Many people are going vegan due to environmental and ethics reason. Now everybody is looking at eating a diet free of all animal products, including meat, fish, dairy and eggs. Going vegan is the single biggest way to reduce impact on the planet according to research from the University of Oxford. People are against eating industrially farmed animals (often pumped full of powerful antibiotics) that pose threat to their health. A life-long meat eater will definitely have questions though before making this big a lifestyle change.
Also Veganism, though gaining popularity ,is considered an exclusive group. People think turning vegan will affect their health aversely with meat protein gone. It is hard to know from where to start the journey. Some leading vegans have certain advice for ‘new vegans’ to make them aware of the transition.
There is enough Protein
People ask you about your protein intake as soon as you turn vegan. But protein deficiency is a really rare thing in the western world. You need to provide just the right kind of protein to your body. It’s a myth that it’s difficult to get protein from plant foods. Plant based food can provide all the essential protein building blocks that we call amino acids. Good sources include beans, lentils, chickpeas, soya products, peanut butter, cashew nuts and pumpkin seeds.”
Supplements
When going vegan make it a point to get enough vitamin B12 something that is commonly found in meat, eggs and fish. Its deficiency causes exhaustion and weakness. There are enough B12 fortified foods including dairy alternatives, breakfast cereal, dairy-free spread and yeast extract available in the market. A B12 supplement can be bought from most pharmacies and health-food stores. Also take care of your calcium intake. Fortified plant milk contains the same amount of calcium as cow’s milk, and so does fortified yoghurt alternatives, calcium-set tofu, and a soya and linseed bread fortified with extra calcium.
Affordable Veganism
You need fruit, vegetables and lentils of various kinds. That’s simple. Just steer clear of processed foods. In order to keep it cheap avoid products that say ‘vegan’ on them. Don’t go to the expensive supermarkets and buy products in plastic made in labs or factories. They will certainly be expensive. Just go back to basics and eat fruit, vegetables, grains, nuts and beans to be healthy and save money.
Maintaining a healthy weight
A well-planned vegan diet can support healthy living in people of all ages providing all the nutrients needed to hit nutritional targets and maintain a healthy weight. Veganism isn’t a diet plan, it’s a lifestyle. People think they can’t indulge and find it restrictive. You can have your favourite treats from pre-vegan lifestyle. If you like biscuits, buy lots of biscuits in supermarkets that are accidentally vegan. Have crisps! They are vegan. Veganism is not about saying no, but saying yes to different things.
Do the best you can do
Humans make mistakes. If you eat some meat sometime it’s okay. Take your time and discover why you went vegan in the first place. Don’t give up. It’s not a vegan world yet. Get your motivation back and start again. Just keep trying, doing the best you can.