reasons like animal welfare or environmental concerns. However, the most prominent reason for embracing a vegan diet is as a result of the numerous health benefits of a vegan diet. Research has shown that a vegan diet is richer in nutrients and low in saturated fats than a normal western omnivorous diet. This leads to numerous health benefits like a healthier heart, protection against cancer, weight loss, and more, but let’s take a proper look at these benefits. 

What is a vegan diet?

Before getting to the benefits of a vegan diet, you should first note that a vegan diet comprises eating plant-based food only. This involves the removal of all animal-based food or products from your diet. For most people, choosing a vegan diet is a dietary choice. However, for others, it is a complete lifestyle choice that goes as far as avoiding clothes or any other animal-based product. A vegan diet comprises a lot of fruits, vegetables, beans, seeds, and nuts, which make it a very vitamin and nutrient-enriched diet, but it also has a particular shortcoming. A vegan diet lacks the nutrient that is usually gotten from consuming animal products, such as protein, iron, and vitamin B-12. Therefore, people following these diets have to be aware of this fact and include plant-based food high in those nutrients. You will still be able to eat some regular foods like burgers; all you have to do is search for vegan burger near me.

Health benefits of a vegan diet

Healthier heart: The first primary health benefit of a plant-based diet is that it boosts heart health in many ways. For starters, animal-based foods are the main dietary source of saturated fats, which raise cholesterol levels. To this, research has shown that high cholesterol levels increase the risk of heart diseases. Therefore, coupled with the fact that plant-based foods are high in fiber, embracing a vegan diet will lead to reduced risks of heart diseases and generally a healthier heart. 

Reduces the risk of cancer: Research has shown that a vegan diet can reduce a person’s risk of cancer. The reason for this is accredited to plant-based foods being high in vitamins, fiber, and phytochemicals, which are biologically active compounds in plants that protect against cancer. Furthermore, since vegan diets eliminate red and processed meat, you remove the possible risks associated with them. For example, grilled meat has been found to release carcinogens; hence, not eating grilled meat eliminates the risk of taking in these carcinogens. 

Losing excess weight: With the number of fats and calories found in animal-based food, it is of little wonder why studies have found people on vegan diets to have a lower body mass index (BMI) than people on other diets. Although there isn’t any pure scientific guarantee that turning to a vegan diet will help you shed excess weight, the research does show that vegan diets are more effective for weight loss than any other diet.