The vegan diet is quickly gaining notion in India, this form of diet has become quite popular with the millennials. More people have decided to go vegan for ethical, environmental or health reasons. When done right, the vegan diet can give you positive results and can lead to health benefits, including a trimmer waistline and improved blood sugar control.
What is a Vegan Diet?
Veganism is a way of living in which you exclude all forms of animal exploitation and cruelty, whether for food, clothing or any other purpose. For these reasons, the vegan diet is devoid of all animal products, including meat, eggs and dairy. A follower of the diet or philosophy is known as a vegan. Vegans can be divided into different categories. Dietary vegans (also known as strict vegetarians) refrain from consuming animal products, not only meat but also eggs, dairy products and other animal-derived substances. Then there are ethical vegans (also known as moral vegetarian) those who not only follow a vegan diet but extend the philosophy into other areas of their lives, and oppose the use of animals for any purpose. Another term is environmental veganism, which refers to the avoidance of animal products on the premise that the industrial farming of animals is environmentally damaging.
Tips To Help You Start a Vegan Diet
A vegan diet can be tricky and confusing, If you have any doubts about the diet, then don’t worry, we’ve got your back, let’s take a look at some of the tips that you should keep in mind while starting a vegan diet.
Focus on vegetables
Your vegetables should be the star of your meal, vegetables are full of vitamins (like A and K) and minerals (like potassium), and they help you to keep your calories in check, also, as they are high in fiber, they can help you feel more satisfied.
Eat different varieties
To ensure that you are eating healthy, you need to make sure you’re getting all the nutrients you need on a vegan diet, so it’s really important that you eat well balanced meals that include a variety of healthy foods, So that your body doesn’t lack in any particular nutrients.
Find new plant-based proteins
Protein essential for the body, one thing that you can do while following vegan diet is eat more plant-based proteins. Animal sources of protein, like meat and cheese, tend to be high in unhealthy saturated fat. Vegan sources of protein really are plentiful and include: tofu, tempeh, edamame (soybeans), lentils, chickpeas and beans. Nuts, like almonds and walnuts, and seeds, like sunflower and pumpkin seeds, are also high in protein.
Not all vegan products are healthier
Just cause the products that you consume are vegan, doesn’t mean that they will be healthy, for example vegan cookies aren’t necessarily any better for your waistline than regular cookies. Processed vegan foods are often high in saturated-fat and are unhealthy. Indulging in vegan treats every so often is fine, but don’t justify them as “healthy” simply because they’re vegan.
Don’t Forget About Vitamin D
The most common way of getting Vitamin D is from fish and dairy products like milk and yogurt, but you can also find it in milk such as soy or almond milk and orange juice. Mushrooms that have been exposed to UV light are a good source of this Vitamin. In the summer months, when the sun is stronger our skin can synthesize D. Just make sure that you are consuming enough Vitamin D in your diet.
