The vegan diet has become incredibly famous among people because of different health reasons. Veganism is a way of living by excluding all types of animal exploitation whether for clothing or food. So vegan food is devoid of all kinds of animal products like eggs, dairy, and meat. When people follow a vegan diet, it can be highly nutritious to aid weight loss and reduce risks of chronic diseases. People are moving towards a vegan diet because of different reasons. In the United States, people are fully vegan, so there is an increase in sales of plant-based foods. However, you should consider is vegan diet better for you. So you should be more aware of how to get different nutrients like calcium, iron, and vitamin B. In this article, we are going to cover several benefits of vegan food with significant aspects.
Exclusive Health Benefits:
Different benefits of a vegan diet can provide you with basic nutrients. Several researchers have linked the vegan diet with multiple health advantages because it will eliminate harmful health risks.
Reduce Risks of Cancer:
A vegan diet is ideal for keeping the heart healthy, and according to a 2017 study, eating vegan food will lower cancer risks by up to 15%. Plant-based foods are high in phytochemicals, fiber, and vitamins that protect us against cancer. A vegan diet is also effective in lowering blood sugar and cholesterol levels. This effect will be significantly advantageous to lower blood pressure and the risks of heart disease.
Ideal for Weight Loss:
People on a vegan diet have a lower body mass index as compared to those following other diet plans. The effectiveness of this diet in losing weight is more than the semi-vegetarian diet. Moreover, it is better to provide macronutrients for vegan food diet weight loss. Animal foods are usually high in calories and fat. So you should replace them with a low-calorie natural vegan food diet. However, you should avoid eating a lot of processed food because it will result in weight gain.
Control Type 2 Diabetes and Blood Sugar:
Vegan food is also helpful to control blood sugar and type 2 diabetes. You can get several health benefits like higher insulin sensitivity, lower blood pressure, and more than 78% less risk of type 2 diabetes. A vegan diet also lowers blood sugar levels in diabetics up to 2.4 times. Moreover, the weight loss through this diet plan is also contributing to lower blood sugar levels.
Other Health Advantages:
A vegan diet is linked with different health benefits, and some of them are:
Arthritis:
Vegan food is highly effective in lowering the symptoms of arthritis-like joint swelling, pain, and morning stiffness.
Alzheimer’s Diseases:
One of the whole food vegan diet benefits is it will be helpful to lower the risks of Alzheimer’s disease.
Kidney Functionality:
When you add plant-based foods to your diet, it will ultimately result in reducing the risks of kidney infection by improving its functionality.
You should keep in mind that many studies just support the observational facts of these benefits. So you should follow randomized controlled studies to have the proper knowledge.
Nutrients to Consider:
It’s a fact that when you adopt a vegan diet pattern, it removes many nutrients from the diet. So you should try to plan your meals to avoid nutritional deficiencies. People having some health issues may consult with a dietitian before adopting a vegan food pattern. Here are some key nutrients that are less in a vegan diet.
Calcium: Calcium is the best source to keep bone health in control. So you can keep up its level by eating tahini, leafy greens, and tofu. You should know the significance of calcium-rich plant-based foods because they will better help you in your dieting periods.
Vitamin B-12: Vitamin B-12 is usually present in animal products, and it protects the red blood cells and nerves. Fortified cereals, nutritional yeast, yeast bread, and plant milk are some plant-based sources of vitamins.
Vitamin D: Vitamin D is highly protective against chronic health conditions and cancer which helps to strengthen teeth and bones. Therefore, regularly eat foods rich in vitamin D and spend time in sun to boost vitamin D levels.
Iron: Iron is highly significant for blood health, and dark leafy greens and beans are iron-rich vegan foods. So you should eat these foods to keep your iron level in control.
Zinc: Zinc is ideal for repairing DNA damage, and it is also beneficial for the immune system. Nuts, nutritional yeast, oats, and beans are high in zinc.
