Going vegan to lose weight- good or bad?
 |
| Going vegan can help you to lose stubborn body fat |
Every third person you know in your social circle is hopping on the vegan bandwagon. So is it for you?
First, let's clarify what a vegan diet is. A vegan diet does not include meat, dairy, fish, eggs- so all in all, it does not include anything derived from animals and is focused more on vegetables, whole grains, nuts, lentils.
If you decide to take the vegan plunge, here are some pros and cons.
Benefits of going vegan
1) Reduces inflammation
A healthy vegan diet is rich in antioxidants and nutrients that helps to reduce the inflammation in the body. Inflammation is the root cause for other diseases and prevention is the key here.
2) Reduces heart disease,high levels of cholesterol
3) Easier weight control
Eating more fruits and vegetables can be healthier since they are generally lesser in calories. This can keep your waistline trim and your weight down.
Cons
1) Less energy
Eating vegan can result in less energy since meat is rich in protein and iron as well as vitamin B12 which might be difficult to replicate with a vegan diet. But you can make right choices with supplements and delicious vegan recipes to compensate for this.
2) More food preparation
You might have to plan out your meal choices ahead of time so that you are not caught in a bind when you go to the grocery store or eat out at your favorite restaurant.
3) Bloating
Your gut might need more time to get used to the increased fibre and vegetables. Initially, you might experience some bloat but with time, your digestive system will settle down.
Good or bad?
So is going vegan good or bad?
Vegan diet has many benefits like reduced inflammation, reduced risk of heart disease and better weight control.
Of course, you can have an unhealthy vegan diet which is focused on sweets, empty carbs like bread and soda or salty treats like chips and crackers. So going vegan doesn't necessarily mean following a healthy diet. But if you take the plunge, you might find many health and fitness benefits.
Tips for going vegan
If you find it tough to cut out meat entirely, why don't you go meat-free a few days of the week to see how that feels for you? Same goes for dairy or eggs. Even if you don't fully go vegan, you can still reap the benefits of making more health choices and can lose a few pounds.
Try going vegan for a day first. Then extend that by a few days. Try going vegan for a week and then a month. See how that makes you feel and extend accordingly.
Comments