Many people think that going on a vegan diet is really difficult but remember one thing - your mind is your only limit. If you’re dedicated to living a healthy lifestyle, making your diet completely plant-based is the next level you need to reach. Even though eating meat, eggs and dairy products can have its benefits, this could all be replaced with a much healthier plant-based alternative.
If you’re one of those people that can’t imagine a meal without some veggies on the side or a day without a piece of fruit, you’re already halfway there. However, before you decide to make the transition, there are some things to consider. The most important thing is to have a clever approach and not to jeopardize your overall health in the process. As much as you like eating vegetables, you are probably getting a majority of your protein and other essential nutrients from meat and animal products. But don’t worry, there are many ways to overcome this through a well-balanced and diverse plant-based diet.
We know that going vegan can be a challenging adventure, so here are some great tips for you to follow in order to make your path easier!
Get Your Protein
Even though there are plenty of plant-based protein sources that can compensate for excluding meat from your diet, one should know that choosing the right amounts of protein from various sources is of essential value. Whether you are into fitness or not, protein is the number one macronutrient that the body needs.
So, a well-planned vegan diet should include protein from foods like tofu, edamame, chickpeas, lentils, beans, seitan, oats, nuts, legumes, quinoa, nutritional yeast, soy milk, chia seeds, broccoli, spinach, etc. Since these foods contain different essential amino acids it is important to have diversity in your diet to cover as much as you can. If you’re working out, it is time for you to switch to plant-based protein powders. Most of these powders are organic and they usually contain a mixture of different ingredients like pea protein, seeds, brown rice, etc.
Consider Taking Supplements
It is a known scientific fact that the health benefits of a vegan diet are of great proportions but people often forget to mention that once you get on this journey, you’ll have to overcome deficiencies of key nutrients which are very important for your health. For somebody starting with a vegan diet, it is highly recommended to consider taking supplements to avoid risks that can occur due to lack of Vitamin B12, Vitamin D, iron, zinc, calcium, and few other essential nutrients you were getting from animal-based foods.
Boost Your Energy
If you lack energy after only a few weeks after going vegan, you probably have a Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) deficiency. Vitamin B12 is a group B vitamin necessary for normal functioning of the central nervous system, energy production in your body, proper formation of red blood cells, better metabolism, mental health, and more. New vegans can feel tired, depressed, forgetful, and even confused due to the lack of Vitamin B12 in their system, and in most cases, they do not even know why they feel this way. But don’t worry, there are options that you can explore to get the right amount of vitamin B12. Even though you can get vitamin B12 through fortified plant milk or fortified cereals, the easiest way to get this is to take daily supplements that may be a specific vitamin B12 supplement product or multivitamin packs that, besides B12, may cover other vitamins and minerals.
Try Plant-based Omega-3
In addition to the above-mentioned vitamins and minerals that you may be lacking during the transition, you should also try to find a high-quality source of Omega-3. Taking a daily dosage of Omega-3 can bring significant improvements in regard to heart, brain, and eye health, along with reduction of blood pressure, inflammation, anxiety, irregular heartbeat, and many more.
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Enjoy a variety of vegan-friendly dishes
Once you realize the unlimited potential of a great vegan dish that looks colorful, unique, and attractive, you’ll see that this journey can take you far away from your daily routines. The more time you spend learning about the vegan lifestyle, the more you’ll want to explore to make it more interesting and enjoy every meal. Even though we all like a refreshing strawberry smoothie for a perfect start of the day or a tofu veggie burger for your breakfast, there is much more to this.
Many people around the world have decided to change their lifestyles for both environmental and health-related reasons, but so many dishes out there are vegan-friendly historically. For example, you’ll see a variety of original vegan dishes in the Mediterranean, Korean, Southern Italian, South Indian, Mexican, Ethiopian, and other cuisines. In the modern age, everything is available and you should take advantage of it by looking up some juicy recipes from around the world to make things exciting. However, if you’re not that skilled in the kitchen or you simply don’t have enough time to prepare a meal, there are some excellent meal delivery services that provide the most sophisticated plant-powered meal plans tailored according to your specific diet and your needs.
Beware Of Processed Vegan-Only Products
As a beginner vegan, the first thing you’ll probably do is to go to a grocery store and buy everything that has a “vegan” or “vegan-only” label on it. With few exceptions, most of these commercial products are heavily processed and aren’t that good for you.
It is proven that a proper vegan diet can have a great contribution to weight loss, lower blood pressure, healthier heart, etc., but one should be aware that vegan products can be counterproductive if they are taken for granted. Yes, there is an equivalent of so-called “junk food” in a vegan world. Commercial products intended for vegans can often contain a large number of chemical additives, sugars, saturated fat, coconut oil which somehow gain an infamous status of unhealthy food, sodium, and other ingredients that may compromise your health in some way. The smartest decision would be to make your own snacks and meals from organic foods you’ll purchase from authentic vegan-oriented shops and mostly avoid processed vegan products that may do more harm than good for you.
