For Physicians
Sign Up 0    
Search
Subscribe

Everything you should know about being a vegan

December 12, 2019 | Farah Jassawalla

With every other celebrity announcing their ever-so-tedious diet plans where they have to adhere to a strict vegan diet, one can't help but wonder what this vegan diet is after all. Fortunately for you, listed below is everything you need to know about the vegan diet, including its benefits. So let's start by discussing the core values associated with a vegan diet.

What is a vegan diet?

The vegan diet stems from the veganism philosophy of life, which focuses primarily on eliminating the consumption of all forms of animal products. These products aren't restricted only to stop consuming animals for food but also to forgo wearing any products derived from animals, irrespective of whether animal cruelty is taking place or not.

That said, it is evident that the vegan diet is based strictly on utilizing only plant-based products, both for food and otherwise, in our daily lives. Furthermore, many individuals have gradually started adopting a vegan diet for ethical reasons, including taking a stance against the torturing of animals for the benefit of humans and reducing the negative impact that animal farming for meat has on the climate. However, you should note that not every vegan is trying to make a statement about climate crises or animal cruelty; some might just be adopting the vegan diet for health purposes.

Now that we have elucidated what a vegan diet is, it is time to look at some of the benefits of becoming vegan.

Benefits of being a vegan

Consumption of foods that are rich in nutrients

The types of food products that you can eat in a vegan diet tend to be more nutritious than the average Western diet. This is because the daily dose of valuable nutrients is exponentially increased by replacing meat products with plant products such as beans, nuts, fruits, and vegetables.

Aids weight loss

We all want to lose those extra pounds and achieve the perfect summer beach body, but it can be hard to do so by eating meat and other generally unhealthy products derived from beef. However, a vegan diet is beneficial in this regard and can aid in losing excess weight, given that the diet is followed correctly. Researchers estimate that as much as 9.3 kilograms can be lost if the vegan diet is observed regularly.

Improves bodily functions

Extensive research has shown that a vegan diet is highly beneficial for human beings because it can enhance the function of the kidneys and lower blood sugar levels. As a result of this, people who are vegans tend to have a lower probability of developing type 2 diabetes as opposed to an individual who consumes meat primarily. It is surmised that vegans have as much as a 50% reduced probability of developing diabetes.

Protection against cancers

The World Health Organization estimates that a majority of the factors contributing to the occurrence of cancers are a part of one's diet. Therefore, to prevent cancers, it is advised that individuals reduce their consumption of meat and switch to a vegan diet. In addition, following a vegan diet will entail that an individual will avoid consuming smoked meat, which aids the growth of tumors and cancers.

In conclusion, it is evident from the observations above that a vegan diet has numerous benefits which can help us lead a better life. A vegan diet is not just necessary to improve one's health; it also holds a great deal of ethical importance. Increased meat consumption has resulted in animal cruelty, where they are subject to inhumane treatment and overgrazing by livestock. As a result, the consumption of meat is not only contributing to poor health but also exacerbating climate change.

 

Our clinical experts continually monitor the health and medical content posted on CURA4U, and we update our blogs and articles when new information becomes available. Last reviewed by Dr.Saad Zia on May 2nd, 2023.