There are several benefits to following a vegan diet, including weight loss, diabetes risk reduction, improved kidney function, and blood sugar control.
More and more people are switching to vegan diets or plant-based diets. American 25 to 34-year-olds are 25% vegans or vegetarians, according to an Economist article. Reports also indicate that veganism interest is at an all-time high.
Despite its seeming extreme, shunning meat, dairy, and other animal products may be beneficial for some people. People who care deeply about animal welfare, for example, may choose a vegan diet because of its personal and societal benefits. Many people switch because of the potential health benefits.
What is a Vegan Diet?
In a vegan diet, grains, vegetables, seeds, nuts, and fruits are all included. Animal-based foods are not eaten by vegans, including meat, poultry, eggs, fish, shellfish, dairy, and gelatine derived from meat. Additionally, vegans do not consume honey.
Vegan diets can be balanced if you plan and use a little know-how, regardless of whether you have been vegan for a long time or are just starting.
Top 10 Benefits of Going Vegan
Here are 10 benefits of a vegan diet that may help you decide if you should go vegan.
1. Enhances mood
It is generally reported that people who eat whole foods have better mental health. Fresh fruits and vegetables like squash, spinach, and cabbage, as well as complex carbs like black beans, are healthy choices. However, relying solely on diet is not recommended to treat mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts.
2. Improves health
In addition to lowering cardiovascular disease risk, protecting against certain cancers, reducing stroke risk, lowering blood pressure, improving gut health, lowering Type 2 diabetes risk, healthier skin, and reducing arthritis symptoms, a vegan diet has many other health benefits. It seems like there are new ways to benefit our bodies from plant-based eating every week.
3. Environmentally friendly
Our planet suffers when we raise animals for eggs, meat, and dairy. Besides using a great deal of water and land, it pollutes air and water, destroys biodiversity, and contributes significantly to the emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs). The University of Copenhagen found that vegan diets result in the lowest levels of greenhouse gas emissions, which makes them the best diet for the environment.
4. Benefits animals
The reduction of animal consumption directly reduces the number of animals raised and slaughtered for food. Vegan diets are popular for that reason alone. Fewer demands for meat, eggs, and dairy help wild animals, since a lower demand for meat, eggs, and dairy also destroys habitats by clearing land for crops and grazing pastures, and kills predators that prey on farmed livestock, such as coyotes and bears. As a result of less fish consumption and runoff from factories dumping into waterways, vegan diets also benefit the ocean.
5. Better sleep
Vegan diets, which contain low amounts of saturated fats and are rich in fiber, help you sleep better. 106 women between the ages of 20 and 75 were studied to determine whether they slept longer and had better sleep quality following consumption of plant-based protein. Similarly, a study found that consuming processed meat and animal-based foods worsens sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea.
6. Increased brain power
Several studies have found that vegan diets can reduce the risk of cognitive health conditions by 33 percent, according to The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. It may be due to the high content of brain-protective antioxidants in plant-based diets, which may slow or halt the onset of dementia and prevent progressive damage to the brain. Fruits, vegetables, and whole grains are rich in polyphenols, which improve cognitive function.
7. Longevity
Longevity is associated with a plant-centered diet, which is not surprising. Plant-based diets have been associated with a lower risk of early death by 18 to 25 percent, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
8. Higher consciousness
A vegan diet may also have spiritual benefits, even if you aren’t particularly religious. This might be because veganism has a calming, healing effect on our spirits because of its inherent nonviolence. This connection can be strengthened even further by consuming plant foods mindfully.
9. Migraine relief
You know how stressful migraines can be if you experience them regularly. Certain foods can trigger these headaches, such as cheese, so changing your diet may help reduce their frequency. By limiting trigger foods, a vegan diet decreases migraines, according to studies. A female hormone that causes migraines has also been shown to be regulated by plant-based diets.
10. Additional nutrients
Being vegan lets you consume unprocessed vegetables, fruits, grains, nuts, legumes, and seeds, which are loaded with nutrients. Meat-based diets rarely provide enough of these nutrients.
The deficiency of vitamin B-12 is a serious problem with vegan diets. Many vegans suffer from severe vitamin B-12 deficiencies because they don’t eat dairy, meat, eggs, or fish. Fortified foods and supplements can provide vegans with vitamin B-12.
However, the vegan diet is packed with vitamins, fiber, folate, antioxidants, magnesium, and potassium. These nutrients can protect your body against chronic illnesses if you consume them through a low-fat vegan diet.
Read More on: How to Go Vegan: A Comprehensive Guide for Beginners
Getting Started with Veganism
It’s easy to switch to a vegan diet and reap its many benefits with just a bit of planning. Taking supplements and consulting a dietician may be necessary to minimize nutritional deficiencies. With a variety of vegan products available, you can take the first step on this path to better health.
