Most people are interested in having healthy, well-functioning bodies free from certain lifestyle-related diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and arthritis. We know that to keep our bodies healthy and fit, a balanced varied diet and regular exercise are important, but what is a healthy diet?
Some people recommend a balanced diet, a combination of meat, fruit, and vegetables. This is sometimes called an omnivorous diet. There are a lot of benefits to a balanced diet, but recent studies have shown that a well-designed plantbased wholefoods diet can effectively eliminate your chances of developing some serious conditions. Here’s why:
A Vegan Diet Is Nutrient Rich
That is, a proper vegan diet is nutrient-rich! When you switch to a vegan diet, rely on healthier replacements such as fibre-rich whole grains, fruits, vegetables, beans, peas, nuts, and seeds. These alternatives naturally have higher quantities of beneficial nutrients and none of the sat fats found in animal protein.
Studies have shown that vegan diets offer more fiber, antioxidants, and healthy plant compounds. They are also richer in potassium, magnesium, folate, and vitamins A, C, and E. But this refers to a healthy vegan diet made up of whole foods, not a nutrient-poor fast-food style vegan diet.
It May Support Body Fat Loss
If you’re interested in losing weight for health reasons, you have probably considered your diet as well as your exercise routine. This is wise; it is a combination of these two practices that can help you meet your goals. However, some exercise routines are more effective than others, and so are some diets.
Studies show that people who switch to a plant-based diet are likely to lose more weight and stay thinner than those on traditional Western diets and even calories restricted ones. Further, the study shows that even when veggies and vegan dieters didn’t follow the diet properly, they still maintained lower than average weight.
It Can Lower Blood Sugar Levels and Improve Kidney Function
Type 2 diabetes is fairly common in the Western world, affecting adults with high sugar intake, excess weight, and lack or exercise. The condition can cause increased thirst and hunger, tiredness, and unexplained weight loss; it can also contribute to diseases, strokes, and kidney failure.
Switching to a vegan diet is the perfect answer to conditions such as type two diabetes; just ask Simple Online Doctor. A diet rich in vegetables, nuts, grains, and whole foods, reduces the blood sugar levels in the body and increases insulin levels. One study has found that these levels in a vegan diet are even better than the diets recommended by the American Diabetes Association (ADA).
It May Help to Protect you From Other Diseases
It’s generally agreed among health professionals that a diet rich in whole foods, fruits, and vegetables, is the best way to stay healthy and reduce your risk of cancer. According to the World Health Organisation, around one-third or all cancers are preventable simply by changing your diet.
Vegans eat more fruit and vegetables in general, which may explain why a review of 96 studies showed that they were at a 15% lower risk of dying from cancer than those on traditional animal-based diets. On the other hand, eating certain meats and animal products may increase the risk of cancers such as breast, prostate, and colon cancer.
It May Lower Risk of Heart Disease
Heart disease is caused when a buildup of cholesterol in the arteries restricts blood flow to the heart. This is a process called atherosclerosis, and it can cause many illnesses and increase your chance of dying from a stroke or heart attack. If you switch to a vegan diet, however, it may drastically reduce your cholesterol levels.
Vegans eat a lot of fresh fruit, vegetables, legumes, and fiber, all of which are shown to reduce cholesterol and lower your heart disease risk. A vegan diet is also much lower in sugar and is excellent for reducing your blood surgery levels and contributing to your overall heart health.
It can Reduce Pain From Arthritis
If you have joint pain or stiffness that’s the result of osteoarthritis, you’ve probably tried a range of solutions. These can include movement exercises and medications. But there’s another more natural way to improve your joints’ movement and reduce your pain – it’s a vegan diet.
Several studies have now shown that a wholefood vegan diet is extremely beneficial for people with osteoarthritis. One study containing 40 participants with the condition were asked to switch to a vegan diet. Those who did reported better general functioning, less pain, and greater energy levels than those who stayed on their omnivorous diet.