You all might have heard a lot about vegan diet. As many people around the world are moving towards vegan diet due to health, animal welfare or environmental concerns. Before we jump directly on its benefit, let’s understand what actually is a vegan diet?
So, a vegan or plant-based diet eliminates all animal products such as meat, dairy and eggs. It includes plenty of fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts and seeds which provides you wide range of vitamins, minerals, protein etc. Some of the health benefits of vegan diet are as follows-
- Better heart health
- Lower cancer risk
- Weight loss
- Prevents type 2 diabetes
- Reduces arthritis pain
1. Better heart health- A vegan diet can lower your risk of heart disease. Vegan diet excludes all type of animal product, be it meat, cheese or butter- which are the main sources of saturated fats. These foods increase cholesterol level, which directly increases the risk of heart disease or stroke.
2. Lower cancer risk- According to a 2017 research, following vegan diet may reduce a person’s risk of cancer by 15%. As plant-based diet is high in fiber, vitamins and phytochemicals, that protects you against cancer. Also, fruits and vegetables contain antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids which are linked to positive health outcomes.
3. Weight loss- Vegan diet may help you in losing weight without the need to actively focusing on cutting calories. As most vegan foods contain less saturated fat and calories than any animal product do. Some studies have even suggested that vegans tend to be thinner and have Body Mass Indexes (BMIs) than non-vegans.
4. Prevents type 2 diabetes- Healthy plant- based diet can help you mitigate the risk factors linked with developing diabetes, such as obesity. A vegan diet can help you manage your blood sugar level. A research also concluded that vegan reduces their risk of developing type 2 diabetes by up to 78 per cent than non-vegans.
5. Reduces arthritis pain- Animal-driven foods are linked to pain-causing inflammation for arthritis patients. A healthy vegan diet, on the other hand, can aid with symptoms of arthritis. The probiotic found in plant-based food such as fermented vegetables and non-dairy yogurts boosts good bacteria in the large intestine, which boosts nutrient absorption and also reduces inflammation in your body.