Omega 3 Fatty Acids: There are three basic types of omega 3 fatty acids DHA, ALA, and EPA. These are important for brain functionality, eye, and heart health. Flaxseeds and walnuts are ideal sources of ALA, but algae and seaweeds are good plant-based sources of DHA and EPA.
Iodine: Iodine is generally ideal for thyroid function, and plant-based sources of foods have fortified food and seaweed.
You should consider these nutrients with proper maintenance because vegan food may be lower in these nutrients.
Healthy Vegan Foods:
A vegan diet is plant-based which has exclusive benefits. Vegans usually avoid eating animal foods for ethical, health, and environmental reasons. Here are some exclusive vegan diet foods that you should try:
Legumes:
Vegans avoid animal-based items such as fish, eggs, poultry, and meat. So it’s significant to replace such items with an iron-rich and protein-based diet. One of the best food for a vegan diet is legumes. Peas, beans and lentils are good options having 10 to 20 grams of protein in one cup. They are also ideal sources of fiber, calcium, potassium, folate, antioxidants, zinc, and other health-promoting plant elements.
Legumes have a good amount of anti-nutrients to reduce mineral absorption. For instance, the absorption of iron from plants is less than that of animal sources. Moreover, vegetarian diets also lower zinc absorption by up to 35% as compared to meat. It’s beneficial to ferment, soak or cook legumes because these methods can reduce the number of nutrients. So if you want to enhance the absorption of zinc and iron from legumes, you may want to avoid calcium-rich foods consumption. Calcium can stop the absorption of these nutrients. So you should eat legumes in combination with vitamin C-rich vegetables and fruits to increase iron absorption.
Flax, Hemp, and Chia Seeds:
These are the basic types of seeds that have an ideal nutrient profile. The best thing about these items is they possess a large amount of protein. One ounce of hemp seed has 9 grams of easily digestible protein. Different researches have shown that fats found in hemp seeds are effective. Moreover, flaxseed and chia seeds are high in alpha-linolenic acid. The amino 3 fatty acid is converted to docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). The DHA and EPA play a significant role in the development of the nervous system. These fatty acids seem to have a good effect on controlling different health issues. Therefore, flaxseed and chia seeds are healthy and make a good substitution for baking.
Vegetables and Fruits:
If you want to know if a vegan diet better for you, try to replace animal foods with vegetables and fruits. There are many ways to add mineral and vitamin-rich fruits and vegetables to your meal. Banana is a good source of substitution in the baking of eggs. Mushrooms and eggplants are also best to get a meaty texture in vegetables. Cauliflower is the best addition to many recipes, and this vegan food will ultimately increase the intake of calcium and iron-rich vegetables and fruits. Turnip greens, artichokes, and broccoli are also ideal options.
Fermented Plant Foods:
Many plant foods contain different amounts of anti-nutrients. These are ideal to reduce the body’s ability to absorb minerals. So fermenting and sprouting are time-tested and simple ways to lower the number of anti-nutrients from different foods. Moreover, a natural food vegan diet also reduces gluten in different grains. Fermented plant foods are ideal sources of probiotic bacteria that are helpful to increase digestive health and immune function. In addition, fermented foods also promote dental and bone health and reduce the risk of heart disease.
Seaweed:
Seaweed is a rare plant food that is an essential fatty acid with different health benefits. Moreover, seaweed also has riboflavin, magnesium, Manganese, and a good amount of potassium. However, keep in mind that some types of seaweed are high in iodine. It is good for body functions such as protein synthesis, regulation, and the nervous system. Iodine is also found in some natural foods, and some seaweed types such as Kombu, nori, and wakame are also ideal sources of iodine.
