What is vegan? What do vegans eat? And why? These are just some of the questions that arise in discussions over this lifestyle. Truly, the vegan diet has been gaining popularity in the last years for mixed reasons. Whether you’re simply curious to know what being vegan is and vegan diet benefits, or planning to give it a go yourself, it’s important to know a few things before jumping right into it.
What is Vegan? 13 Things You Have to Know Before Switching to a Vegan Diet
In this article:
- What is Vegan?
- What is Veganism?
- What are Dietary Vegans?
- What are Ethical Vegans?
- What are Environmental Vegans?
- What Can Vegans Eat?
- What Can Vegans Drink?
- What are the Benefits of Being Vegan?
- What are the Risks of Being Vegan?
- What do Vegans Eat for Protein?
- What is the Difference Between Vegan and Vegetarian?
- Will Vegan Diet Help Lose Weight?
- What are the Reasons You’re Not Losing Weight with Veganism?
1. What is Vegan?
Vegan, as a noun, refers to the person who observes veganism, while vegan, as an adjective, refers to the food item consumed by vegans.
2. What is Veganism?
Veganism is a type of diet where you abstain from the use of animal products. There are further distinctions between those who observe the diet, called dietary vegans, and ethical vegans and environmental vegans.
3. What are Dietary Vegans?
Dietary vegans, also known as strict vegetarians, are those who abstain from consuming any animal product, including eggs and dairy products, as well as animal-derived substances.
4. What are Ethical Vegans?
Ethical vegans are those who not only practice veganism in their diet but also in other aspects of their lives. That is, they oppose the use of animal products for any purpose.
5. What are Environmental Vegans?
Environmental vegans are those who abstain from animal products because intensive animal farming is damaging the environment and is unsustainable.
6. What Can Vegans Eat?
Vegans limit their dietary plan to plant-based foods. These include fruits and vegetables. For those who worry about the lack of protein, legumes, nuts, and seeds can be a healthy substitute. Vegans also have a whole list of whole grains to choose from. Definitely, you don’t have to worry about options when going vegan, as there is a long list of vegan recipes you and your whole family will love.
7. What Can Vegans Drink?
Vegans avoid dairy products but drink anything else. These include juices, sodas, soy milk, and ciders.
8. What are the Benefits of Being Vegan?
Health specialist and life coach Geeta Sidhu-Robb listed down a number of benefits associated with the vegan lifestyle. These include extra nutritional value like more antioxidants, potassium, and vitamins. The lifestyle also helps prevent diseases, aid weight loss, and evokes a happier mood, among many others.
9. What are the Risks of Being Vegan?
When planned properly, a vegan lifestyle can make you healthier and lower your risks of certain diseases. Otherwise, it can pose some problems, especially deficiency in certain nutrients like protein, iron, and vitamins.
10. What do Vegans Eat for Protein?
Vegans need not worry about the lack of protein as they have a long list of food options with this dietary component. Soybeans have 29 grams of protein in 1 cup, lentils contains 18 grams in 1 cup, and tofu has 11 grams in 4 ounces. Vegans can also source protein from quinoa, peanut butter, and whole-wheat bread, among many others.
11. What is the Difference Between Vegan and Vegetarian?
There is a difference between what is vegan and what is vegetarian. While both vegans and vegetarians abstain from meat, poultry, and seafood, both do not necessarily avoid dairy. Some vegetarians consume dairy products and some don’t. Vegans, on the other hand, abstain from all animal products. Some vegans even extend this dietary lifestyle to other aspects of their lives including clothing and household items, from vegan leather to make-up products.
12. Will Vegan Diet Help Lose Weight?
Veganism is often associated with weight loss due to abstaining from meat, dairy, and other animal products. When it is done right, a person who is observing the lifestyle drops processed foods from his or her diet, which are high in salt and sugar known to stimulate the appetite.
13. What are the Reasons You’re Not Losing Weight with Veganism?
There are various reasons why you’re not losing weight even after going vegan. You might be indulging in too many portions, you’re not getting enough protein, you’re eating junk food, or you’re drinking too many calories. For the vegan diet to help in weight loss, you have to do it properly.
TheSeriousfitness shares a short clip about what is vegan and what they eat:
There are different reasons why someone would want to switch to the vegan lifestyle. It can be for ethical reasons, health reasons, or environmental reasons. Whatever the rationale behind your decision to go vegan, make sure to observe it properly in order to reap its benefits and stay healthy.
Are you vegan, are you planning to go vegan, or are you simply curious about what is vegan? Let us know in the comments section below!
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