Beyond preserving the lives of animals, adopting a vegan lifestyle also comes with benefits for you, the vegan that doesn’t require years to manifest. How so? As a vegan of almost thirty years and a nutritionist, I have seen multiple clients start to enjoy the wellness benefits just over a year of becoming vegans.
Indeed, some of the information that is shared concerning the vegan lifestyle can feel confusing. So here, I’m going to explain the benefits of a vegan lifestyle in a clear and concise way.
Vegan for a whole year: what can it do for me? Let’s see below.
It can help you lose excess weight
Now, hold on. This does not work like magic. You won’t lose 30lbs two weeks after making the switch to a vegan lifestyle. However, if you stay consistent with a proper vegan diet, as the months proceed, you will begin to notice weight loss.
The reasons are that: veganism will reduce the amount of calories you consume, you’ll trade processed foods and all its chemicals for whole foods, and the fiber from the vegan diet will aid digestion.
As you combine your diet with exercising, you’ll begin to notice a gradual, healthy shedding of weight. And by the end of a year, the progress will put a big grin on your face.
It helps increase energy levels
Do you have a 9-5 job and find that by Wednesday, you can barely climb out of bed, and by Friday, your office desk starts to resemble a pillow? Or are you a stay-at-home mom with multiple active toddlers you can barely keep up with?
The vegan diet includes foods like dates, avocados, berries, corn, and nuts that are loaded with fibre, carbohydrates, and protein. These do not only boost your energy levels, but they also help sustain it–which is very important. After years of coaching my clients, increased energy levels to tackle their day-to-day activities is one boon so many of them have exhibited after maintaining the diet for a year.
It improves your digestive system
While we’ve touched on digestion above, it absolutely deserves a point of its own. According to research, sixteen out of a hundred adults suffer from constipation. If you have experienced constipation before, you know it can be a real thorn in your flesh with constant discomforts and a bloated sensation.
After a year on the vegan diet, constipation will easily be a thing of the past. This is because some of the major causes of constipation are insufficient fluid and fiber intake. The vegan diet provides a good amount of liquid through fruits and vegetables, and all the fibre your body needs to function properly.
It will keep your skin fresh
Did you know that whatever you ingest affects not only your internal organs, but also the external ones? Well, it does. The skin is the largest organ in the body and if you’re struggling with dry skin or acne, a vegan diet will turn that around in months.
Fruits rich in water content especially, such as pineapples, watermelon, and cucumbers, will keep your skin nourished and hydrated. This, in turn, will reduce acne, blackheads, and wrinkles, and give your skin a fresh look.
It allows for healthier eating
As a nutritionist, I’ve seen numerous people who honestly want to clean up their eating habits struggle with it just because junk food options are everywhere. Really, it has to be tough to give up candy when every storefront you walk past tempts you to have just one. Yet the fact remains that overindulgence in junk food is horrible for one's health.
Going vegan for a whole year has set so many people’s health back on track. When on a vegan diet, you won’t shove every sweet treat you encounter into your mouth because most won’t be vegan. Therefore, the vegan diet makes healthy eating easier and completely worth it, as you’ll be pleased with the improvements in your health!
It reduces the risk of cardiac arrest
Research shows that veganism decreases the risk of certain heart conditions like CVD. The diet provides high fibre, low saturated fatty acid, vitamin E, magnesium, and potassium which reduces one’s blood pressure, hence the chances of a stroke.
The diet also serves as therapy for people either at risk of heart attacks or patients recovering from it. There are numerous testimonies where patients share that after a year on this diet, their cardiovascular systems returned to healthier states.
It prevents diseases
Have you ever gone a whole year without coming down with something? No? This is one more advantage you can start to enjoy after going vegan. Adopting a vegan diet and its rich nutritional provision will boost your immune system and reduce the chances of falling ill.
Many chronic diseases can also be connected to the copious consumption of dairy and meat. With a vegan diet, you will naturally be spared from these illnesses.
Conclusion
There are numerous benefits to enjoy during and after your first year on the vegan diet. While I won’t claim that it’s easy to adopt veganism after years of eating meat and dairy, I and many others are proof that it is possible! And once you settle into the diet, it’ll be a life-changing decision you’ll be glad you made. Reach out to a dietitian to curate an eating plan that will benefit your physical and mental wellbeing. You can also book our menu plan and get started right away.
Comments