A Vegan Diet: Pros and Cons

Did you take part in Veganuary? If you’ve never heard of it, it takes place throughout the whole of January and it’s an initiative that aims to get more people off meat and onto a plant-based diet.

But why would you do that when you love steak and burgers so much?! Well, the truth is there’s a tonne of reasons to go meat-free – and not just because it’s kind to animals. Here on the My Appliances blog, we lay out the pros – and cons (we like a balanced piece, after all) of a vegan diet. Read on…

The Pros

It Helps in the Fight Against Obesity – Could you benefit from losing a few extra pounds? Veganism can help! Low in saturated fat, plant-based ingredients and products will help you live a healthier life all round. Of course, there are healthy vegans and unhealthy vegans, though. The trick isn’t to replace junk food like hamburgers and hotdogs with vegan-friendly foods like pasta and chips. Instead, add in plenty of fibre an nutrients by choosing the right ingredients for the week’s meals.

It Can Mitigate Heart Disease, Diabetes and Cancer – Packed with antioxidants, a vegan diet can prove medicinal. Of course, everything from genetics to lifestyle can play a part in bringing on the symptoms of illnesses, but there are certainly a few things you can do to give yourself the best possible chance of a healthier you. A vegan diet can still be an enjoyable one – and when you take stock of its health benefits you’ll be switching to veganism faster than you can say ‘pass me that avocado’.

It’s Beneficial for the Skin – Is acne getting you down? A vegan diet could well be the answer. Why? Meat and dairy contain several strains of hormones which can cause already-spot prone skin to break out even more. Cut out milk, cheese and eggs, though, and you could see your symptoms improve in just a month, like this bodybuilder and YouTube star did.

The Cons

It Can Result in an Iron Deficiency – Vegans have to be careful to ensure their diet is still a healthy one – and one which contains all the right vitamins and nutrients. As meat and some fish is high in iron, it can be easy to forget to ensure the nutrient is incorporated into your daily and weekly meals. Look for breakfast cereals which are fortified with iron, or choose iron-rich vegetables and eat them often. Failing that, make sure you grab some daily iron supplements from your local health food shop.

Calcium Levels Can Be Lower – Without milk, yoghurts and cheese, just where do you get the calcium you need? Go for dark leafy greens or fortified soy products; you’ll need around 1,000 milligrams per day if you want to do veganism right – and healthily.

It Can be More Difficult to Eat Out – While restaurants and cafes are getting better at providing vegan-friendly options, the food and drink industry still has a long way to go. The key here is simply to do your research to locate your nearest and best vegan eateries and always go prepared with a packed lunch or snacks if you’re out for the day; you never know when you’re going to need a substitute meal or two.

Thinking of going vegan? Let us know how you get on.

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Until next time…