The Benefits Of Going Vegan

What Is a Vegan Lifestyle?

There are many different approaches to eating. Some people eat anything and everything. Others don’t eat meat, or they eat meat once a week. Others avoid meat and animal products altogether. They embrace a vegan lifestyle.

A vegan is someone who does not eat any animal products. That means they don’t eat meat. They also don’t eat eggs or dairy. No butter, no cheese, and no milk. Most vegans also don’t eat honey either. Many vegans avoid meat for a number of reasons including but not limited to:

* Health concerns – there are statistics connecting animal products to disease.

* Moral beliefs – vegans do not believe in using animals for human gain. That means that vegans not only abstain from eating animal products, they also don’t wear leather/fur or use any products tested on animals.

* Environmental concerns – farming animals and animal products are detrimental to the environment.

We’ll look at these reasons more closely in a bit. First, let’s take a closer look at some statistics about being vegan and what the lifestyle involves.

Veganism is growing in popularity. There are now one million vegans in America. It’s increased, along with vegetarianism, quite significantly over the past few years. Almost 70 percent of vegans are women. Nearly half of people who are vegans, started their new lifestyle because they saw a movie or read a book about the benefits of veganism or the downside of eating meat.

And many vegans gradually transitioned to this way of life. For example, many people become vegan by default. Their spouse or partner is vegan, and they eventually become vegan themselves. Some experience a health scare, like a heart attack or cancer, and decide that being vegan is the path to better health and a longer life.

So, what does it mean to be vegan?

Vegans live a normal lifestyle. People often imagine that the vegan diet is quite restrictive. It’s not. It can take a little while to become accustomed to being a vegan; however, it’s not difficult. Vegans live energetic, happy, and healthy lives. In fact, you may know of some of these vegans:

* Ellen DeGeneres

* Alec Baldwin

* Usher

* Rosie O’Donnell

* Bill Clinton

* Beyoncè

* Alicia Silverstone

And much more. As mentioned, the vegan lifestyle is gaining in popularity. In fact, you may be like many who are considering a vegan diet to improve your health. Let’s look at the health benefits:

Why Become Vegan? What Are the Benefits to Your Health?

The vegan diet is known for improving the health and wellbeing of those who are on it. But what exactly are the health benefits? Why is it better to eat vegetables and exclude meat and animal products? Let’s take a look at some of the reasons why a vegan lifestyle is healthier.

Reduced Saturated Fats

Dairy products and meats contain a lot of saturated fats. Saturated fat has been connected to increased risk of cardiovascular disease, including heart attack and stroke.

Increased Fiber

A diet high in fiber from vegetables, fruits, and whole grains leads to a healthier digestive system and helps prevent colon cancer.

Increased Antioxidants

Antioxidants are nutrients found in fruits and vegetables. They protect your body from the damage of free radicals, and many researchers have shown that antioxidants help protect your body against the formation of some types of cancer.

More Powerful Phytochemicals

Plant-based foods provide phytochemicals. These are elements in plants that can prevent cancer. They boost protective enzymes in your body and create antioxidants to fight disease and the damage of free radicals.

Fight Obesity and Type II Diabetes

A vegan diet can help you control your blood sugar levels and insulin resistance. In fact, it has been shown that a vegan whole food diet can even reverse Type II diabetes. Additionally, it’s a super-easy way to lose weight and maintain that weight loss.

Live Longer and Feel Better

Several studies have shown that people who follow a vegan diet live an average of three to six years longer. They not only live longer, but their quality of life is better, with less disease, more energy, and mental clarity. And many vegan dieters believe they’ve never looked better. Hair and skin become healthier than ever before.

As you can see, there are numerous health benefits to a vegan diet. However, that’s not the only reason that people choose to go vegan. There are also some environmental issues to consider. Let’s look at the benefits of going vegan and its impact on the environment.

Why Become Vegan? What Are the Benefits to the Environment?

Many people transition to a vegan lifestyle because it improves their health. You may be considering the same lifestyle change. You might be an omnivore right now, or you may be a vegetarian who is exploring the next step.

The difference between being vegan and vegetarian is generally eggs and dairy. Many vegetarians do eat eggs and dairy products. Vegans do not. Aside from the health benefits of removing all animal products from the diet, another reason vegans avoid all animal products including eggs and dairy is that of the impact on the environment.

Let’s look at some of the benefits the environment receives when you go vegan.

