It seems like a lot of people are going vegan these days. From your favorite celebrity to your college friend. Call it a fad or whatever, there are now 6.5 million self-identified vegans as of today. While some people turn to vegan lifestyle out of their love for animals, others decided to take the route because of nutritional and health concerns. So the question now is, should you go vegan too?
We’ll tackle some of the benefits of going vegan.
First of all, a vegan diet is very rich in vitamins and nutrients. Although you will have to forever say goodbye to meat and animal products, you will replace them with healthier choices of fruits, grains, vegetables, peas, beans, seeds, and nuts that are packed with beneficial nutrients. These are not pure assumptions because there are studies that confirm that a vegan diet provide more amount of antioxidants, fiber, and beneficial plant compounds. The diet also provides high amount of magnesium, potassium, vitamins A, C, and E, and folate.
A vegan diet is also a good option for those who want to lose weight. In fact, many are lured to go vegan because of the promise of weight lose. It is obvious that vegans are normally thinner and they enjoy lower body mass indexes compared to non-vegans. Interestingly, there is a study that says that a vegan diet is more effective in weight loss compared to a calorie restricted diet. So just imagine how fun it would be to eat until your heart is full without gaining extra pound. The reason could be the fact that vegetables have lower calorie count.
Some would opt for a vegan diet in order to improve their health condition. There’s truth to this because it appears that a vegan diet is a very good option to lower blood sugar level and to promote a good kidney health. Vegans enjoy lower blood sugar level, lower risks of developing type 2 diabetes, and higher insulin sensitivity. There are even studies that directly confirm that a vegan diet lower blood sugar levels among diabetics. Also, those who substitute meat with plant based protein tend to enjoy better kidney health.
Best of all, a vegan diet offers defense against cancers. The World Health Organizations confirms that one-third of cancers can be prevented through the help of proper diet. It is said that eating fruits and vegetables each day could limit your risk of developing cancer by as much as 15%. Also, a vegan diet contains high amount of soy which offers a high protection against breast cancer. Avoiding meat can also significantly reduce the risk for developing breast, prostrate, and colon cancers.
