Over the last few years, vegan lifestyles have gained much popularity. Many people opt for veganism as a way to protect the environment. The agricultural animal industry has been widely linked to producing a vast amount of greenhouse gases and wasting resources of water, soil, and trees.
Some choose to become vegan because of their concern over animal welfare and the cruelty of the industry. While these reasons stand, there are also other reasons to make the switch to veganism, which are more focused on your health. Let’s take a look at a few health benefits that have been associated with veganism.
Weight loss
Our society has an epidemic of many people living unhealthy lifestyles. Such lifestyles which result in them becoming overweight or obese. Some studies have linked the vegan diet to greater weight loss when compared with other diets. If you lose weight and feel good about yourself, you are more likely to engage in a healthier and active lifestyle altogether. For those who have tried to become healthier by other diets and struggled, this clean diet could be the way to go!
Protection against cancer
Cancer risks have often been linked to diet over the years. It’s been reported that a vegan diet could reduce your risk of developing certain types of cancer. One source in Healthline, reports that vegans may have a 15% less chance of developing cancer.
In addition to this, vegan diets which contain soy that has been linked to reducing the risk of breast cancer. Veganism has also been associated with having a lower risk of heart disease.
Boost your mood
Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables has long been associated with providing good energy that makes our minds feel great as well as our bodies! Vegan diets which are rich in nutrients, and do not contain processed or heavy foods, have been praised for lifting one’s mood. Many vegans claim that the clean-eating style makes them feel more energetic and happy!
Nutrients
When you are vegan, you will be getting plenty of nutrients from foods like legumes, beans, lentils, nuts, seeds, tofu, and whole grains. Many people worry about protein intake; however, if you choose the correct plant-based proteins, you will be able to give your body what it needs.
To get your iron fix, you can eat foods like spinach, kale, chard, cashews or black beans. You could also try a vegan iron supplement to help up your iron intake if you wish.
Dietary choices will all depend on what works for you as an individual. It’s your body, and you have to be happy with what you put into it!
For those who are considering making the switch to veganism, a change like this could be best done gradually. While some can make the switch overnight, others find it easier to make smaller changes over time.
There are plenty of tasty vegan alternatives out there, which means you won’t have to skip out any of your favorite meals (they’ll just be a vegan-friendly version)!