in | 10 Mar 2019

SURPRISE! THERE ARE MORE BENIFITS TO VEGANISM THAN YOU THOUGHT

 

 

We love FWB. That’s food with benefits, not friends with benefits. Food, of course, should taste good. After all, if you don’t love it, you aren’t likely to eat it. And we have proven first-hand that vegan food can taste really damn good. But as much as we care about the way it tastes, we really care about what it does for your body.

 

Want to know some of the surprising, science-based benefits of going vegan? Here are just a few.

 

Get rich quick! Not that kind of rich, although eating a plant-based diet does tend to be kinder to your wallet as you won’t be splurging on expensive meat and fish or lots of processed, packaged foods that contain dairy. When we say get rich, we are really talking about the fact that a vegan diet is richer in certain nutrients. When you switch to veganism, you are likely to indulge in a diverse diet heavy on whole grains, vegetables, beans, nuts, seeds and fruit. Because your diet will shift toward these ingredients, you will in turn end up consuming more antioxidants, fibre, potassium, folate and vitamins A, C and E. That being said, it is essential that you are getting all the nutrients your body needs, so add a B12 supplement to your regime and steer clear of nutrient-poor, pre-packaged, quick vegan options.

 

The biggest loser. Though you aren’t likely toying with the idea of veganism to lose weight, it is often a welcome, surprising benefit. Many studies have shown that vegans tend to have lower body mass indexes than non-vegans. Studies have even shown that people who eat a vegan diet, as opposed to a calorie-restricted diet, lose more weight even when they ate until the point of fullness. So you get to shed a few extra pounds without focusing intently on cutting calories? Count us in!

 

Be a lover and a fighter. When you embrace a vegan diet and learn to love fruit and vegetables more than anything else, you will also help fight off certain cancers. Research has shown that eating seven or more portions of fresh veg and fruit every day can lower your risk of dying from cancer by as much as 15%. Avoiding certain animal products has also been shown to reduce the risk of prostate, colon and breast cancers. Pretty impressive, no?

 

Your heart “hearts” veganism. When you lead a vegan lifestyle, you are more likely to consume large quantities of legumes, fresh fruit and vegetables and fibre. When you do this, you are able to reduce your risk of heart disease. Vegans enjoy a 75% lower risk of developing high blood pressure and a 42% lower risk of dying from heart disease. Some studies have even indicated that vegan diets are great for reducing blood sugar, LDL cholesterol and total cholesterol. So show your heart a little love and ditch the animal products.

 

No pain, all gain. There may be nothing worse than suffering with the pain of arthritis. But there’s good news! A few studies have shown that eating a vegan diet has had great benefit for people with arthritis, from improved energy levels to better functioning. Studies have also shown that the joint swelling, morning stiffness and pain that are usually associated with arthritis were greatly alleviated when sufferers consumed a vegan diet.

 

Basically, a vegan diet is good for everyone. As well as for the planet! So if you’re feeling inspired, then now is the time you hop on that vegan bandwagon. Sign into your Deliveroo or UberEats accounts and stock up your fridge and pantry with some amazing vegan essentials from TCPJ.