There are many vegan diet benefits and the reasons why someone would become a vegan are as diverse as the people themselves. Some do it because they are concerned about the treatment of animals that are raised exclusively for food. Others do it because raising animals for food can actually create a very large and negative impact on our planet and still, others do it for health reasons. No matter what your reasons are for becoming a vegan, there are many benefits you’ll be happy to know about.
Even if you are converting to veganism more for the purpose of going green than a concern over health issues, there are still a lot of benefits you will be able to enjoy:
1. One of the most profound benefits is a decrease in blood sugar levels. With diabetes a skyrocketing disease in our country, this one change can make a lot of difference. If you are a diabetic, you must talk to your doctor first, before you make any diet changes. Make sure he thinks it’s a good idea. If he gives you the go-ahead, he should also be able to refer you to someone who can help you with the transition and help you prepare a meal plan.
2. Another one of the great vegan diet benefits is that cutting all dairy and meat out of your diet, will provide a great jump start to any weight loss you want. Since there is a lot of fat in most meat and dairy products, you will automatically be getting less fat into your diet on a daily basis just by changing the types of foods you eat. Another benefit is that you will be eating more whole foods and fruits and vegetables which tend to keep you feeling full longer, but with fewer calories (just make sure that you are still getting enough protein, iron, and zinc from other sources if you are a vegan).
3. And of course, the biggie, by not eating meat and dairy products you will be significantly cutting the amount of saturated fat and cholesterol from your diet. That can make a huge positive impact on the health of your heart. Since heart disease is a major killer in our country, this one step can greatly improve your overall health and greatly decrease your odds of having heart-related health issues in your lifetime.
Adjusting to veganism may take some time and be a little challenging. For many, the best place to start is right where they’re already at. If you already eat some vegan meals, say salads or non-dairy and non-meat soups, you can just expand on those. For many, the transition is easier if they do it slowly. Just cutting out on or two animal-based foods from their diet weekly can make it easier to become a vegan.
While it may be challenging, with all the vegan diet benefits it is worth it for many people to give it a try. It’s all about making up your mind first. If you are trying to do it for someone else it will be harder, but if you are doing it because you want to, you will have a greater chance of success.
