How to make that switch to Vegan
How to make that switch to Vegan. In are living in a world where the word sustainability and Veganism are becoming increasingly popular.
We are seeing people of all ages changing their dietary means and switching over to become Vegan.
Vegan products becoming more readily available to buy off the shelf.
This is also coupled with the fact that so many celebrities are now becoming Veganised,
It’s hardly a fad and continues to stand the test of time with it now a stable way of life for more of us out there.
We take a quick look at what becoming a Vegan involves and the eating pattern of what you can and can’t eat while on a vegan diet.
How to make that switch to Vegan
What veganism actually is
The term “vegan” was invented back in England during the Second World War.
It was formed by a group of vegetarians who actually broke ranks from the Leicester Vegetarian Society to establish the Vegan Society.
Their mantra was that members would avoid the consumption of dairy and eggs along with other animal products.
In addition they wanted true Vegans to abstain from eating any meat, as do all vegetarians.
The term “vegan” was derived from combining the first and last letters of the word “vegetarian.”
Veganism for most are characterised as a way that people live their lives who boycott all forms of animal exploitation and cruelty.
Whether it be from the food they eat to the clothes they wear.
So what is a Vegan?
Vegans generally choose to avoid all animal products for several reasons with most of them being
- Vegan’s have a strong belief that all animals have the right to life and the freedom of nature.
- They oppose ending an animals life simply for the consumption of its meat, skin and produce it naturally produces when alternative such as Soya products are readily available
- They oppose the psychological and physical damage along with stress that is caused to all animals as part of modern farming methods.
Why go Vegan
There are many reasons why people choose to go Vegan as pointed out above. However, there are other factors that come into play here to why some people decide to take up the Vegan way of life and they are
Health reasons
Plant-based diets may reduce your risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer, and premature death.
By lowering your intake of animal products, it may lower the risk of Alzheimer’s disease or dying from cancer or heart disease.
Some Vegans opt for veganism to avoid the ill-side effects that may be linked to the use of antibiotics and hormones that are used in modern animal agriculture practices today.
Some studies link vegan diets to lower body weight and body mass index (BMI). which helps them lose weight
Environment
Some Vegans switch their diet because of the environmental impact that modern farming practices have on our environment.
This includes the use of chemicals in food and animal production that contribute to greenhouse gasses that is linked to climate change.
How to make that switch to Vegan
What type of vegans are there?
There are a few types of lifestyle Vegans with the most popular being
Dietary vegans who are plant-based eaters. They avoid the consumption of animal products as part of their diet but do continue to use them in other products, such as clothing and make-up.
Whole-food vegans. These choose a rich diet of whole foods that include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and seeds.
Junk-food vegans. These tend to choose or depend on processed vegan food, such as vegan meats and chips as well frozen dinners, and desserts as well as non-dairy ice cream.
Raw-food vegans. This group of Veganites only eat their food that is raw or barely cooked.
Low-fat, raw-food vegans. This type of Vegan are also referred to as fruitarians. They limit their intake of high-fat foods, such as nuts, avocados, and coconuts, and stick to fruit..
What foods do vegans avoid
All Vegans will tell you that they avoid all types of foods that originate from an animal or that was born with a face. These include
- Meat
- Chicken
- Fish
- Shellfish
- Eggs
- Dairy
- Honey
They will also avoid foods or beverages that contain animal content that has been used in/during the production of a product.
What food to Vegans
The choice of foods and drinks that are readily available to Vegans is quite amazing compared when they first started out in the 1940’s. Some of these include
- Beans
- Lentils
- Tofu
- Seitan
- Tempeh
- Nuts & seeds
You can swap the use of dairy products with plant milks. Even scrambled eggs can be replaced with scrambled tofu
In addition to the Vegan diet, they tend to eat a variety of whole grains, as well as a wide array of fruits and vegetables .
Finally
Vegans are people who avoid animal products for ethical, health, or environmental reasons or maybe a combination of the three.
They choose to eat various plant foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, and products made from these foods.
If you are considering becoming part of the Vegan community then check out links to their website here.
If you have any medical condition you should also seek the advice or approval of your GP before you make the switch to ensure you are getting all the nutrients your body needs to survive.
How to make that switch to Vegan
