Vegan: Vegan Lunch Recipes: 50 Delicious Vegan Recipes - Quick & Easy to make, Improve Your Health And Feel Amazing (Mastering The Kitchen Book 2) (9 page)

The vegan diet is a great health choice that anybody can make for themselves. In this chapter, we will look at some of the health benefits that the vegan diet can provide.

Weight loss

One of the most sought after benefits of the vegan diet is the weight loss that it helps in inducing. Just by changing your diet to the vegan diet you have the chance to lose up to 4 pounds a month. This is mainly because of the simple nutrients that the diet introduces to the body. It does not have to put in too much effort to understand them and will digest them simply. In fact, many people take up this diet with exactly this motive in mind and experience great results.

Immunity

The vegan diet encourages the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables that help in strengthening the Kupffer cells in the liver. Fruits such as lemon and orange are rich in vitamin C and also zucchini and green leafy vegetables that will increase your immunity. These cells are responsible for defending the body against viruses and so, it is important for you to keep your liver healthy. The foods also improve gut health, which furthers the immunity that a person avails.

Longevity

With the vegan diet it is possible for you to improve your longevity. All you have to do is follow the diet rigorously. As per studies, on an average, a person on a vegan diet will live a healthier life for a longer period of time. So, just by switching up the diet you can add years to your life. You have to try and do right by your diet and take it seriously if you wish to see these results.

Energy levels

It is possible for you to keep your energy levels high when you take up the vegan diet. The diet promotes the consumption of foods that help in injecting energy into your body. Fresh fruits like apple cause you to remain active for long and are regarded as being the best replacement for coffee. You can easily remain active and alert all through the day when you take up the vegan diet and it will work to your body’s advantage.

Breath

Many people these days complain of bad breath. Many reasons can contribute to it but it is possible for you to defeat it by switching to the vegan diet. With the non-vegan diet, meats generally cause the bad breath. So by eliminating it from your diet you can easily promote good breath. The consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables also helps in promoting good health and will leave you feeling fresh in the mouth. The diet also promotes the consumption of many vitamin C products that help in increasing the saliva that will further help in keeping your breath fresh.

Glowing skin

This is one side effect of the vegan diet that women love. The diet helps in promoting healthy and glowing skin. The foods that are consumed as per this diet are rich in anti-oxidants that fight away free radicles and keep the skin glowing and healthy. You will notice that your face has developed a unique glow and will also feel well hydrated. You will feel that your skin has turned soft and supple. If you suffer from dry skin then that issue will also be tackled with this diet. 

Healthy teeth and hair

Apart from skin, the diet will also have a positive bearing on your hair and teeth. You will notice that your hair has thickened and looks shinier and your teeth will turn strong. Most of the vegetables that are consumed per the diet will help in fighting away gum disease especially the ones rich in vitamin c. the iron rich foods such as leafy greens will help in promoting overall health.

Animals

As you know, the vegan diet does not promote the consumption of meat and animal products such as dairy and eggs. This helps in preserving nature and promotes the welfare of these animals. So, you will be doing your bit in helping preserve nature and will do good to these animals. You will also help in preserving the eco system as the animals will be able to return to their natural environment and the system will remain stable. If you are a hard core non-vegetarian now then you will find it a little difficult to make the transition but you have to remain put and continue with the diet.

Environment

Environment is also preserved when you go vegan. There are many factories that produce foods that are to be fed to these farm animals that end up releasing a lot of waste into the environment. It is important that you help in putting a stop to it and the best way to do so is by taking up the vegan diet. When you stop buying the meat, the factories will stop too and you will see that your environment is clearing up.

These form the different positive benefits of the vegan diet but are not limited to just these. You will experience the others as and when you take up the vegan diet.

Here are some myths that surround the vegan diet.

This is one misconception that needs to be cleared. It is understood that the vegan diet is a healthy diet but it will not be fair to assume that it is the healthiest diet. It is a good diet for anyone but there are others out there that you can try as well. It depends on what you are trying to get out of your diet. You have to look up all the different diet and must place their uses side by side. There you will see which ones are good and which ones are best for you to take up. If you are convinced that the vegan diet is perfect for you then you can take it up but if you feel that there is a better one out there then you can take that up.

Many people assume that it will not be easy for them to take up the vegan diet especially if they are used to the non-veg diet. But this is a misconception. You will not feel weak, as you will be consuming the same amount of food. Maybe the ingredients will be different but the diet will allow you to consume food until you feel full. So don’t worry about going weak, as that will not happen. In fact, just the opposite will happen and you will feel quite strong and have lots of energy to carry out your daily chores.

Some people think that it is not possible for them to sustain the vegan diet. They assume that it can be taken up for a few days but cannot be made into a regular diet. But this is only a misconception. It is possible for you to turn the diet into a lifestyle choice. When you take it up, don’t think about the sustainability factor. As and when you take up the diet, you will be able to sustain it for a long time. You will feel motivated to stick with it.

