A Simple Guide to the Benefits of Veganism
November 14, 2016
By: Sarah Kline
You may be familiar with the vegetarian diet, and you may have heard of the vegan lifestyle, but do you really know what being vegan is? The idea of eliminating meat from your diet may sound scary but the vegan diet goes further than that. It disposes of all foods and clothes that come from animals. Initially, becoming vegan can seem intimidating, but with some basic nutritional guidance, some find that the vegan diet is perfect for them.
Finding protein due to the lack of meat is a main fear of those who want to become vegan; however, there are many alternatives that will provide the same benefits as eating a piece of grilled chicken. Lentils, chickpeas, tofu, peanut butter, and most green vegetables will supply the protein needed for building and repairing tissues and for the production of enzymes. Being a crucial building block for muscles, bones , blood, skin, and cartilage; it is essential that those who choose this lifestyle incorporate about 50 grams of alternative sources of protein into their diet daily.
Meat provides a great source of iron, which is a key component in the process of storing and using oxygen in muscles. A simple way to reach the necessary intake of iron without having to eat meat is to take an iron supplement.
Alongside iron, meat contains the vitamin B12, which keeps the body’s nerve and blood cells healthy and aids in the production of DNA. Being B12 deficient can lead to tiredness, weakness, and loss of appetite, so an easy way to fulfill the healthy requirement of 2.4 micrograms a day is to take a supplement with dinner.
Despite some of the concerns of the diet, there are some excellent benefits. Plant based diets are rich in vitamins and minerals, and low in saturated fat and cholesterol. Sticking to a plant diet can reduce the risk of death from various harmful diseases including type two diabetes, cardiovascular disease, stroke, and other conditions associated with high cholesterol and fat foods.
Proven healthy not only for the individual, transitioning to a vegan diet has also proven to have a positive effect on the environment. By lowering one’s intake of animal products, they have the ability to reduce their carbon footprint. Animals that are raised for consumption are fed over half of all of the world’s crops; as the population increases, valuable land and resources are used to produce animal products. Raising animals simply for food and clothing takes up about 30% of the Earth’s land mass. Some believe that by excluding meat in their diet and wardrobe, they are contributing to the movement of decreasing the amount of wasted agricultural land.
A protein and fiber packed plant diet can replace a hamburger and reduce the amount of saturated fat, also proven to boost energy and produce younger looking skin. With about 2.5 million vegan people in the world, there are many blogs and cookbooks that contain meals that will ensure all vitamins and minerals are met in order to have a healthy lifestyle.
Sources:
http://www.ilovevegan.com/resources/benefits-of-a-vegan-lifestyle/
http://www.vrg.org/nutshell/vegan.htm
