Committing to a vegan diet is not for everyone. You may find yourself curious because of the many celebrities who follow this strict plant-based diet such as Natalie Portman, Ellen DeGeneres, and recently Beyoncé, but the real question is whether going vegan is better than a normal diet?
If you’re thinking about going vegan, there are a few things you should know: you will have to forgo all animal products, including eggs, dairy, and (if you’re a strict vegan) honey. And unless all your friends, family, and coworkers are also vegan, you’re guaranteed to encounter frequent challenges to your food choices.
Those factors aside, there are actually a bunch of good reasons you should decide to stick with plant foods.
Here are some of the pros:
– It’s good for your body and your waistline
Vegans tend to be healthier than the average American. Research shows that they have lower rates of heart disease, cancer, type II diabetes, and obesity, and they also weigh an average of 5 to 20 percent less than meat eaters.
– It can reduce your carbon footprint
In order to grow livestock feed and to process and transport meat, the meat industry ends up creating one-fifth of the man-made pollution in the US—thanks to greenhouse gases and burning fossil fuels and not you.
– It saves you money
With animal protein on the pricier side, becoming a vegan doesn’t look so bad. Plant products are easier on the wallet and you won’t have as hard of a time-saving up for vacation.
On the other hand, going vegan can have its downsides…
– It can make you flabby
If you don’t see to it that you’re getting the right amount of protein from foods like beans and nuts, this could be a side effect.
– It can lead to weight gain
If you find yourself focusing on those high calorie vegan options, this could be the reason you may be packing on the pounds.
– It won’t be healthy right away
Even if you’re filling yourself up with chips and soda, you can still be considered a vegan, but that stuff won’t help you healthy vegan goals. You have to select the healthy options.
Have you gone vegan? Share your journey with us on Facebook and Twitter: @LucilleRoberts
