People who are following a vegan diet don’t consume animal products. In addition to fowl and meat, vegans also don’t consume honey, dairy, and eggs.
There are many reasons why people choose to become vegan, such as cultural, ethical, religious reasons, or they just want to be healthy. Becoming a vegan may be a huge lifestyle change.
However, it is up to you how dedicated and strict you want to be. It is best to ease into veganism since your body can require time in order to adjust to your new way of eating. You should try different vegan recipes in order to determine what you actually like. You should also learn how to read labels and recognize common ingredients and additives, such as gelatin, which is made from animals. In this article, we will discuss some pros and cons of adopting a vegan diet.
Pros:
People who are vegans can reduce the risk of certain diseases. According to several studies, nutritionally suitable and appropriately planned vegan diets can lower risk of some diseases. It is common that vegans have lower BMIs compared to non-vegetarians, which reduces their risk of heart disease and many other conditions which are related to obesity.
Compared to other kinds of vegetarians, vegans have been found to have a lower rate of hypertension. Vegans who consume soy-based diets can slow the progression of kidney disease. However, you should know that switching to a vegan lifestyle doesn’t necessarily mean that you will lose weight.
Being a vegan also helps save the environment as well as animals. Some of the reasons for becoming a vegan are animal rights and animal abuse. There are many people who think that animal agriculture and livestock farming have the negative effect on the planet are linked to groundwater and river pollution, acid rain, and greenhouse gas production.
Cons:
Vegans have to make an effort to eat the right combinations and quantity of food in order to get the nutrients they need to stay healthy. If you cut out diary products, you may result in lower calcium intake, which can put you at risk for bone fractures. In that case, you should turn to calcium- fortified soy products and juices, as well as dark green vegetables, such as broccoli and kale.
An essential nutrient, iodine, which is naturally found in sea food and diary, is important for proper functioning of the thyroid. Vegans can use a little bit of salt in combination with iodine when they cook or on their food. Our bodies don’t absorb iron from plants as good as they do with iron from animal products. In order to improve iron absorption, vegans should consume iron-rich plant foods in combination with vitamin C.
Legumes, nuts, soy products, and whole grains are vegan sources of zinc and magnesium. You may need to find specific vitamin fortified foods or take vitamin supplements to make sure you are having enough vitamin D and vitamin B-12. In addition, a key component of good health, omega-3 fatty acids, can be found in fish and eggs.