Recipe to Try:
Sweet Potato Black Bean Burgers:
The sweet potato black bean burgers are loaded with protein, fiber, and spices with quinoa, oats, and a savory spice blend. If you are a vegan diet lover, you try it. It would be a perfect option for a vegan lunch or dinner. The burger is packed with a lot of healthy ingredients. Its recipe is truly inspired by southern cooking, and it is an oven-baked sweet potato burger. The best thing about this burger is it is free from eggs, meat, and dairy.
The recipe is vegetarian, and all the ingredients are gluten-free. However, if you are planning to serve them with a hamburger bun, you have to find a gluten-free bun. Overall, it’s a creative recipe for you if you are also following a vegan diet pattern.
Ingredients:
- 1 sweet potato
- 1/3 cup (60g) quinoa, raw
- 400g can kidney beans, drained
- 1 tsp. Rosemary
- 1/2 tsp. chili flakes
- 1 ½ tbsp. olive oil
Cooking Guidelines:
- Preheat oven to 210°C and cut the sweet potato into pieces.
- Place it in an ovenproof dish, and drizzle with half tbsp. olive oil.
- Season with salt and pepper, and chili flakes. Bake for 25-30 minutes.
- Once the potatoes are cooked, allow them to cool slightly.
- Peel off the skin, and place it in a bowl. Mash the flesh with a fork.
- Add in the drained beans and also mash with a fork.
- Cook quinoa according to the instructions on the packaging. Transfer to the mashed beans and potato, season with pepper and salt, and mix well.
- Using slightly wet hands, form 4 burgers and grease each one with the remaining olive oil.
- Place on a baking tray lined with tin foil and bake for 20-25 minutes in 210°C.
Things to Avoid:
Many of us want to know how to have a vegetarian diet with ultimate benefits. We already discussed that this diet is associated with controlling blood sugar levels, weight loss, and reducing the risk of different cancers. Therefore, it can be challenging to check all the vegan foods that offer the necessary nutrients. Let’s discuss some mistakes that people usually make in a vegan diet.
Deficiency of Vitamin B12:
Vitamin B-12 plays a pivotal role in the body and it’s ideal to create DNA and red blood cells. The main source of vitamin B-12 is animal products like shellfish, poultry, meat, milk products, and eggs. Vegetarians have risks of vitamin B-12 deficiency that can lead to numbness and memory issues. Moreover, it can also lead to megaloblastic anemia which is a condition that occurs when you have lower blood cells than normal. There are different supplements and foods available that can be beneficial to meet the needs of vitamin B-12. Different types of edible algae also consist of this vitamin. So if you are also eating vegan food, you should monitor your vitamin B-12 intake to keep it balanced.
Consuming very few calories:
Many foods are limited in calories which are challenging to meet the needs of calories. Vegans tend to eat fewer calories than those who eat both plant and meat-based foods. Therefore, the people on a vegan diet had the lowest calorie intake. Calories are the basic source of energy for the body, and our body requires a specific amount of calories to perform different functions. Therefore, restricting calories will lead to different bad impacts like fatigue, slower metabolism, and nutrient deficiencies.
Eating a Low Calcium Diet:
Calcium is a significant mineral for our teeth and bones. It is also beneficial to support nervous system functionality. However, a calcium deficiency will result in osteoporosis which is a condition that causes porous bones and enhances bone fracture risks. Calcium is found in several foods, and the most well-known source is dairy items. If you don’t consume dairy items, you should check your calcium intake. Collard greens, kale, bok choy, broccoli, oranges, and figs are calcium-rich foods. You can get calcium from fortified foods and snacks as well.
Not Getting Enough Proteins:
Protein is also an important thing that is helpful to build tissue and produce enzymes. Eating protein can increase muscle mass, and promote a feeling of fullness by reducing cravings. According to studies, adults should eat 0.8 grams of protein in a day for every 1 kg of body weight. When you follow animal-based food, it will be easy for you to do so. However, when you follow a vegan diet pattern, it will be difficult for you to get enough proteins. Different vegan foods consist of a good amount of protein. You should try to add one or two protein-rich foods to a meal.
