More and more people are beginning to really care about the diet they follow to look after their health and live in a more conscious way. Gone are the days of eating and drinking whatever you may fancy and however much of it you like. In the modern world, people are now far more educated about what they put in their bodies and how it can affect the way they feel. Making sure that you eat in a healthy way is key to protecting your vital organs and ensuring you get all the fuel your body needs to function properly.
One very popular diet to follow with this in mind is a vegan diet. This involves not consuming anything that comes from animals. This makes it different to a vegetarian diet which only prevents you from eating meat. In a vegan diet, even things like eggs and standard milk are banned as they are animal products.
If you are wondering why this lifestyle is so popular now here are the ten most amazing benefits of it.
10 – Improved Nutritional Value
One of the best thing about eating vegan is the extra vitamins and minerals that your body will take on. By eating more fruit and vegetables, you will naturally consume higher quantities of vital ingredients that the human body thrives on. This includes key vitamins like vitamin C from fruit and vitamin A from carrots. Many vegans will also eat more green vegetables like broccoli or spinach which are high in Iron. Most people on a vegan diet are healthier as they eat more fruit and vegetables and so take on more key vitamins to stay strong.
09 – Improved Mood
Past studies have shown that people following a vegan diet can see a vast improvement in their mood. This is partly down to the extra vitamins and minerals that are taken on as above which helps to regulate your mood. A vegan diet can also help your mood as it makes you feel good about yourself and the fact that you are living in an ethical way. When you also factor in that you will be eating more fresh produce and less harmful processed foods, the benefits for how you feel about life are clear. Looking after your mental health is essential for a healthy life and a vegan lifestyle is great for this.
08 – Less Disease
The traditional Western diet is usually very high in meat and fish consumption which can sometimes be a health problem. Many farmed animals now have high levels of antibiotics in their systems which can then be passed on to humans when eaten. Many diseases are also caused by the bacteria found in meat and fish which is simply not a problem when it comes to a plant-based diet. Studies have shown that the level of major illness in people following a vegan diet is much lower than those who do not. This includes things like heart disease and type 2 diabetes which are a huge health concern globally. As the vegan diet contains more fibre and less harmful fats, it is much better at keeping illness at bay.
07 – Helps To Beat Migraines
It is not just major illnesses or conditions that a vegan diet can help with. Many people suffer from migraines which are really bad headaches that can last for days. It is thought that they are usually caused by common trigger foods such as standard cheese that are not present in a vegan lifestyle. The absence of these trigger foods means that people are much less likely to suffer from migraines when eating vegan.
06 – Improved Weight Loss
Obesity is a rising issue across the globe and something that is a massive problem with a standard type of diet. Eating vegan helps to keep your weight down and thus goes a long way to stopping obesity coming on. This is down to most vegans consuming less calories as part of their fruit, vegetable and legume-based eating plan. Most vegans will also be far more aware of eating in a healthy way and avoiding foods that could cause these kinds of health problems. It has also been found that plant-based foods are generally better on your digestion which is a real bonus for keeping your weight in check.
05 – Better Athletic Performance
When tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams announced they were going vegan in 2011, the whole world took notice. In days gone by, professional athletes had relied on a protein rich diet to compete and stay at the top. In recent times though, more and more professional athletes have decided to ditch this and follow a vegan style diet. The fact that they can do this and still remain competitive shows what a positive effect this way of living can have on your athletic performance. Many now will decide to go for a high carb diet with more vitamins and minerals in to succeed.
04 – Smoother Skin
One of the benefits that most people see when they eat vegan is a real improvement in how they look. Most of this comes down to the extra goodness they are taking in helping to improve the appearance of their skin. A vegan diet is great at helping to promote fresher and smoother skin that people will notice. The high levels of vitamin A, E and K that a balanced vegan diet provides is the reason behind this fabulous benefit.
03 – Helps To Balance Hormones
One of the leading causes of breast cancer is excess levels of Oestrogen. Too much of this sex hormone in women can lead to this serious form of cancer. It is thought that a vegan diet actually helps to control Oestrogen levels in the human body as it involves the intake of less animal fats. It is thought that animal fat can really bump up Oestrogen levels and this makes it dangerous for the onset of certain illnesses. By eating vegan, you have none of these fats going into your body to cause any problems.
02 – Better Immune System
A fully functioning and healthy immune system is vital for our bodies. It helps to protect us from illnesses and stops us from getting poorly. A vegan diet is actually very good for helping to boost your immune system and alkalise your skin. As with a lot of the positive points of a vegan diet, this mainly revolves around the increased vitamin and mineral levels you will be consuming, vitamin C in particular. Vegans will also eat less processed food which can hinder your immune system due to the ingredients contained, rather than help it.
01 – It’s Cheaper and Kinder!
While the health benefits of going vegan are the main draw for many, they are not the only reasons to switch. Most people will find they save a lot of money by doing this as they will not be buying expensive meat or processed goods. Fruit and vegetables on the other hand are a lot cheaper and mean you have more money to enjoy life with. Many vegans will also follow this lifestyle as it fits in with their personal values around not killing or taking advantage of animals. This will help you to feel good about eating and living your life in an ethical manner.
As you can see, there are lots of reasons to go vegan for your health and your wallet. With more and more people following this kind of diet now, it has never been more popular. Whether you go vegan to feel healthier or feel better about how you are living, you may just find it is the best thing you have ever done.