There’re different reasons for adopting a vegan lifestyle; however, the health angle of it has attracted too much attention even in the scientific world. Studies are now showing how a vegan diet can help boost your immune system and health in general.
In athletics, for example, people used to think that athletes need meat to build muscles and gain strength, yet many plant-based elite athletes are proving it all wrong.
You probably have the basic facts about vegan foods, but it’s more than the fruits and vegetables. Read more to learn why you should embrace this diet or at least give it a try if you’re to improve your health and wellbeing.
- It Reduces inflammation
Inflammation is the root cause of most diseases. And although the body uses acute inflammation for its protection against infections, poor diet, especially from processed animal products and sugar, can result in chronic inflammation. Something that has been linked to chronic health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, allergies, digestive issues, and so on.
Highly processed vegan foods can also cause inflammation. So make sure you’re making the right vegan choices.
If you’re experiencing any of the inflammatory conditions, eating plant-based probiotics, strawberries, blueberries, tomatoes, or leafy greens can help improve your situation.
- Healthy vegan diets are high in nutrients.
A diet full of vegetables, fruits, ancient grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds is high in vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants that the body needs for better functioning and protection against diseases.
However, there’re essential vitamins like B12 that must be supplemented, as they lack in plant-based foods. One can either take a supplement or use nutritional yeast (make sure it’s organic).
- It can help prevent heart disease and diabetes.
Vegan diets are generally low in cholesterol, a culprit for high blood pressure and subsequent heart disease.
Consuming healthy whole plant-based foods can help achieve a healthy body weight keeping in mind obesity is a great predisposing factor to type 2 diabetes.
- Eating vegan can help you sleep better.
Plant foods are high in tryptophan, an essential amino acid that the body uses to produce melatonin and serotonin chemicals in the brain. Serotonin regulates your cognition, behavior, and mood, while melatonin regulates your sleep pattern.
Best plant sources for tryptophan include kale, bananas, almonds and brazil nuts, chamomile tea, tart cherry juice, whole grains, cacao, sweet potatoes, and avocado.
- Vegan foods may help prevent cancer and other chronic diseases.
According to studies, plant-based foods such as vegetables and fruits are high in antioxidant phytochemicals that help neutralize free radicals that might otherwise cause mutations leading to cancer.
Thank goodness veganism has now gone mainstream, and people are embracing it for different reasons. However, the health aspect of it cuts across all the bases. You need a healthy body to be able to spread the vegan word out there.
In case you’ve been vegan but don’t pay attention to your diet. It’s high time!
Your health doesn’t climax once you go vegan. It’s more of what type of a vegan you are and what you put on your plate. There’re a lot of highly processed vegan foods out there, but just because they are plant-based doesn’t necessarily mean they are right for you.
Also, you need to supplement those nutrients absent in vegan diets such as vitamin B12.
About Author:
Joan C. is a Registered Medical Clinician, a content creator, and a health and wellness enthusiast. She’s all about educating clients on the power of plant-based nutrition, mindfulness, and lifestyle habits as a strategy to impact health and longevity.
