Benefits of a Vegan Lifestyle

Benefits of a Vegan Lifestyle

A vegan lifestyle can make you feel healthier and happier.

More people than ever have turned to vegan lifestyles in the past few decades, and for a good reason. 

Going vegan involves relying on plants as the only source of food while avoiding all animal sources.

Some people go vegan and take it as a lifestyle choice, which means avoiding all animal products, including food, clothes, and soap that contain animal resources. Other people opt for a vegan diet purely for the nutritional value in it.

Plant-based foods are highly nutritious, contain much less saturated fat, and protect you from several life-threatening diseases.

If you’re thinking about trying it out, here are some of the benefits of following a vegan lifestyle to help you make up your mind:

1. It Can Help You Lose Weight

It Can Help You Lose Weight

Studies have shown that people who follow a plant-based diet are far less likely to be obese than non-vegans. Many people are turning to vegan diets for the sole purpose of losing excess weight.

Foods in plant-based diets have much lower calories than foods in other diets, allowing you to eat more without over-consuming calories. Not to mention that fruits and vegetables are a rich source of fibers. 

Fibers make you feel full for longer periods of time than other types of food, allowing you to eat less over the course of the day. Another perk of eating lots of fiber is that they increase bowel movement, making you feel less bloated and thinner.

Even if you’re eating on a calorie deficit, a vegan diet will still make you lose more weight than a controlled, omnivorous diet. Furthermore, a vegan diet is more of a lifestyle change that’s easier to adopt on a long-term basis. 

On the other hand, going on a temporary calorie-restricted diet won’t help you sustain your healthy weight for too long, getting yourself into an endless loop of weight loss and gain. 

2. It Can Protect You From Cancer

Recent studies have shown that there’s a strong correlation between eating a diet rich in red meat and developing certain types of cancers. Processed meats like bacon, hotdog, and Salami are even riskier.

Per contra, eating legumes and fruits does the exact opposite. Legumes and fruits are found to reduce your risk of developing cancer by up to 15%, which explains why vegans are less prone to dying from cancer.

Recent researches have shown that food addiction can be a real problem for some people, and certain types of foods are even associated with making you feel depressed.

3. Lots of Recipes

Contrary to the popular belief that recipe choices in a vegan diet are limited, the truth is there are lots of delicious plant-based recipes that will leave you asking for more. Just search for plant-based recipes on the web and you’ll find lots of websites dedicated to just that.

4. For the Animals

For the Animals

If you’re one of the people that hates the slaughtering and eating of animals, then a vegan lifestyle will help you do your part in preserving life and remove that guilty feeling you get when you eat meat. 

5. A Vegan Lifestyle Can Help Prevent Heart Disease

Diets full of meat and dairy products are linked with an increased risk of developing heart disease. The high levels of saturated fats and trans fats in these diets can lead to clogged arteries and more severe complications. On the other hand, fruits and vegetables actually reduce your risk of developing heart disease.

6. Makes You More Productive

Several studies have shown that following a diet rich in processed meat will make you feel less energetic, which can affect your productivity at work and other activities that require high physical or mental effort. Vegan diets, on the other hand, can boost your overall mood, increase your stamina, and improve your body functions.

Long-chain fatty acids found in meat products are linked to symptoms of depression, which explains why people who don’t eat animal products are at a lower risk of being depressed.

7. A Vegan Lifestyle Will Make You Get Better in Bed

Omnivorous diets have a negative effect on your sexual desire and performance in bed. Recent studies on men found that those who consume more red meat, full-fat dairy, and unhealthy fats were more likely to suffer from erectile dysfunction. 

This is mainly because foods such that are high can significantly raise your cholesterol, which isn’t only bad for your heart, but also your sexual performance. High cholesterol inhibits sufficient blood flow to the testicles, leading to decreased testosterone production. 

On the other hand, plant-based foods significantly improve blood circulation in your body, affecting libido positively. Additionally, unlike animal sources, plant-based foods keep your cholesterol under control, which raises your body’s testosterone levels. Furthermore, vegan diets reduce stress, ensuring a happier sex life.

8. It Protects You from Type 2 Diabetes

Foods in an omnivorous diet cause frequent insulin spikes, which in turn will reduce your body’s sensitivity to insulin and put you at risk of developing type 2 Diabetes.

Per contra, a plant-based diet will keep your blood sugar levels in check and reduce your overall risk of developing this disease. However, you should still be aware of your daily intake of nutritions since you can still over-consume certain nutrients in plant-based foods that can raise your blood sugar.

9. It Can Make Your Skin Healthier

It Can Make Your Skin Healthier

Many studies have linked dairy products with common skin problems like acne. That’s because dairy products disrupt your insulin levels, which increases the chance of developing acne.

Moreover, fruits and vegetables are rich in natural antioxidants that can make your skin shine.

Final Thoughts

Switching over to a vegan lifestyle can be a bit challenging and requires discipline and effort, but the benefits are well worth it.

It’s a good idea to follow up with a specialist, especially in the beginning. There are some essential nutrients like the B12 vitamin that aren’t found in plant-based foods and have to be compensated with supplements.

Nevertheless, a vegan lifestyle is definitely a fantastic experience and everyone should at least consider giving it a shot. 

Thomas has been vegan for over 5 years and has decided to move to Costa Rica with his family to be closer to nature and live a more minimalistic life. He loves yummy vegan food and sustainable products.