What is a vegan diet? And what’s involved?
So, you’ve decided to go vegan. Congratulations! You’re on your way to a healthier and more sustainable lifestyle. But what is a vegan diet, exactly? And how do you follow one?
This guide will answer all of your questions and help you get started on the right foot.
Vegan Diet
A vegan diet is a diet that seeks to eliminate, as far as feasible and practical, all types of animal exploitation and suffering for food, clothing, or any other purpose.
At its core, a vegan diet is about compassion. It’s about refusing to participate in the merciless killing of animals for food. And it’s not just about your health.
A vegan diet also seeks to minimize the environmental impact of animal production, as industrialized livestock farming is responsible for more greenhouse gases than all of the transportation exhausts combined.
Vegan Diet Advantages and Disadvantages
Advantages of a Vegan Diet
A vegan diet has many advantages, from improving your health to protecting animals and the environment. A vegan diet is healthy. Vegans typically have lower cholesterol levels, better blood sugar control, and a reduced risk of obesity, heart disease, and cancer.
Vegan diets are also better for the planet. Raising animals for food is one of the leading causes of global warming, deforestation, water pollution, loss of biodiversity, and ocean “dead zones”. A vegan diet protects these ecosystems.
Disadvantages of a Vegan Diet
There are several disadvantages to a vegan diet. A vegan diet may be more expensive than an omnivorous one. This is especially true if you buy ready-made products like imitation meats. That said, it’s easy to find healthy, vegan foods at the supermarket for less money than their animal-intensive counterparts.
When you eat out with family, friends, or at business functions, you may run into issues. Many restaurants don’t offer vegan options, and it’s not uncommon to hear people criticizing your diet.
What Is a Vegan Diet FAQ
What do you eat on a vegan diet?
In a vegan diet, you eat grains, legumes, tubers, fruits, and vegetables. You get protein from beans, lentils, quinoa, nuts, and seeds.
Do Vegans eat eggs?
Vegans do not eat any food that comes from an animal, including eggs. Although it may be argued that eating eggs does not harm chickens, egg farming on a large scale is cruel.
Can Vegans eat fish?
Vegans, like vegetarians, do not eat any food that comes from an animal. This includes all types of meat and fish. Fish can also feel pain, just like other animals.
What is the difference between vegan and vegetarian?
Vegans don’t eat any animal-derived food, including meat, fish, eggs, or dairy. Vegetarians may be okay with consuming dairy and/or eggs but still avoid eating meat and seafood.
Can a vegan eat french fries?
French fries are a less healthy choice, but not off-limits for someone on a vegan diet. Because they’re fried in oil, make sure it’s vegetable oil and does not contain any animal-based oil like beef tallow.
Do vegans drink beer?
Yes, they can consume vegan beer. Vegan alcohol comprises spirits, beer, wine, and cider that are devoid of animal by-products. Vegans choose to avoid non-vegan alcohol and any goods that contain animal-derived components similar to the foods we consume. You might be shocked to learn that certain beers, wines, and ciders include animal ingredients.
Do vegans not eat bread?
Traditional bread is prepared using yeast, flour, water, and salt, so it can be eaten by vegans. However, some commercially available bread (e.g., those sold at supermarkets) includes dairy products such as whey (a milk protein) or eggs as fillers or stabilizers, which would disqualify them from being vegan.
Closing on What Is a Vegan Diet
The vegan diet is about compassion. It’s about refusing to take part in the merciless killing of animals for food, and it’s also good for your health and the environment.
If you’re thinking about going vegan, start gradually by reducing the number of animal-based meals you eat each week. Don’t be hard on yourself if it takes time to get used to eating a vegan diet.
Take small steps and learn from your mistakes. Before long, you’ll be an expert in preparing delicious vegan dishes!