IS VEGAN FOOD BAD FOR YOUR HEALTH - KNOW FACTS

Introduction to Vegan Food 

Before going on about how vegan food affects you, it's essential to understand what a vegan is. Most people confuse veganism with vegetarianism. Vegans don't consume animal products in a direct way or indirect way. Vegans exclude products like milk, butter, honey, and cheese. Vegetarianism allows the indirect consumption of animal products mentioned above. It avoids consuming meat, chicken, beef, pork, and other direct animal products. 

About 3% of Americans follow a vegan diet plan for different reasons. Some to improve health and others due to animal concerns they have. Indian dishes like Chole Bhatoore, Sambhar, Dosa, Idli, and Pani Puri are vegan. The vegan protein sources to boost your intake are pulses, tofu, quinoa, nuts, seeds, grains, and vegetables.

Many people wonder if vegan meals are terrible for their health. Let's settle this once and for all. A vegan meal plan limits your options at an American dinner table. It makes shopping tricky as you must always shop by diet. It provides many health benefits that allow an improved lifestyle in the long run. Eating balanced vegan food gives you all the nutrients you need throughout the day. Let's learn more about the health benefits of vegan food.

A vegan meal plan covers your heart's high blood pressure, obesity, and excess cholesterol. Meat adds unnecessary saturated fat to your body even though it can make enough fat for yourself, putting your heart at risk. The DASH diet is prescribed for people with hypertension; it focuses on reducing the intake of meat, which shows how meat is negatively affecting your well-being.

Consuming vegan dishes reduces fat and cholesterol consumption taking the pressure off your heart. Vegan food is rich in omega-3, nutrients, minerals, and fibers. It also does not contain unsaturated fats making sure your heart functions properly.

Plant-based meals contain fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, herbs, and spices that are minimally processed. It excludes animal products such as red meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and dairy.

A raw vegan diet consists of fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, sprouted grains, and legumes. This diet also has a low intake of processed foods, making it a healthier option. People who opt for a raw vegan diet are often motivated by their desire to focus on their health.

A raw vegan diet consists of unprocessed, plant-based foods that are either wholly raw or heated at very low temperatures.

Whole-food plant-based diets focus on plant foods and cut processed ingredients and animal products. This eating pattern is environmentally friendly and may have several health benefits. The Whole-food plant-based diet allows for more flexibility as it focuses on plant-based foods. But it does not cut animal products from the diet. Although both individuals follow a Whole-food plant-based diet, one may opt for a plant-based approach, while the other may consume limited amounts of animal products like dairy, eggs, poultry, seafood, or meat.

Benefits of a Vegan Diet

Take a look at three prime benefits and facts of a vegan diet.

Keeps Your Kidney and Blood Sugar in Check

Cases of Diabetes and kidney failures are increasing every year. Every 40 seconds, an American experiences a heart attack, and there are 805,000 heart attack cases yearly.

Studies suggest that people following a vegan diet are less likely to succumb to type 2 diabetes. It shows that following a vegan diet, a patient's blood sugar levels were reduced compared to diets prescribed by ADA (American Diabetes Association). Around 43% of the vegan patients reduced their insulin dosage, whereas only 23% of ADA patients could. Researchers also believe that turning to plant proteins instead of meat proteins can help patients decrease their risk of kidney failure.

It Gives You Every Element You Need

It is a common misconception that meat and other non-vegan items are rich in nutrients compared to vegan ones. Researchers call it a myth; a balanced vegan meal has more nutrients than meat dishes. When you switch to vegan, you replace animal products with wheat, oats, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and more. They provide enough nutrition when combined. Vegan food supplies more fiber, magnesium, iron, and vitamins A, C, and E. They are also rich in proteins, potassium, carbohydrates, and more. You may need calcium, Vitamin D, and zinc supplements.

Reduces Health Risks

According to WHO, diet is an essential factor that helps reduce cancer risks and fatality. Cancer is the second leading reason for deaths in the US. Also, an average person consumes 222 pounds of meat every year. Studies show that red meat increases the chances of cancer by 2% while processed meat by 4%. Hot dogs and deli meat raises cancer risk by 29%. 

To Summarize The Vegan Food

On the other hand, a vegan diet contains soy and high-fiber items. It reduces the risk of breast cancer in women by a factor of 25 and the risk of colorectal cancer by 10%. Research has shown that plant-based food items like nuts, fruits, vegetables, legumes, etc., reduce cancer risk. They are rich in nutrients, giving your cells the proper food to stay clean and high functioning.