Pros and Cons of Vegan Diet

Being a vegan is tough in a world where people love meat and even more to bash vegan lifestyle. It was derided as an extreme dietary preference and something not impossible to achieve.

You might be one of the anti-vegan people or a part of the fast-growing vegan community. Even if you have a neutral approach, you sure have heard about the outrageous and dubious questions thrown about the inability to survive without chicken, meat, eggs, dairy milk, even honey!

What is a vegan diet?

A vegan diet is essentially a choice lifestyle practiced by a huge community across the globe. The dietary preference is restricted to food derived from plant sources and completely eliminating any food derived from animal sources. Yes, that includes the honey amassed by the honey bees during their lifetime strenuous labor.

Many people incensed by the on-going cruelty in the meat and milk market have taken up this diet and become advocates of the same. They have even embarked on a mission to enlighten people regarding these ruthless industries.

Do you know about the mammoth amount of greenhouse gasses emitted by the dairy farms? Do you know about the cruel enslavement of cows and chickens in tiny cages for the benefits and pleasure of human beings? Even if you do and you do not care, non-violence is not the only reason why you should consider going vegan.

Take a look at the many reasons to go vegan

1) Weight-loss

A diet consisting of absolution elimination of eggs, dairy, meat, and fish would naturally indicate that your body would be able to shed all the fat you have gained so far from such food. A vegan diet helps you tone down your body while supplementing the same with alternative sources of fat, carbohydrates, and proteins such as tofu, soy milk, legumes, nuts, peanut butter and a lot more.

2) Tackle Cholesterol

If you are able to lose weight, then the issue of cholesterol naturally goes down. Even people suffering from Type-2 diabetes advocate a vegan lifestyle as they achieved impressive reduction of LDL levels by following a vegan diet.

3) More anti-oxidants for you

Antioxidants are necessary for your body to prevent dangerous diseases such as cancer. A diet rich in fruits, vegetables and legumes and grains supplements your body with an abundance of anti-oxidants, good fiber and all sorts of vitamins and minerals.

4) Lower your blood pressure

A vegan diet has a positive impact on not only your cholesterol and insulin levels. It also helps to regulate your blood pressure.

Now, you should also realize that going vegan requires a Herculean amount if self-control. It is a diet that rejects everything you have loved for so long. You might also need to give yourself frequent self-motivational talks and remind yourself the positive reasons for following the diet. It is a complete change in style. You might feel alone amidst the majority of meat-eaters surrounding you. Your choice in food would be considerably low. There would not be many restaurants available for you to dine in or get a takeaway. You would have to be prepared with vegan foods and snacks at all times to be a fervent follower of the diet regime.

You might even suffer from deficiencies of adequate minerals and vitamins as your regular sources of the same are no longer options for you to consume. Vegan diets are notorious for upping the risks of deficiencies of Calcium and Vitamin D. B-12 is another vitamin deficiency that potentially ensures this diet. However, alternatives are available in the form of fortified foods containing plant solids such as soy or almond milk, tofu, cereals, etc.

There is no proven or scientific guarantee to the health benefits of following a vegan diet. It should be regarded as a lifestyle and a matter of choice.
The pros and cons of a vegan diet are at a perpetual war with why it should be taken up. It comes with a lot of sacrifices and even risks for a health condition. It takes time to change, and the journey to the new lifestyle is very often grueling and comes off as a test to your self-control. The transition takes time, and it should be done systematically.

If you plan to go vegan, you should be more conscious about what you consume, keep track of your diet and try to supplement it with all the fats, proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals essential for the proper functioning of your body. There are several plant alternatives to popular non-vegetarian choices. There are even 20 cookbooks on Vegan diet popular in the market today. You could even make yummy, vegan desserts or vegan burgers!

The transition should be done by your own volition and not under the influence of celebrities. Blind mimicking makes it a diet even more difficult to follow. You should find the right reason and be self-motivated for a successful transition.