Veganism has become a new health craze, even among those who aren’t full-time vegans. The benefits of a vegan diet are apparent. Celebrities like Tabitha Brown, who started her vegan food line and owns a vegan restaurant, have touted the benefits. Many of Tabitha’s fans swear by her products.
Brown became an internet sensation when she introduced the world to Whole Foods’ Vegan BLT wrap, which rocked her world and changed it.
She has now turned her business into a multi-million-dollar empire.
Restaurants like Slutty Vegan, out of Atlanta, Georgia, are popping up all over the country. Founder Pinky Cole has turned her concept into a $100 million business and has fans like Snoop Dogg, who swear by her food.
So why are so many Americans turning vegan?
Well, here are just a few benefits of a vegan diet.
Digestion
Fiber is a huge part of the vegan diet. It helps with digestion and bowel movements, which, of course, is crucial for your health.
Weight loss
According to Healthline, a small study found that people eating a low-fat, high-fiber vegan diet lost more weight than those eating a conventional low-fat diet. Participants following a vegan diet lost an average of 13 lbs (6 kg) over 16 weeks. In a study, vegans also lost more weight than people who included meat or fish in their diets. Vegetarians lost just as much weight as vegans in this study. When comparing a low-fat, whole food vegan diet to a standard omnivorous diet over 16 weeks, the vegan diet resulted in an average of 13 lbs of weight loss. People on regular diets do not experience significant weight loss benefits.
Low Blood Sugar
A vegan diet is great if you are a type 2 Diabetic. Studies have found that a vegan diet lowers blood sugars even better than the diets recommended by the American Diabetes Association.
Another study done in 2009 found that 43% of type 2 diabetics were able to reduce their diabetic meds compared to 26% of patients who followed the ADA’s diet plans.
A lot of vegan diets don’t include a lot of sugar and carbs, which is a huge issue for a lot of patients who are type 2 diabetics.
Maintaining low blood sugar is critical for diabetics’ health. That’s why it’s important to know great vegetarian substitutes.
Decreases the Chances of Getting Cancer
A vegan diet also may decrease your chances of getting cancer by 15 percent, according to a 2017 study.
According to the National Cancer Institute, eating higher amounts of plant-based foods reduces your risk of several types of cancer, including stomach, lung, mouth, and throat cancers.
Because of the soy in most vegan diets, it also decreases breast cancer.
Lower Risk of Heart Disease and High Blood Pressure
Eating fresh fruits and vegetables, legumes, and fiber is linked to a lower risk of heart disease and high blood pressure, sometimes as much as 75% when it comes to high blood pressure.
Reduce Pain from Arthritis
Although more studies need to be performed, early studies seem to indicate that a vegan diet does reduce the pain of arthritis sufferers.
Vegan diets that are based on antioxidant-rich whole foods may significantly decrease symptoms of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Vegan diets are always perfect. You may need to look at supplements to support that vegan diet, but overall, it’s worth it.