Eating A Healthy Vegan Diet

A plant-based diet and lifestyle is becoming more popular, as people are becoming more conscious of their health, animal welfare and helping the planet.

A plant-based diet and lifestyle is becoming more popular, as people are becoming more conscious of their health, animal welfare and helping the planet.

So, for those of you that don’t know what veganism is about, it’s abstaining from the use of animal products. This includes abstaining from eating animals, their by-products such as honey and eggs, avoiding the use of products that are tested on animals and not wearing clothing items from animals such as leather products and fur coats.

Are Vegans Healthier?

Following a healthy vegan diet has shown that vegans have lower cholesterol and blood pressure and a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease.

But by excluding certain foods from the diet, there could be a possibility that levels of certain nutrients could be low in the body, resulting in compromised health. Our bodies require nutrients to be able to grow, repair, are important for moods, maintaining a strong immune system and so much more!

Nutrients You Need To Watch Out For

Nutrients that could be possibly low in a vegan diet include vitamin D, iron, omega 3 fatty acids, vitamin B12, calcium, zinc, and protein. Those that eat meat, fish, and dairy normally obtain these nutrients.

To maintain a healthy vegan diet, we must look at incorporating whole foods based diet, including foods that are closest to their natural form as possible. Whole foods retain their fibre, and have beneficial phytochemicals and nutrients that can sometimes be removed due to processing.  Aim to have a variety of vegetables, fruits, grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds in each meal.

Some Key Foods To Include

Try to include more of the following:

• Nuts and seeds such as almonds, walnuts, cashews, hazelnuts, pine nuts, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, pepitas
• Grains such as amaranth, quinoa
• Tofu and tempeh
• Legumes such as chickpeas, lentils and kidney beans 
• Fresh fruits and veggies as well as fresh herbs
• Walnut and flaxseed oil

Here at Sunnybrook, we stock a wide range of vegan-friendly foods which are convenient and delicious.

If you need further help with your vegan diet, switching to a vegan diet or require nutritional supplementation, book in with one of our naturopaths at Sunnybrook.