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A vegan diet is extremely beneficial for animals and the planet, but you’ll also notice a myriad of health benefits when you adopt a plant-based diet!
It’s no secret that adopting a vegan diet can provide a wealth of benefits for the environment around us. This is because producing meat and animal products places significant pressure on the environment, due to the crops and water required to feed the animals, as well as the other processes that take meat products from farm to table.
Adopting a vegan diet also provides even more benefits for your overall health. Most of these benefits occur internally, from improving cardiovascular health to reducing the risk of life-threatening diseases such as Type 2 diabetes. However, there are some more obvious benefits that you could experience within a few months of starting your new vegan diet. Read on to discover what these are and how you yourself could benefit from starting a vegan diet!
1. Increased energy
Did you know that adopting a vegan diet could leave you feeling more spritely and full of energy? This is one of the main benefits that you’ll notice once you switch to plant-based foods.
Heavy foods that are high in processed fats and sugars can leave you feeling tired and sluggish, and animal products are more difficult for our guts to digest, which can also contribute to tiredness.
On the other hand, foods that are rich in healthy fats, minerals and vitamins can make you feel more energised and awake. Many plant-based foods such as hemp seeds, goji berries and tempeh are rich in these nutrients, and thus can give you that much-needed boost of energy.
2. Healthier skin
When you’re a few weeks into your vegan diet, it’s likely that you’ll notice your skin becoming more bright and healthy, and this is no coincidence. Many vegan foods contain the key nutrients responsible for keeping skin glowing and healthy, therefore, adopting a vegan diet can help improve your skin’s health and appearance.
Vitamin A plays a key role in keeping skin healthy. It increases blood flow to the skin’s surface, which can help to keep the skin looking firm and plump, and it can also reduce the signs of ageing. Foods such as carrots, sweet potato and kale are rich sources of this vitamin, which is why you may experience healthier-looking skin when you start a vegan diet.
3. Strong nails
Many people report experiencing strong, healthy nails after adopting a vegan diet. This is because foods such as millet, cucumbers and radishes contain silica, and this helps to deliver nutrients to your hair, skin and nails and works towards keeping them strong and healthy.
Vitamins such as biotin and omega-3 can help to promote healthy hair and nail growth, so if your nails are weak and brittle, it may be worthwhile adding a supplement to your routine, such as the vegan supplements from Vitabiotics. However, omega-3 can also easily be found in natural, plant-based foods.
4. Fewer illnesses
Another benefit that people can experience on a vegan diet is a stronger immune system, which can lead to you experiencing fewer illnesses.
As mentioned earlier, going vegan can help reduce the risk of contracting life-threatening diseases such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes. This is because, on the whole, fewer saturated fats are consumed by those on vegan diets, and these are the fats responsible for increasing cholesterol, which is a major risk factor for these serious diseases.
In addition to this, veganism can help you to reduce the risk of contracting everyday and bacterial illnesses. One of the main reasons for this is that bacteria, parasites and toxins are more common in commercial meats, seafood and poultry, when compared to organic fruits and vegetables.
Another reason for this is that vegans tend to consume more fibre, antioxidants and phytonutrients. These nutrients help to support your immune system and fight infections, which is why you may get ill less often if you adopt a vegan diet.
5. Weight loss
Weight loss is another common benefit that many vegans experience when switching to a meat-free diet.
Plant-based diets tend to be rich in fibre, when compared to the typical ‘Western diet’, which normally equates to a higher intake of saturated fats from meat and dairy products. It’s these fibres that keep you fuller for a longer amount of time, which can help you to fight unhealthy cravings and thus help you to lose weight!
The benefits of adopting a vegan diet will vary from person to person, and you may experience these benefits anytime between a few weeks to a few months of your new diet. As with any new food regime, it’s important to remember that patience is key and so long as you stay persistent, the benefits will come in due course.
