5 Heath Benefits of Switching to a Vegan Diet
– Backed by Science

Although many people can’t see themselves swearing off animal products forever, there is an abundance of healthy, yet delicious vegan meals that even avid meat-eaters wouldn’t be able to resist. A vegan diet is a diet that consists of vegetables, fruit, nuts, seeds, and dough. Vegans avoid any type of meat, including fish, dairy products, eggs, and honey. You can get virtually all nutrients from a vegan diet, except for vitamin B12, for which you may need supplements. In this article, you will discover what health benefits you can obtain by following a healthy and well-balanced vegan diet.

Vegan diet can reduce your chances of getting certain diseases

A major perk of going vegan is the fact that it can reduce your chances of getting certain diseases. Studies have shown that a vegan diet reduces the risk of ischemic heart disease and cancer. A review of a number of studies led to a conclusion that this kind of diet lowers people’s chances of getting cancer by 15%, compared to a reduced risk of 8% when following a vegetarian diet. Vegetarians, like vegans, don’t consume any meat, but they do eat dairy products, eggs, and honey. The same review revealed that following a plant-based diet decreases the chances of acquiring ischemic heart disease by 25%. Avoiding animal products has also been linked to a lower risk of type 2 diabetes since vegans usually have lower blood sugar.

Plant-based diet may help people with arthritis

Different studies suggest that eating vegan can alleviate the pain caused by rheumatoid arthritis. Veganism has been shown to produce anti-inflammatory effects, resulting in reduced joint pain, swelling, and stiffness. That’s because a healthy vegan diet is rich in fiber, leading to an increase in “good” bacteria, which people with rheumatoid arthritis lack. Fermentable fibers are particularly beneficial in this case. They can be found in legumes and beans, whole grains, and many other vegan-friendly foods.

Maintaining a healthy weight

The vegan diet is known for aiding in weight loss. This is backed by a series of studies, including a GEICO study, which tested 291 participants in total. They were divided into two groups, one of which followed a low-fat vegan diet while the other made no changes to their diet. Over the course of 18 weeks, the vegan group lost 4.3 kg, while the other group lost 0.08 kg. Therefore, a vegan diet can help in weight loss and maintaining a healthy weight. However, switching to a vegan diet while making unhealthy food choices won’t do the trick. You need to make sure you pick out nutritious foods and eat balanced meals daily. When you feel the need to snack, you can opt for healthy vegan snacks, such as shiitake mushroom crisps or beetroot slices. Not only are they super tasty, but they are a healthier and less caloric alternative to most regular snacks.

Vegan diet may lower high blood pressure

High blood pressure can be extremely harmful, as it can lead to a heart attack, stroke, and other health problems. A variety of studies indicate that restricting or completely omitting animal products from the diet can lower blood pressure. The results of one study that compared sedentary vegans to endurance athletes showed that vegans have lower blood pressure.

Good for your skin

Last but not least, a major benefit of veganism is that it can make your skin look radiant. That’s because dairy is known to cause problems with acne. Therefore, by switching to a vegan diet, your skin is likely to clear up. You may find it difficult to cut out dairy, but luckily nowadays there are vegan alternatives for practically any kind of food. There is an abundance of vegan alternatives to dairy, including soy milk, oat milk, and other types of vegan milk and vegan cheeses.

A vegan diet can be a great choice if you wish to improve your health. Not only can it help you maintain a healthy body weight, but it also lowers blood pressure and reduces your risk of cancer, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes. It can also help you if you have problems with arthritis and is likely to contribute to flawless skin. All types of diets can be unhealthy if you don’t take the right approach. Thus, you need to do a bit of research to learn what kinds of foods constitute a healthy, balanced vegan diet.