Veganism is a lifestyle that excludes all animal products, including meat, dairy, eggs, and honey. While this may seem like an extreme way of living to some people, becoming a vegan has multiple benefits that make it a sustainable choice for many people. In this vegan starter guide, we will explore what veganism is all about, as well as vegan diets, vegan supplements, and vegan living.
What is veganism?
It's easy to confuse vegetarian and vegan, but they are quite different. A vegetarian will avoid meat but may eat dairy products, eggs, and similar foods.
Vegetarianism is mostly about eating products that don't harm animals, so drinking cow's milk is an option as it doesn't directly harm the animal.
Vegans avoid products that involve animals anywhere in the supply chain. This means that meat, dairy, eggs, honey, and potentially many other foods are off the menu. Veganism often limits lifestyle as well as food choices - any animal product is often forsaken, but often lifestyle products are as well, including leather products, wool, and cosmetics that have been tested on animals.
Veganism is about living compassionately and reducing harm as much as possible - not just dietetically.
Why go vegan?
There are many reasons why people choose to go vegan. Some people adopt a vegan lifestyle for health reasons, while others do so for ethical reasons, or a combination of both. Whatever the reason, there are many benefits to veganism that make it a good choice.
Some of the benefits of veganism include:
Improved health: A vegan diet is often high in fiber and low in saturated fat, leading to improved health outcomes. Vegans are also less likely to be obese or develop heart disease, cancer, and other chronic illnesses. (1)
Reduced environmental impact: Animal agriculture is one of the leading causes of climate change and global deforestation. (2) Producing meat and dairy products require significantly more resources than producing plant-based foods. By going vegan, you can help reduce your environmental impact.
Animal welfare: Animals raised for meat, eggs, and dairy can be subjected to extreme cruelty. Veganism is the most compassionate choice for animals.
Economic savings: A vegan diet can be more affordable than a diet that includes meat and dairy products. (3) Veganism is a great way to save money on groceries.
4 Key Food Groups to incorporate in a Vegan Diet:
There are many different types of vegan diets, but they all have one thing in common: excluding animal products.
Some vegan diets are high in carbohydrates, while others are high in fat. It's important to find a vegan diet that works best for you and your lifestyle. Vegan food isn't to everyone's taste, but you can often find a suitable compromise.
Some vegan staple foods include:
Fruits and vegetables: Fresh fruits and vegetables are a great way to get your vitamins and minerals. Try to eat various fruits and vegetables to get the most benefit.
Beans and legumes: Beans and legumes are a great source of protein, fiber, and other nutrients. They are also affordable and versatile.
Grains: Whole grains are a healthy and nutritious way to fuel your body. Try to choose unrefined grains whenever possible.
Nuts and seeds: Nuts and seeds are a good source of healthy fats, protein, and minerals. They make a great snack or addition to a meal.
If you're just starting out, it may be a good idea to try out a few different vegan diets until you find one that you like. There are many vegan cookbooks and recipes available online, so you're sure to find something that fits your taste buds.
How to go vegan
If you're interested in going vegan, there are a few things you need to know. The first step is to make the switch from meat to plant-based protein. There are many vegan-friendly protein sources, such as beans, lentils, tofu, and seitan, that you can base a vegan meal around.
Next, you'll need to replace dairy products with vegan alternatives. This can be a little tricky, but plenty of vegan cheese and milk products are available. You can also make your own vegan cheese at home. (4)
Finally, you'll need to avoid eggs. Many vegan-friendly breakfast foods are available, such as vegan pancakes and vegan oatmeal. You can also find vegan lunch and dinner recipes online.
If you are only just beginning to explore veganism, you don't have to take an all-or-nothing approach. In fact, most people find that making a sudden change to their diet is unsustainable. Try to make your diet more vegan by slowly eliminating animal products over time.
Veganism isn't about depriving yourself of foods you enjoy - it's about finding new, compassionate ways to eat and live your life. Don't feel like you'll be missing out, as you can make black bean brownies if you're craving a treat. Made with vegan ingredients, they're quite high in protein too. And don't forget you can eat nut butter too!
There are many vegan-friendly food products on the market today that can assist you with living a plant based lifestyle. Processed food is often shunned by vegans, especially when animals can be used in the production process, but it is a good idea to avoid overly-processed foods in general. (5)
Watchouts and Vegan Supplements
No vegan starter guide would be complete without mentioning supplements. It was thought for a long time that a vegan diet might be a bad choice, mostly due to a lack of protein, but that isn't true. Protein isn't just found in meat, and the majority of nutrients you need can be found in a vegan diet.
However, just like any diet - vegan, vegetarian, carnivore, etc. - you need to be purposeful and plan carefully to ensure you get the vitamins and minerals you need every day.
Everyone, including vegans, may need to take supplements to ensure they're getting all their nutrients. Many vegan products (including vegan supplements) are available on the market that contain vitamin B12, iron, and omega-3 fatty acids, which can be some of the more difficult nutrients to find with a vegan diet.
With more power than 5 pills, Healthycell Vegan Essentials has been scientifically designed for vegan living and is the essential one-a-day multivitamin for people who follow a plant-based diet.
Containing no dairy, egg, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, shellfish, or artificial flavors, it's a fully vegan and GMO-free product that gives you a broad spectrum of essential vitamins, minerals, and other vital nutrients specifically needed in vegan diets to support your brain, muscles, strong bones, shiny hair, vibrant skin, healthy nails, immunity, and boost energy.
Each supplement is provided in a simple-to-consume gel pack. The next-generation MICROGEL™ delivery system is designed to be absorbed quickly and easily by your body and provides more efficient and even absorption than pills or capsules. MICROGEL™ technology delivers ultra-bioavailable nutrient particles directly to the digestive tract more effectively than traditional pills.
You don't need to plan your food intake carefully to ensure you get all the nutrients you need in your diet, and you don't need to take multiple pills. One gel pack per day is all that is required, and you can take it directly from the pack or mix it with water or a smoothie.
Vegan Essentials contains vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin D3, vitamin E, vitamin K, and a range of B-vitamins. With minerals including iron, iodine, magnesium, zinc, and selenium, you'll have everything you need to support vegan living and a healthy, balanced diet.
Healthycell Vegan Essentials is the perfect way to supplement your vegan diet and ensure you're getting all the nutrients you need.
Vegan living
When you decide to go all-in with a vegan lifestyle, you should consider a few things. It's important to remember that veganism isn't just about food. It's also about avoiding clothing and other items made from animal products, such as leather, wool, and silk. You'll also want to avoid using products that contain animal ingredients or that have been tested on animals.
Cosmetics, cleaning supplies, and other household items should be vegan-friendly. There are many vegan-friendly brands on the market today, but it's important to check the labels carefully to ensure there are no animal-derived ingredients.
Many people choose to make their entire home vegan, but that's entirely up to you. You can make your home as vegan as you choose or simply make a few vegan-friendly changes.
Getting started as a vegan
It can be a little overwhelming if you're just starting out on your vegan journey. There are so many vegan-friendly foods available today, and the options seem to be growing every day. But don't worry - it's not that hard!
The best way to start is by transitioning slowly and making sure you stay healthy by taking a vegan supplement. With Healthycell Vegan Essentials, a one-a-day vegan multivitamin, you'll have everything you need to support your vegan lifestyle!
Isn't it time that you started living vegan?