Land and Water Resources

You might be surprised to learn that animals raised for food consume vast amounts of water. In fact, according to water studies conducted in California, to produce a single pound of beef requires 2400 gallons of water. A pound of wheat for flour only requires 180 gallons of water, and it goes a lot further than a pound of beef.

80 percent of the agriculture land in the United States is used to raise animals for food and grow grain to feed them. This water is diverted from natural resources like the Colorado River which no longer reaches the ocean. It dries up hundreds of miles before it gets there because so much of it is now being diverted for agriculture which is primarily for livestock.

Polluted Air and Water

In addition to consuming vast amounts of land and water in the United States and around the world, industrialized farming pollutes both the air and the water. Runoff from animal waste pollutes the rivers, lakes, and oceans. Chemicals from the pesticides, insecticides, and herbicides required for large-scale farming run into our water supply too.

Livestock, and cows, in particular, are responsible for more than half of the greenhouse gas emissions, which are responsible in part for global warming.

Animals raised for food in the U.S. alone produce many times more excrement than does the entire human population of the country. Antibiotics that are given to the animals and remain in their meat to make humans who consume the meat become antibiotic resistant. Hormones that are given to the animals and enter our food chain making those who consume animal products more susceptible to hormone-related cancers and the runoff of these hormones into water bodies make fish more vulnerable to cancers.

If you’re thinking about going vegan, then there are benefits beyond improving your own health. You are also making a great contribution to the environment. It’s a win/win situation. And ultimately you’re also saving the lives of so many animals who suffer immensely and die in such cruel and incomprehensible ways just to feed the human appetite.

What Can You Eat As A Vegan?

One thing that frightens many people when they consider going vegan is their food options. It can feel like there is nothing to eat. However, the truth is that vegans have amazing food options. Let’s talk about that next.

One of the biggest concerns of people considering a vegan lifestyle is that they will have limited food options. There’s the belief that the only thing you’ll be able to eat are salads. The truth is that a vegan diet can be rich, varied, and utterly delicious. This is the diet we are built for. The Guerrilla Diet Recipe book which comes as part of  The Best Way To Lose Weight – Your Step By Step Guide To Lose Weight In a Month The Guerrilla Diet Way are based on a vegan diet and lifestyle.

Let’s take a look at what you can eat.

Whole Grains

Whole grains are one area where you won’t feel deprived. You can eat any grain in its whole version. It is important for vegans to eat whole food options in order to receive sufficient nutrients from their diet and prevent malnutrition. Whole grains are often the foundation of most vegan meals. For example:

1. Whole Grain Pasta – From pasta primavera to Thai noodle dishes, a vegan diet can be rich in whole grain-based pasta including pasta made from whole wheat, brown rice, whole buckwheat, and even corn.

2 Brown Rice – Stir fry, curry, and Cajun dishes like jambalaya are all rice based. And if you think that jambalaya isn’t an option, it is. You can add tofu or vegan sausage and enjoy a fantastic vegan jambalaya. There are so many types of whole grain rice including red Indian Rice, Brown Basmati Rice, Black Rice, Round Brown Risotto Rice, Wild Rice… You can vary every rice meal using a different type of rice.

3. Quinoa – Loaded with protein, fiber, and minerals, quinoa is so versatile you can eat it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

4. Wheat or Oat Berries – They’re the whole grain that is typically ground down to make wheat flour or fast cooking oats. Both wheat and oat berries are delicious and nutritious. They can be used in breakfast cereals, salads, soups, pudding, breakfasts, granola, and homemade energy bars.

5. Barley – Can be eaten as a side dish instead of rice, add it to soup or turn it into soup. Barley has many health benefits.

 Beans and Lentils

Beans and lentils are a staple of a vegan diet. They provide a good source of vitamins, minerals, and protein. They’re quite versatile and filling. You can enjoy:

* Soybeans

* Black beans

* Chickpeas

* Navy beans

* Pinto beans

* Green, Brown, Orange, Black Lentils

* And much more

And of course, there are unlimited fruits and vegetables to enjoy. There are probably dozens of fruits and vegetables that you’ve never even tried. Have you had a purple potato? What about jicama? Have you tried a cherimoya? Add one new fruit or veggie to your weekly shopping list will allow you to add variation to your diet and to savor nature’s bounty.

Just about any traditional meat-based dish can be made vegan today, and many recipes are simply fantastic without any meat at all. With a bit of imagination, there’s no reason why you should feel deprived on a vegan diet. There are so many amazing foods and recipes. There are some here on my blog you may enjoy HERE.