People choose the vegan lifestyle for various reasons including animal rights and welfare, religious beliefs, disease prevention or control, or simply to become more environmentally friendly. What better way to reduce your carbon footprint than avoiding animal products.
“There’s definitely been a renewed interest in all things vegan,” says Dr. Tushar Mehta, Family Physician and Founder of Run for The Earth. “The vegan lifestyle has changed from expensive and difficult, and has become a lot more accessible thanks to the increase in vegan dining options, DIY recipes, and the incredible amount of educational resources available.”
If you are thinking of switching to the vegan lifestyle, here is a list of health benefits you can start looking forward to.
1. Lower risk of cancer: Research has shown that eating animal fats and proteins is linked to a higher risk of developing cancer. Men with early stage prostate cancer have been able to reverse the progression of their illness by changing to a vegan lifestyle. Similar studies have also shown that women who eat very little or no meat have a much lower rate of breast cancer than those who consume more animal products.
2. Lower risk of cardiovascular health issues: Reducing the amount of saturated fats often found in dairy products and meats, and instead eating nuts and whole grains can improve your overall cardiovascular health.
3. Lower cholesterol and blood pressure: Studies show that eliminating animal based foods and changing to a vegan lifestyle rich in whole grains, plays a key role in lowering high blood pressure. Plant-based diets with lots of vegetables and fruits contain very little to no cholesterol so it is no surprise that it is good for your heart.
4. Increased energy: In addition to good nutrition and disease prevention, being a vegan also brings various physical benefits including much higher energy.
5. Improved complexion: There have been instances when people suffered from long-term acne issues and found their skin changed completely when switching to a vegan diet. The nuts and vitamins A and E often found in vegetables play a key role in making this happen.
“The number one question I get from people interested in switching to vegan is how to get the nutrients you would normally get from animal-based products,” adds Dr. Mehta. “It’s simple. Beans, nuts, lentils, cereals, soy products, whole grains, and chick peas are only a few of the various plant-based sources that can help vegans meet their protein, vitamin B or iron needs among others.”
Studies suggest that those following a vegan or even a vegetarian lifestyle live an average of three to six years longer than meat-eaters. However, it is important to keep in mind that becoming a vegan is only one part of leading an overall healthy lifestyle and it cannot make up for other unhealthy habits.
Find out today how a vegan diet makes your body stronger, more attractive and more energetic, all while helping improve the environment.
