For some, the thought of transitioning to a vegan diet can seem daunting. Cutting out entire food groups may sound like a huge change and, of course, adjusting to it can be. But for everything you give up by going vegan, there is something even better to gain. Becoming vegan is a huge step towards a happier, healthier life with a TON of amazing benefits.
What Will I be Giving Up?
The Obvious
The most obvious change to your life as a vegan will be that you will no longer be eating any foods containing meat, fish, eggs and dairy products. If you are transitioning from a vegetarian diet this will of course be slightly less of a change as you will already be used to a life without meat. But remember - for everything you remove from your diet there is always a healthier, plant-based alternative. Love spaghetti bolognese? Try replacing the beef mince with protein-packed green lentils Can’t go without your scrambled eggs in the morning? Try scrambled tofu - you’ll never want to go back!
Ordering Out
Something people often worry about is that they will no longer be able to eat out at non-vegan restaurants once they switch to their new diet. But most restaurants are now well equipped to cater for all sorts of dietary requirements, including vegans! If you need some inspiration on what to order when you go out for your next meal, check out my Instagram post for some easy ideas!
Freedom to Try Anything
Another factor that many struggle with is the freedom to eat new foods without checking what’s in them first. As a non-vegan, providing you don’t have any other dietary requirements, you can pick up that new flavour of chocolate bar at the grocery store without checking the wrapper first, or grab a handful of gummy sweets at your child’s birthday party without a second thought. Going vegan requires a little more thought before you put something into your mouth - but this isn’t a bad thing! Our bodies need to be looked after, and a lifestyle that requires you to think a little more carefully about what you’re putting into your body is going to create a much healthier you in the long run.
What about Protein?
No, going vegan will NOT give you a protein deficiency! There are so many plant-based protein sources to incorporate into your diet - check out my blog post for some ideas of different things to try!
What Will I Gain?
There is SO much to gain from a vegan diet, and so instead of feeling overwhelmed you should feel excited at the new journey you are about to embark on.
Increased Energy Levels
It may come as a surprise to learn that being vegan can actually give you more energy than a diet filled with meat. Provided you follow a balanced diet and make sure you gain enough healthy sources of essential nutrients such as iron, your new lifestyle could bring you a new-found zest for life. This is because vegan diets usually contain more servings per day of different fruits and veg, providing us with a full rainbow and therefore lots of healthy vitamins. As well as this, animal products are hard to digest, so removing them from our diet will mean our body can digest our meals much faster and easier, giving us more energy for other important activities in our busy lives.
A Healthier Body
Following a vegan diet is a fantastic way to improve your overall health and reduce your risk of life-threatening diseases. In 2019, a study of 48,000 people over 18 found a lower risk of heart disease in vegetarian and vegan diets, suggesting that meat and dairy products are a risk factor for developing such a disease. In 2015, WHO classified processed meat, such as smoked meats and sausages, as a Group 1 carcinogen, meaning that there is sufficient evidence that they can increase the risk of cancer. Other risk factors in this category are tobacco and asbestos, so it’s not difficult to see why these types of foods are best avoided.
Weight Loss
If you’re trying to shed some extra pounds, a vegan diet is a great way to do so! As previously mentioned, being vegan means putting more thought into what’s going into your body and leads to fewer high-calorie processed foods being consumed. A balanced vegan diet full of fibre, a rainbow of fruit and veg, great protein sources and all your vitamins and minerals is a healthy way to lose weight and keep it off for good. If you’d like more information on weight loss from a plant-based diet check out my plant-based program and don’t hesitate to get in touch if you’d like to ask any questions!
Peace of Mind
I’m sure by now you will know that a vegan diet is a much kinder way to live. Eating vegan means none of your food is coming from mistreated animals on intensive farms. This is not only kinder for the animals that would otherwise be suffering but it’s much better for the environment, too. According to a study at Oxford University, producing a 200ml glass of cow’s milk requires 120L of water compared to just 10L for oat milk. The production of dairy milk also uses ten times the land space per year as producing the same amount of oat milk. So not only are you doing something kind for your body but, by choosing vegan, you are being kind to the world around you too. And that’s a beautiful place to be in.
I know what it’s like to transition into a plant-based lifestyle and so if you have any questions at all, please don’t hesitate to get in touch! I’d love to help you on your journey towards the happiest, healthiest version of you that you’ve ever been.