How a Vegan Diet May Help Prevent Long-Term Health Conditions

Mckenzie Berkeley

The vegan diet has become increasingly popular in recent years, with more people choosing to adopt this lifestyle for ethical, environmental, or health reasons. Veganism is a plant-based diet that excludes all animal products, including honey, eggs, and dairy. Some vegans also avoid using animal-derived products, such as leather and wool. If you’re considering adopting a vegan diet, the following guide will help you understand the health benefits of veganism and how such a diet can boost your long-term health.

Why Veganism Is Gaining Popularity

Lately, veganism has been gaining popularity for a variety of reasons. One of the biggest driving forces behind this rise is the increasing awareness of the environmental impact of animal agriculture. Livestock production generates greenhouse gas emissions that fuel global warming while contributing to water pollution and water scarcity. With the mounting evidence of the devastating impact of climate change, more and more people are looking for ways to reduce their environmental impact, and veganism is one way to do that.

Benefits of a Vegan Diet

A vegan diet can have many benefits. It can help you lose weight, lower your cholesterol, and reduce your risk of developing heart disease and some types of cancer. According to the Journal of the American Heart Association, plant-based diets are associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease; a vegan diet may also help to reduce the pain of arthritis.

A vegan diet can also be beneficial for lowering blood sugar levels and increasing insulin sensitivity, reducing the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Indeed, eating a balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables is one of the best ways to prevent this chronic condition.

Is a Vegan Diet Right for You?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the best diet for you depends on many factors, including your health, lifestyle, and personal preferences. However, if you're considering a vegan diet, here are some questions to ask yourself:

Am I looking to prevent certain diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and other long-term health conditions?
What kind of a global impact do I hope to make with my diet?
Is eating a non-vegan diet negatively impacting my health?
Do I have any other conditions that would preclude me from eating a vegan diet?
What could I gain health-wise by eating a vegan diet?

Conclusion

There are many potential benefits of eating a vegan diet, particularly the lowered risk of chronic health conditions. Of course, as with any diet, there are some potential drawbacks to a vegan diet as well. For example, if you don't plan your meals carefully, you may not get enough of certain nutrients, such as vitamin B12, iron, and calcium. Additionally, a vegan diet can be expensive and may be difficult to stick to long-term. However, if you’re committed to eating a vegan diet, plan carefully, and work with your doctor to identify the best foods for you, then it could be just what you need to live a long, healthy life.

Why Veganism will Help You Reinvent Your Career and Life

Katie Pierce

In previous decades, veganism was commonly associated with stoic yogis, bland meals, and a restricted and boring lifestyle. Vegans then were the oddball hippies who couldn't savor optimal pleasure and enjoyment. Fortunately, these concepts are a thing of the past, as millennials are learning to embrace the practice.

Due to more extensive efforts to educate the public and more advanced research on the benefits of veganism, it's becoming more and more popular. In this blog, we'll explore what veganism is and how it can help you experience a different but more meaningful life in items of career and personal relationships.

What is veganism?

First, let's clarify what veganism is. It's common for people to think of it as the practice of eating veggies or plant-based food. However, while veganism has to do a lot with dietary choices, its meaning can transcend this concept to encompass an entire lifestyle.

In its fullest definition, veganism or vegetarianism is the attitude or way of life that seeks to reject all forms of exploitation of animals. Humans can be some of the most savage living things, with the potential to inflict cruelty on breathing organisms for personal gain. Veganism denounces killing any animal, be it for food, clothing, shelter, or even for science and research. They subscribe to the belief that our "fellow animals" should also be respected. This means we should consider their lives as valuable as ours.

