Vegan Lifestyle: Benefits and How to Get Started
Vegan Lifestyle For Better Human and Planet Health
For most people, a vegan lifestyle means simply avoiding all kinds of animal products, whether it be food, clothing, or any other necessities. However, veganism transcends way beyond lifestyle and food choices. The major objective of this movement is to end all unnecessary suffering for all the creatures that share this lovely planet. For example, the vegan lifestyle also has a strong objection against animal circuses, zoos, and aquariums. It is strongly based on the belief that the act of making financial gain from the segregation of animals and their environment is immoral.
Over the last few decades, the advocacy of animal rights and the vegan lifestyle has been gaining mainstream attention. Through the use of the Internet and social media, words spread quickly throughout the world. Similarly, celebrities are getting aboard this movement bringing in millions of fans to adopt or try this new lifestyle. Furthermore, businesses are closely monitoring a slight shift in consumer eating habits. The meat alternatives industry is expected to maintain steady growth over the next decade.
According to Statista, this industry had a valuation of about 11 billion US dollars in 2019. The forecasts, however, show that this is expected to triple to more than 35 billion US dollars by 2027.
Getting Started is Easy
One of the major hurdles for people wishing to adopt a vegan lifestyle is the difficulty of starting. There is a common misconception that finding good vegan food is difficult and costly. However, that isn’t exactly true, and we have come up with a guide to help you get started on this new journey.
Take it Slow
For some people, it might not be possible to make a 180-degree shift in their lifestyle overnight. During the initial stage of transition, you might feel some difficulties in completely changing your eating habits. Therefore, we advise you to take it slow. If you cannot ditch meat immediately, we advise you to reduce the frequency of consumption. Likewise, you can add vegetables to your food more often than you used to. Furthermore, if you think you will not get enough protein, plant-based protein can be your saviour.
Explore Variety of Foods
For people who choose a vegan lifestyle, there is a wide variety of choices compared to meat-eaters. The most important thing is to make sure that you are receiving the right amount of nutrients through a balanced diet. For example, broccoli, raisins, and tofu are good sources of Iron. Similarly, nuts, beans, grains, legumes, tofu, and soymilk are easily available sources of protein.
If you are into bodybuilding and athletics, there are tons of options for plant-based supplements. Vitamin B12 can be a concern for people avoiding all types of animal products. You can consult and nutritionist or a doctor to cover your B12 needs. Fruits and vegetables are great sources of vitamins too. Furthermore, beans and nuts can also provide zinc in adequate amounts.
Focus On Your Mission
After jumping aboard the vegan lifestyle, maintaining consistency is the next step. You must be mindful of why you went vegan in the first place. There might be a number of reasons for your shift in lifestyle. You are bored of the same food every day and want to make a change.
Likewise, you think a plant-based diet is more supportive of your health and fitness goals. Similarly, you might want to contribute to lessening the cruelty and torture upon other sentient beings. Furthermore, you are aware of the effects of animal agriculture on the environment and want to play a part in a sustainable future.
For Your Own and the Planet’s Health
A vegan lifestyle is beneficial for the subject as well as the planet. Some of the health benefits for people adopting this lifestyle are the following:
Rich in Nutrients
Plant-based diets contain relatively greater amounts of certain types of nutrients as compared to meat and animal products. This includes fibres, antioxidants, potassium, magnesium, and vitamins A, B, and C. Most importantly, the amount and richness of nutrients depend on your meal plan and eating habits. If you are still eating fast food, you might not be getting enough benefits from the vegan lifestyle. Non-processed foods, fruits, and vegetables should be your go-to option.
Supports Weight Loss
Obesity is totally avoidable with a healthy lifestyle. One of the greatest benefits of a vegan lifestyle is that it supports your weight loss goals. You can lower your calorie intake while simultaneously meeting nutrition goals. Keep in mind that regular exercise and the timing of meals are also important to obtain your dream body.
Lowers Chances of Diseases
A healthy vegan lifestyle will protect you from many types of diseases. For example, vegans tend to have lower blood sugar levels. Likewise, regular intake of fruits and vegetables along with a proper daily diet can reduce the risk of developing cancers. Furthermore, well-planned vegan diets, if taken consistently, can drastically reduce cholesterol levels and risks of heart diseases.
In addition to human health benefits, your vegan lifestyle will also actively contribute to the planet’s well-being. We will discuss how that happens in the paragraphs below.
Significant Reduction in Use of Resources
It is a well-known fact that raising animals for meat takes up a lot of resources. For example, estimates show that the amount of water required to raise 1 pound of beef is 100 times greater than that required to grow a pound of plant food. Similarly, more than 500 million tons of food that humans can consume goes to livestock every year. This will be a growing concern as our population continues to explode. Furthermore, the supply chain associated with meat production and distribution takes up a lot of energy. This includes the production, refrigeration, shipment, and processing of meat products.
Reduction in Pollution and Global Warming
Animal agriculture is one of the greatest contributors to the world’s air pollution. Studies show that about 15% of global air pollution comes from livestock. Animal waste emits harmful gases like ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, and particulate matter. More importantly, since thousands of such animals are put together in industrial farming systems, this concentration of gases can be extremely damaging. Similarly, livestock contributes to up to 40% of global methane emissions. This is an extremely worrying sign as it can lead to irreversible warming of the planet.
Healthy Lifestyle Trends with Top World Business
In this blog, we came up with the reasons why a vegan lifestyle is more than a diet improvement choice. We saw how it transcends morality and ethics and contributes to the freedom of animals from suffering and cruelty. Similarly, we suggested the best measures for beginners who want to make the transition. Lastly, we summed up our discussion with the benefits of a vegan lifestyle to human and planet health.
Top World Business is a one-stop place for all the lifestyle-related news from every corner of the globe. Our aim is to keep you updated on recent and future lifestyle trends so you can make your life more interesting. Contact us if you have any further queries.