Eating too many Carbs:
The vegetarian following a low-carb diet may be trapped in replacing meat with refined carbs. Pasta, cake, bagels, and crackers have a lot of carbs in them. Refined grains are an ideal source of fiber that is found in whole grains. The fiber helps to keep the sugar absorption to balance the sugar level in the blood. So a high carb intake has been linked with great risks of diabetes. If you want to maximize nutrients in the diet, you should use refined grains such as pasta, white rice, and bread. However, always make sure to pair whole grains with vegetables, fruits, and legumes to keep a balance between nutrition and diet.
Points to Ponder:
There are different debates on why eating vegan is better. So long-term reports about good health have suggested that different people respond differently. It’s a fact that a nutritional diet is enough to give our bodies the necessary nutrients. So we should consider some factors about this diet to have a deep insight into the scenario.
Starch and Amylase Tolerance:
There are different exceptions that meat-free food tends to be higher in carbs. In addition, some most popular vegan diets have almost 80% carbohydrates which is enough to protect us against diseases like the heart. So a whole food vegan diet benefits are effective for starch and amylase tolerance. Human saliva consists of amylase which is an enzyme to lop starch molecules. Depending upon the copies of the amylase coding gene, the amylase levels can range up to 50% of total protein. Starch-centric people tend to carry more copies of the amylase coding gene. A natural food vegan diet is generally not a very helpful step to make good maintenance among these factors.
Conversion of Vitamin A:
Vitamin A is an essential nutrient for our body that promotes healthy skin, maintains vision, and supports the immune system. It is also vital for reproductive function. However, plant-based diets don’t contain vitamin A, and they have it in precursor form. In the liver and intestine, the enzyme beta carotene 15 is used to convert carotene into vitamin A. On the other hand, animal foods supply vitamin A in the form of retinoids. So one should consider these factors before fully adopting a vegan diet plan.
Types of a Vegan Diet:
When you are willing to adopt a natural food vegan diet plan, you will find a variety of vegan diets. Some of them are below:
Raw Food:
A raw vegan food diet plan is usually based on vegetables, fruits, seeds, plant foods, and nut cookies at a temperature below 48°C.
The Starch Solution:
The starch solution focused on cooking starches like rice, corn, and potatoes in place of fruits.
Whole Food:
A diet that relies on a variety of plant foods such as whole grains, fruits, legumes, seeds, vegetables, and nuts is usually considered a whole-food vegan diet.
The Thrive Diet:
It is a raw food diet, and the foods are minimally cooked at low temperatures under this vegan food diet pattern.
Raw Till 4:
Raw till 4 is a low-fat vegan diet similar to the starch solution. You can consume raw foods until 4 p.m.
Junk Food Vegan Diet:
Junk food is a vegan diet that lacks whole plant foods and relies on cheeses, fries, meats, vegan desserts, and other vegan foods.
Although different research is being made on these vegan diets. However, scientific hypotheses rarely make a difference between these vegan diets.
Choline Rich Foods:
Choline is a significant part of the health of the brain, liver, and nervous system. Our bodies produce it but in very few amounts. So we should just try to get it from our diet. Choline is present in different fruits, nuts, vegetables, and grains. The vegan diet can be the ideal source of increasing choline for proper body functioning.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
Summing it up:
Vegan food is plant-based foods that include vegetables, fruits, nut butter, legumes, and soy. You can also get the nutrients of vegan food from the alternative of plant-based items such as fermented and sprouted foods. If you are about to follow a vegan food diet pattern, you should include a minimum of five portions of vegetables and fruits in a day opting for lower sugar and lower fat. The best thing about following a vegan food pattern is you will never fall short of necessary nutrients. The reason is vegan diet contains a variety of fruits and vegetables that will give our body all the necessary nutrients. Therefore, you should consider vegan food to live a healthy lifestyle and enjoy healthy foods.
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