If you're thinking of going vegan or are just curious about the benefits, you've come to the right place. In this blog post, we'll discuss some of the many reasons people choose to go vegan.
We'll also dispel some of the myths that often surround veganism. So without further ado, let's get started!
The Modern Vegan
Rewind to 15 years ago, and vegans didn't exactly have an easy life! Sure, there were products for vegetarians, but going vegan meant enduring bland foods and surviving off of lettuce in most cases!
Since then, we've moved on a lot, and society finally realises that veganism is a positive lifestyle. Food manufacturers get that vegans will pay for replicas of their previous favourite treats.
One thing you have to know is that being vegan is no longer a sacrifice, so if you're interested in exploring the diet, read on!
The Benefits Of Becoming A Vegan
There are so many benefits of becoming a vegan. While it can seem like a dramatic lifestyle change, the sheer number of products means you can easily transition.
Let's take a look at the advantages in more detail.
Weight Loss
When done right, a vegan diet can be an excellent tool for weight loss. However, many people choose to swap proteins with extra carbs, and this is where weight gain happens.
The idea is to eat a lot of vegetables, pulses and plant-based alternatives such as tempeh and tofu. When you consume the right foods, your diet will be full of fibre, which results in weight loss.
Lower Blood Pressure
Studies have shown that a plant-based diet can lower blood pressure. This is because vegan diets are often low in sodium and saturated fats. High blood pressure can cause numerous symptoms, including:
- Strokes
- Aneurysms
- Nose Bleeds
- Blurred Vision
- Heart Attacks
Again, due to the low saturated fat content, vegans are at a reduced risk of heart disease. Plenty of studies prove this, which shows that vegan diets can be highly beneficial for adults with high cholesterol.
Reduced Risk Of Cancer
Whilst no diet can guarantee cancer prevention, an article in The Guardian shows that vegetarian and plant-based diets have been linked with a reduced risk of cancer.
This is because plant-based diets are high in antioxidants, which help to protect cells from damage.
Protect Animal Rights
Many people decide to go vegan because they love animals and don't want to see them suffer. While some might argue that the animal population would be out of control if we didn't consume them, the fact is that most livestock is bred for meat production.
When you go vegan, you reduce the demand for meat, fish and other animal-derived products, protecting animals from the cruel factory farm environment.
Many countries in Europe, including the UK, recognise animals as sentient beings, yet many suffer due to factory farming despite these new attitudes.
Enjoy Your Favourite Confectionery
One huge myth about veganism is that you can't enjoy your favourite treats. But this isn't true, and in recent years, there's been a surge in the amount of delicious vegan-friendly confectionery on the market.
You can find everything from dark chocolate to dairy-free ice cream and delicious wholesale vegan sweets at great prices. Nobody has to miss you, and you might even discover some new favourites along the way!
Contribute To The Environment
When you go vegan, you also help the environment because animal agriculture is one of the leading causes of greenhouse gas emissions and deforestation.
Livestock farming takes up a considerable amount of space, and as demand for meat increases, more land is being cleared to make way for grazing or to grow crops to feed animals.
Humans are one of the significant causes of destroyed ecosystems and animals losing their natural habitat.
Additionally, the methane produced by livestock is a powerful greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change.
In fact, it's estimated that livestock farming accounts for 14.% of all human-induced greenhouse gas emissions.
Become More Adventurous
Going vegan allows you to explore new food types, which can be highly beneficial if you're sick of eating the same foods. As a vegan diet is more plant-based, it's usually infused with new and exciting flavours.
Instead of traditional meat, potatoes and vegetables, you can experience more exotic cuisines from plant-based meat substitutes such as tempeh, tofu and seitan.
Reverse The Effects Of Diabetes
Whilst type one diabetes is a lifelong condition that isn't reversible, adopting a plant-based diet can help reverse the effects of type two diabetes.
As vegan diets are often low in sugar and unhealthy fats, they're less likely to contribute to diabetes.
A study published by NCBI shows that a vegan diet can help prevent type two diabetes and reverse the symptoms.
How to Make The Transition
If you're thinking of going vegan, the best way to make the transition is to do it gradually. Instead of jumping right in, you can experiment with small substitutes for your typical meat and dairy products.
For example, if you currently eat two meat meals a day, try swapping one of these for a vegan alternative. Once you're comfortable with this, you can start experimenting with more plant-based meals until you eventually transition to a fully vegan diet.
There are plenty of delicious recipes online that can help make the process easier, and there are also many vegan food delivery services that can provide you with meals if cooking isn't your thing.
Also, remember that there are so many health and ethical benefits of a vegan diet, which is why it's such a positive transition.
The Bottom Line
So there you have it; the benefits of going vegan. If you're thinking of making the switch, we hope this has helped answer some of your questions.
It's no secret that obesity is a growing problem, and the sheer amount of junk foods, including high sugar products, means people are more likely to suffer from obesity-related conditions.
Minor changes to your diet can make a big difference, and going vegan could add years to your lifespan.
Remember, with so many products available nowadays, it's easier than ever to go vegan, and if you're worried about sacrificing your favourite sweets, this post will help you!