The vegan diet has been gaining more followers every year. Experts say this has several causes, including health, ethical, and environmental motives. Unfortunately, the online community constantly spreads misinformation about the vegan diet’s benefits and side effects. For this reason, we decided to write this article and clarify those misconceptions. However, and before we proceed, we need to define the vegan diet.
The vegan diet originates from a concept known as veganism, which is a special lifestyle that prohibits the consumption of all foods that were made using animal exploitation or cruelty. This definition covers everything from food elements and clothes to esthetic products. Therefore, foods such as meat, poultry, and fish are all excluded from vegans’ diets.
The health benefits of the vegan diet
Weight loss
Oftentimes, vegans fall into the lighter side of the scale; this finding is not a coincidence! In a 2007 study, scientists found that the vegan diet is the most effective way to lose weight, surpassing all calorie-restricted diets. It is believed that the healthier lifestyle associated with the vegan diet and the accelerated metabolism are key in the weight loss department.
Diabetes mellitus
Diabetes is a chronic metabolic condition that’s characterized by persistent hyperglycemia (high blood sugar levels). This condition is one of the major risk factors for coronary artery disease (CAD), and it could lead to dire consequences.
Fortunately, the vegan diet reduces the chance of developing diabetes by modifying its risk factors. One study found that this diet can lower your risk of diabetes by 78%.
Cardiovascular health
Coronary artery disease is an extremely detrimental condition, causing more death tolls than any other ailment worldwide. During a myocardial infarction (heart attack), the major blood vessel that supplies the myocardium with oxygen and nutrients gets irreversibly obstructed. As a result, patients experience chest pain, abnormal cardiac function, electrical arrhythmias, and eventually, death! The vegan diet reduces the risk of CAD by modifying its risk factors.
Cancer
In a 2017 meta-analysis, scientists concluded that adopting the vegan diet can decrease your risk of cancer by 15%.
So far, researchers are not certain of the exact mechanisms that lead to this result; nevertheless, the overall healthier lifestyle is believed to be the primary driving mechanism.
Conclusion on vegan diet
Regardless of the reasons that lead you to adopt the vegan diet, it is still a great way to improve your overall health and reduce your risk of several diseases.
Moreover, current research is constantly revealing new health benefits, which contributed to the popularity of this diet.
If you have ever tried the vegan diet before, feel free to share your story in the comment section below.