Vegan: not just a diet, in fact a lifestyle! | Food n Fitness Freak Food n Fitness Freak: Vegan: not just a diet, in fact a lifestyle!

Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Vegan: not just a diet, in fact a lifestyle!



Have you come across this new trend of vegan diet or more specifically high carb low fat vegan diet? The trend of eating "whole foods and plant-based diet" is booming all over the internet. Also the popularity of movies like Forks Over Knives and PlantPure Natio, the books like Plant-Based Diets: A Physician's Guide, No Meat Athlete is adding to it.
fruits and vegetables for vegan diet

What does it really mean? 

Vegan is actually a lifestyle and not just a diet. Vegan is a person who does not consume any animal product or byproduct. It not only involves being vegetarian but also avoiding eggs, dairy products, milk, honey, leather, silk, wool, cosmetics, and soaps derived from animal products.
Indian vegan thali for weight loss

Why Vegan?

A lot of people do it to prevent the exploitation of animals and going vegan shows true compassion and kind-heartedness for animals. Also number of people are going vegan because of its scientifically proven health benefits too. A low fat vegan diet can surely help you to lose weight and get healthier and fitter too. A major number of vegans express that the most successful way to become a long-term vegan is to do so gradually. In opinion of experts, it takes just 21days to have a beneficial impact on excess weight by following a low fat vegan diet.

vegan food pyramid
The whole idea of vegan diet is to focus on including whole and natural foods in the diet – plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains should be incorporated. Take away sweets and oils from the diet as far as possible; particularly processed or refined fats and sugars. Vegan diets have fewer saturated fat and cholesterol and lot of fiber, folic acid, vitamins C and E, potassium, magnesium and phytochemicals than non-vegetarian diets.


Health benefits of vegan diet

  1. Vegans tend to be leaner and have low body mass index.
  2. It increases the longevity of life.
  3. A well planned vegan diet aids in healthy weight loss.
  4. A healthy vegan diet gives you high energy and benefits your skin, hair and nails.
  5.  Reduced conditions like allergies and migraine.
  6. It prevents from numerous diseases like obesity, blood pressure, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, arthritis, osteoporosis and some cancers including prostate and colon cancer. 
 

Nutrition:

Veganism can give best results when planned properly under the expert’s advice. But the risk of insufficient amounts of key nutrients like calcium, vitamin D, vitamin B-12, zinc and iron cannot be denied. So consult your nutritionist before going vegan.

What is the role of physical activity?

Veganism involves rules on what to eat and what to avoid, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't move. Whatever diet you consume it doesn’t matter, the more you exercise, the quicker you'll lose weight – and you'll reduce your risk of developing diabetes, heart problems and other chronic diseases.
If you make a functional vegan diet plan under the supervision of nutritionist, you should be safe. But if you are suffering from several health conditions, discuss with your doctor before going vegan.

Want to know more?

For more information on vegan diet, nutrition and its benefits, check out the links mentioned below:

Online

  1. Veganism – Wikipedia article 
  2. why go vegan? 
  3. Resources: the vegan society  
  4.  10 arguments against a vegan lifestyle 

Books

  1.   Becoming Vegan, Express Edition: The Everyday Guide to Plant-based Nutrition
  2. The Food Revolution: How Your Diet Can Help Save Your Life and Our World 
  3. Slaughterhouse: The Shocking Story of Greed, Neglect, and Inhumane Treatment Inside the U.S. Meat Industry

Documentaries

  1. Food matters 
  2.  Food Inc.

YouTube channels  

  1. FullyRawKristina 
  2. Rawvanaeng  
  3. Freelea
  4. WatchUsLiveAndStuff

References:
https://www.vegansociety.com
 

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