Why veganism can be career- and life-enhancing

As a comprehensive lifestyle, veganism can give you a fresh set of beliefs and values, completely changing your life's trajectory. Here are a few good reasons why veganism will help you reinvent your career and life:

1. Veganism can turn you into a more compassionate human being

Becoming a vegan will open your eyes to the kind of damage that we inflict upon nature and ourselves. This increased awareness will help you see both animals and humans in a different light. With a change in thinking comes a shift in how you act and make decisions. For instance, upon learning of the plight of animals subjected to horrendous experiments by certain companies in the beauty and personal care industry, you'll likely stay away from their products. Instead, you'll go for cruelty-free skincare. Not only can you protect the animals from harsh tests, but you'll also be treating yourself to the cosmetic benefits of plant-based ingredients, such as antioxidants that fight aging and give you glowing skin.

In addition, the enhanced sense of empathy from the shift to veganism will help you increase employee engagement. Is this far-fetched? Not really. Put it this way: when you have an increased ability to put yourself in your employees' shoes, you can better understand your employees and expand your perspective to include theirs. This can improve your communication at work and help you better connect and align your expectations and goals.

2. Veganism can boost your overall health

Studies show that drinking milk (whole, low-fat, or skim) is closely correlated with persistent inflammation, such as acne. Certain findings also indicate that the increased ingestion of dairy products is linked to a heightened risk of breast cancer due to the presence of estrogen and saturated fatty acids.

In addition, the high consumption of red meat (beef, veal, mutton, pork, and lamb) can lead to various major chronic diseases. These include diabetes, heart failure, and coronary heart disease. It can also increase the risk of stroke and colorectal, breast, and prostate cancer.

Eating minimally processed, plant-based foods is thus a logical solution to avoid debilitating diseases and improve your health. And better health means that you have the energy to perform your work and personal functions to the best of your abilities.

3. Veganism can enhance your cognitive functions

Minimizing the consumption of meat and dairy products can prevent cognitive decline. At the same time, a study done on Chinese adults revealed a correlation between a healthier dietary pattern (such as including a Mediterranean diet, which typically consists of vegetables, whole grains, fruits, olive oil, nuts, and seeds) and a lower risk of the decline in mental functioning.

Having sharper faculties in your professional and personal life can mean a top-notch quality of life. For example, being mentally alert at work can help you excel at your job and help you work smarter, not just harder. A brain that's in tip-top shape can also help you think more clearly and strategically, helping you distinguish genuine opportunities from mere distractions.

Memory is one helpful cognitive function that can be helped along by a vegan diet. Incorporating more veggies into your everyday meals may help you remember all-important dates like anniversaries and birthdays. And this can have a massive impact on how you manage your relationships.

4. Veganism can save you loads of cash

According to a study by Kantar, vegans spend 40% less on their meals compared to individuals who generally consume meat and fish. Mock meats and curated vegan products in specialty shops can indeed be costlier than animal-based alternatives. However, home-cooked dishes and whole foods, such as nuts (peanuts, almonds, cashews), seeds (sunflower, pumpkin, linseeds), grains (quinoa, wholegrain rice, bulgur wheat), and beans and legumes (lentils, lima beans, chickpeas, split peas, kidney beans) are healthier and more affordable.

The implications of this are far-reaching. Just imagine a savings of 40% every time you eat! On top of that, you get to save on expensive medical bills. All this money can go into your 401k and accumulate into a massive nest fund over time. Who knows, you may even be able to retire earlier or shift to a career that's more in line with your passions simply because of a better financial situation.

Wrap up

Veganism can potentially redirect your career and life and make them more meaningful and satisfying. Are you ready to switch gears to a kinder, more plant-based diet? Then perhaps you need to chew on your greens to think well enough and decide for the best.

How Does Being A Vegan Help You Increase Productivity?

Emma Wilson

Most vegans choose the lifestyle for ethical reasons, hoping to prevent animal cruelty and slaughter. Others go vegan for health or environmental reasons, hoping to improve their digestion or reduce their carbon footprint. For some, ethics, health, and the environment all play a part in their decision to switch to a plant-based diet.

But did you know that going vegan can also increase your productivity?

As it turns out, consuming meat and animal-based foods can actually slow you down. Today, I’m going to show you several reasons why going vegan can not only improve your health but also make you happier, more productive, and more motivated.

