What are the benefits of a vegan diet? This is a common question among individuals who are still contemplating whether or not they need to start eating plant-based foods in order to live healthy. A vegan diet offers an array of benefits to anyone who strictly follows it. Here are some of the benefits you could get.
It Helps With Weight Loss
Eating plant-based foods can help reduce excess weight. The fiber and water present in these foods make you full until the next the meal. This reduces the frequency at which you eat. These foods also prevent the daily energy spikes that make you crave for sugar. They also tend to be lower in calories and rich in nutrients.
Related: 5 Excellent Blogs That Focus on Nutrition
It Reduces the Intake of Fats
Animal fats have a strong connection with conditions such as diabetes, atherosclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, hypertension and heart disease. Animal-based fats account for 85 percent of cholesterol-raising fats in the whole world. A vegan diet has zero animal fats. By embracing it, you can reduce the risk of developing the conditions mentioned above. Plant-based fats like olive oil, for example, will provide you with the essential fatty acids without raising the level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in your blood.
It Improves Bone Health
Many people, especially the elderly, struggle with bone diseases due to lack of calcium. While you can get calcium from milk and cheese, you risk doubling the level of low-density lipoproteins in your blood. Vegan alternatives such as almond milk, vegan cheese or soy milk will provide you with the calcium you need without causing harm to your health. Vegan diets also allow for efficient bone metabolism and absorption of calcium, the process through which the body forms new bones.
It Improves Heart Health
According to a study report published in The Journal of Family Practice, a strict vegan diet can actually reverse heart disease. The argument behind this report is that a vegan diet helps you get rid of animal-based foods such as meat, eggs and milk. Embracing it can shrink the cholesterol-laden plaques that form in your arteries, reversing atherosclerosis and limiting the risk of having a heart attack. So, if you want to improve your heart health, eat vegetables and fruits and avoid animal products. A diet full of whole grains, legumes, flaxseed, fruits, vegetables and vitamin B12 supplements will help you a lot.
It Reduces the Symptoms of Kidney Disease
Kidney works to remove excess phosphorus from the bloodstream. When the kidney fails to remove phosphorus effectively, there may be calcification and deposits in the arteries, heart valves and muscles, leading to heart attacks, strokes and skin malfunctions.
Phosphorus mainly comes from diets rich in proteins, especially animal-based foods. Plant-based foods contain smaller amounts of proteins when compared with animal-based foods. Individuals who suffer from kidney disease but observe a vegan diet tend to have lower levels of phosphorus in their blood. Consequentially, their heart valves and muscles are less likely to be affected by calcification and deposits due to excess phosphorus.
It Reduces the Risk of Developing Chronic Diseases
Eating plant-based foods reduces the likelihood of developing genetic-related chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, ulcerative colitis and heart disease. The bioactive compounds found in plant-based foods can control the biological factors that cause chronic diseases.
Embracing a vegan diet is the key to living a healthy and prosperous life. The benefits of a vegan diet discussed above are enough to give you the motivation you need to start eating healthy today.