Many people wonder if they will be able to continue with the diet when they travel. The answer is yes. You don’t have to worry about your travel, as vegan is a universal concept. You will easily find foods that are vegan friendly. If you are travelling a short distance then you can carry your own food in a box. If you are travelling for a longer period then make a list of foods that you can buy and consume. It will be easier for you if you have company as the two of you can find the meals together.

Since the vegan diet promotes the consumption of fruits and vegetables, lentils and other natural products, it will not turn out to be an expensive affair for you. In fact, it will be very expensive for you if you take up the non-vegetarian diet, as you will have to buy meats and other expensive ingredients to prepare the food. You can create a budget that you can follow which will help in not over spending. It is also an idea for you to grow some of the produce at home, which will further help you save on money.

Some people think that they will start missing their non-veg food and suffer hunger pangs. But this is not true. The hunger pangs will occur only if you are eating less and not filling your stomach. The diet here is not a hard-core diet. It refers to you making a transition to a completely vegetable based diet. If you are experiencing any hunger pangs then you should look into what you are eating and whether it is helping in filling you up. You will see that once you start consuming the food properly your hunger pangs and other complaints will disappear and you will feel healthy and strong.

It is believed that it is important for people to replace their meats with vegetable products. But this is not important. Although the vegan diet promotes only vegetable and natural products, they will contain just as much nutrition as what meats will contain. So don’t worry about losing out on any nutrients just because you are consuming a vegan diet. With time and effort you will see that your body feels the same and in fact, much better when you take up the vegan diet.

No. It is not important for your entire family to take up this diet and it will be fine if only you take it up. You can continue to cook non-veg food for your family, as that will not interfere with your diet. If they are interested in shifting then they can freely do so but it is important for you to not force them in any way. It should be a natural process for them to join in and nothing about it should be forced. You can try to slowly introduce the diet to them instead of going about it at a rapid pace. Go about it step by step. Tell them about the diet first and then its uses and then its benefits. They will surely take a liking to it and take it up.

This is another misconception that needs to be dealt with. Many people assume that animal fat is what causes cholesterol. But this is not true. Animal fat is not the only thing in your non-veg diet that is increasing your cholesterol. There might be other factors as well, which will increase the cholesterol.

These form the different myths that generally surround this topic and you should understand them and only then form an opinion on the topic.

Here are a few questions that get asked on the topic and will help you understand it better.

No. The vegan diet is different from the vegetarian diet. The vegan diet only promotes the consumption of natural foods and eliminates dairy products whereas the vegetarian diet promotes the consumption of natural foods and dairy products. The vegetarian diet encourages milk and milk products and also eggs whereas these are not part of the vegan diet. These form the subtle differences in the two diets and you should understand them before taking them up.

Yes. The vegan diet does not restrict anyone in any way. Anybody interested in adopting a healthier lifestyle can take up this diet. Don’t worry about what others might think about your diet. You are doing it for yourself and to maintain your body and so, it does not matter. Right from elders to youngsters, anybody can switch to the vegan diet. The diet, after all, is dubbed as one of the healthiest diets out there and that gives you all the more reason to shift to it. It might take you a little time to adjust to it but you will ultimately get there. 

Yes. The vegan diet is quite healthy. It is said to be one of the healthiest options as it eliminates the consumption of unhealthy products like processed and junk foods. You will see that you feel much more energetic and stronger once you take up this diet and will also feel full of life. The vegan diet is easy to shift to if you are now a vegetarian. We will look at the diet’s various benefits in a later chapter of this book.

No. There are a few nutrients that might not seep into your diet given the type of foods that are encouraged in the diet. But that does not mean you not take up this diet. It is possible for you to reintroduce some of these nutrients via supplements. We will look at the supplements that you must consume with this diet in a later chapter. You have to understand that no diet in this world will be able to give you all the nutrients and you will always have to turn to natural supplements for it.

Yes. It is ideal to always have a diet plan and follow it. Start by creating the plan and then write down the steps that you will take to achieve it. At first it might be a little difficult for you to make and follow a plan but with time and effort you will be able to attain your goals. It is important for you to remain focused as you are following the diet for your own good. If you make the mistake of going about the diet without thinking up a plan first then you might be making a mistake. You can take the help of a dietician to come up with a plan.

Yes. It might take some time but it is highly possible for a non-vegetarian to take up the vegan diet. You will see that it is possible for you to not only shift to this diet but also continue with it for a lifetime. After all, you would want to pick a healthier option for yourself and what better than diet that can help you improve your health. You will feel more energetic and have the strength to perform your routine work efficiently. With time you will see that it is possible for you to remain active and alert and lead a better and healthier life.

Yes. It is fine for pregnant women to take up the vegan diet but it is important for them to consult the doctor first. The diet might deny them some of the vital nutrients that are essential for their body as well as their child’s and so, it is best to know what extra needs to be consumed along with the diet. But the diet is quite healthy and will leave the women feeling strong and energetic. It will also help with some of the aversions that they might develop during their pregnancy.