A vegan diet is one that contains no animal-based products. As more Americans transition to plant-based eating, more and more benefits are being discovered. Below, we’ll tell you the key benefits of adopting a vegan lifestyle. Veganism is great not only for your overall health but is also better for our planet and the environment.
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Is Highly Nutrient-Dense
Eating plant-based foods means you’re consuming more fruits, veggies, nuts, whole grains, seeds, legumes, and beans. These foods are rich in micronutrients, vitamins, antioxidants, and fiber that a meat-predominant Western diet lacks.
Brightly colored fruits and veggies provide healthy doses of important vitamins and antioxidants, preventing free radicals from scavenging healthy cells in your body. This reduces your chances of developing serious health problems such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, etc.
Prevents Certain Cancers
As per the World Health Organization (WHO), the occurrence of about one-third of all cancers can be prevented by adopting a healthy lifestyle, with diet playing a major part. Smoked and processed meats have shown to increase the risk of colorectal cancer. Adopting a vegan lifestyle automatically removes these harmful meats from your diet, reducing your risk of developing this common type of cancer.
Plus, a plant-based diet with its inclusion of a variety of vegetables and fruits supplies abundant antioxidants that protect healthy cells from turning cancerous. Avoiding animal products is known to cut the risk of certain cancers, including prostate, breast, and bowel cancers.
Lowers Risk of Heart Disease
Heart disease is the leading cause of mortality throughout the United States and is often known as a silent killer. Red meat is rich in saturated fats, which increases your blood cholesterol levels. High levels of bad cholesterol or LDL may cause clogged arteries, thereby increasing the risk of a heart attack or stroke.
A plant-based diet is very low in cholesterol and saturated fats while being high in dietary fiber and healthy fats that are good for heart health. A vegan lifestyle cuts your risk of cardiovascular disease by reducing risk factors such as cholesterol and high blood sugar levels.
Reduces Your Carbon Footprint
Rearing animals for human consumption takes its toll on natural resources such as land and water. If we continue to eat animals at the current rate, we will need more and more agricultural space to cultivate the crops needed to feed these animals. This will result in deforestation that can have dire consequences for our earth and the environment.
By adopting a vegan lifestyle, you’ll be able to do your bit towards making our earth a better place to dwell. Besides, if more people adopt plant-based eating, fewer animals will suffer the cruel malpractices that exist in the animal rearing industry.
Choose a Vegan Lifestyle
A vegan lifestyle is a great way to consume more vegetables and fruits that the standard American diet lacks. Eating a plant-based diet will fill in the nutritional gap associated with consuming a meat-centric diet that’s rich in saturated fats. A vegan diet is a rich source of essential micronutrients that are beneficial for your overall health. A well-balanced vegan diet will also provide essential macronutrients to keep your body functioning at its best.