Are you ready to revolutionize your workflow?

Want To Be More Productive? Try Going Vegan

Productivity is one of the biggest hot-button topics that companies are dealing with today. According to a recent CareerBuilder survey, an average of 85% of all employees are not engaged or are actively disengaged at work.

Of course, a lot of this can be attributed to the fact that people these days are overworked, underpaid, or just flat-out bored by what they’re being asked to do. Even I have days when I’m tired and “not all there.”

That being said, I’d also be willing to bet that a decent percentage of workers are disengaged because they’re experiencing dietary fatigue. There’s a significant amount of evidence supporting the benefits of a plant-based diet, and many studies show that plant-based eating can improve your energy levels, mental health, and even help you focus.

Meat Can Slow You Down

It’s safe to say that the Western world is obsessed with meat. Everywhere you go, you can see commercials and advertisements for double-sized burgers, foot-long meat sandwiches, all-you-can-eat-shrimp, and more. I mean, who really needs that much meat?

Unlike plant-based protein, most animal meat is packed full of fat. This means that it takes your body a lot longer to fully digest. It also requires more effort for your body to digest, which can induce fatigue and tiredness. Simply put, it’s why most people want to go straight to bed after Thanksgiving dinner.

For a full breakdown of why meat may make you feel slow and fatigued after eating it, check out Be Great With Nate’s informative visual:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0AlkzQqQlM

Dairy Can Make You Sleepy

Meat isn’t the only culprit that can slow you down. Dairy can be just as problematic. For one, most forms of dairy have a good bit of fat, especially cream and whole milk. Many coffee drinkers put several hundred calories of fatty, sugar-laden creamer in their coffee every morning and then wonder why their coffee “isn’t working.”

In addition to fat, dairy also contains high amounts of L-tryptophan, which can induce drowsiness if it’s not consumed with a balanced dose of other amino acids.

Animal cruelty aside, you’re much better off consuming a natural plant-based milk like almond or oat milk.

Veggies Are Full Of Essential Vitamins & Nutrients

Although meat does contain some healthy proteins, minerals, and amino acids, you can get all of these from plant-based proteins, such as soy, peas, and nuts.

Plant-based foods and veggies are packed full of essential vitamins, trace minerals, and nutrients, all of which are vital for your energy levels. The more balanced your vitamin and nutrient levels are, the more energy you’ll have.

In fact, some of the most obvious symptoms of vitamin and mineral deficiency are fatigue, brain fog, and lack of focus.

Fruits Provide Fast Energy

Although vegans eat a lot more than just fruit, healthy fruits are a staple of a balanced plant-based diet. In addition to being a great source of natural dietary fiber (which helps digestion), fruit is also an excellent source of natural sugar.

The sugar in fruit can be quickly broken down into glucose, which your body can immediately use to transform into energy!

So, the next time you’re feeling a bit lethargic at work, reach for that crisp apple instead of a piece of candy or an energy drink. I promise you, it’s a lot healthier.

Plant-Based Food Keeps You Full For Longer

Digesting food is one of the most energy-intensive activities that our bodies perform. Every time we eat a meal, our body inevitably slows down for a period of time while our stomach processes it.

Your typical non-vegan diet is full of artificial sugars and unhealthy processed carbs. These foods have one thing in common - they don’t keep you full for very long. This means that you’ll need to eat more frequently to maintain that “full” feeling. This, in turn, keeps you in a state of constantly needing to eat and digest food, leading to more fatigue.

Plant-based foods, on the other hand, are high in natural fiber. Fiber keeps you feeling satisfied for longer, and reduces the need to eat as frequently. This allows your body to divert energy away from digestion and put it towards the focus of your productivity.

Conclusion! - Can Going Vegan Make You More Productive?

Going vegan is one of the best choices that you can make for your overall health. It can drastically lower your risk of heart disease, help you shed excess pounds, and perhaps more importantly- going vegan can make you more productive!