Vegan Life and Your Health

Health could be the main reason for some opting for a vegan lifestyle. Ironically, it could be the same reason why some may hesitate or fear going vegan due to a lack of knowledge about vegan options & sources for nourishment.

In fact, health was not the initial reason that prompted me to be a vegetarian first and a vegan later though health benefits are a major bonus that I now embrace. You can know why I pursued this lifestyle here.

I was happy knowing the great health benefits this lifestyle provides but this is not to say that I didn’t have concerns initially about certain nutrients.

Attitude & Approach Make All the Difference!

If you are just like me, I appreciate the fact that you take health seriously. Honestly, that’s the right approach. Because technically, a person living merely on vegan burgers & french fries, and a person eating a variety of vegetables, fruits, nuts & seeds are both vegans. But in no way, the former can be considered healthy.

That is why one should never think, going vegan is a visa for health, though; a well planned vegan diet may help you achieve that.

Considering the options & resources available to you today with the abundance of vegetables, fruits & other plant-based foods certainly this should be the case. Therefore, appreciate the life you’ve got by being health conscious and reaping all the benefits this lifestyle has to offer.

Vegans generally being health-oriented is another reason, why they tend to have a better health than complacent omnivores. They keep on educating themselves and acquire more knowledge with time, to know all the food options available with relevant nutrition. This change of mindset has lead vegans to enjoy better nutrition than omnivores, even on nutrients abundantly available from animal food sources.

Therefore, you can consider this as a great opportunity to be health-oriented opening a new chapter in your life for health.

Just imagine how you can reduce some of the common health risks such as below if you take up this path,

• Heart attacks
• Strokes
• Weight-related issues
• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Cancer
• Digestive issues
• Animal-related deceases

On the flip side, make sure you’re getting below nutrients adequately,

• Protein
• Calcium
• Vitamin B12
• Iron
• Zinc
• Omega 3 fatty acids
• Vitamin D3 if exposure to sun is limited

Now, what to do in order to keep your health in check? Apply the general principles that go with any other diet routine. Check the nutrients that you’re already getting and substitute the foods to give the nutrients that you may not get by foregoing animal food sources.

Ensure that you will have a variety of vegetables (including the leafy greens), fruits, cereals, legumes, whole grains, nuts, and seeds, while avoiding as much as possible the high sugar, fatty, and processed foods. If you feel you don’t have enough time or finding it difficult getting sufficient nourishment you can resort to fortified foods with nutrients or supplements.

I do recommend as much as possible to follow a healthy vegan lifestyle (diet+exercise) and have the occasional health check-up to keep a track of your health status.

With knowledge and experience, I’ve found that this is something one can work out if they are committed.

After all, health is wealth!