Help Your Health and the Planet: Go Vegan!

Now more than ever, there are growing concerns about the continued production and consumption of animal products, especially meat. The methods used to bring meat and dairy to our tables are continually exposed as both cruel to the animals and detrimental to our environment. Additionally, diets containing significant amounts of animal products tend to be higher in harmful fats. With these and other issues gaining more attention, it makes sense to consider going vegan.

Better Health for You

The positive outcomes of eating vegan are multifarious. For one thing, your risk of developing heart disease is lower. In a large study discussed briefly by Harvard Health, vegans were found to be 25% less likely to die from coronary illness. And while long-term data isn’t yet available, part of the key to this benefit may lie in the balance of foods. Eating more whole grains and legumes increases fiber consumption, which is critical to avoiding rapid rises in blood sugar — one of the significant risk factors for coronary problems and type 2 diabetes.

Furthermore, vegans are more likely to consume foods containing more essential nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and other substances. The higher intake of vegetables and whole grains is responsible, and a well-planned routine that includes a variety of foods is important. And many nutrients for which animal products are typically touted as good sources can also be found in produce, grains, beans, nuts and legumes. For example, dark leafy greens are a great source of calcium and iron, two items that normally motivate people to consume red meat and dairy.

Additionally, the absence of animal fats in a vegan diet makes room for more heart-smart fats — namely, the monounsaturated kind. Many types of plant oils are superb sources of them, such as peanut oil, olive oil and canola oil. They also contain polyunsaturated fats, which like monounsaturated versions work to better your blood cholesterol levels. Often, this translates to raising the “good” cholesterol, or high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and lowering the “bad” or low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in your body.

All of these bonuses combined seem to suggest that eliminating animal-based products makes more room for more nutritious plant alternatives. Protein can be obtained from beans and legumes, and many versions contain amounts in each serving that are equivalent to the content in a serving of meat, seafood or poultry. Proteins, particularly the kind that are good to pair with the incomplete kinds present in legumes, can also be found in whole grain products. And as for vitamin B12, which is only present in animal sources, adding a supplement or eating foods enriched with it are your best option, according to the Vegan Society.

What Do You Have to Lose?

You might think you’ll miss animal products from your diet. And to be fair, after years of being accustomed to them it may be hard to purge them from your meals. But the good news is that there’s a wonderful bounty of meat-free options. And if you simply must have your ice cream or cheese, there are an abundance of non-dairy products that not only fit the bill, but are delicious as well.

By switching to a vegan eating routine, you’re losing your risk of contracting coronary disease and type 2 diabetes. You’re probably going to lose your lack of energy and probably some digestive problems, too. And you’re ending your support of industries that have historically engaged in unethical behavior — not only towards, but towards their own consumers. For example, the egg industry in the United States waged a two-year war on dairy-free mayo producer HamptonCreek. And you’ll stop supporting an industry that stresses ecological systems by introducing more greenhouses gases and pollutants while reducing the amount of biodiversity.

Going Vegan: Good for Your Body and Your Conscience

If you’ve heard all of the typical arguments against going vegan — that you won’t get essential nutrients, or that it would contribute to animal overpopulation, or that humans were meant to eat meat — take heart. The planet’s recovery from the damage done to the meat industry will be significant, and you will also enjoy better health by dropping meat and dairy from your meals. Finally, most of these are ill-informed arguments meant to keep morally unsound industries in business. Put your dollar towards better causes — your own health, and the health of planet Earth.