Vegan Diet For Weight Loss
By: Socca'S Corner
Tags: Vegan, Diet, Veggie, Loss, Socca

Veganism, the plant-based diet that excludes meat and animal products, is booming. Since 2008, there has been a 350% increase in the number of vegans in the UK alone. The origin of this motivation is varied, but includes concerns about animal welfare, the environment and religious motives.

Many people, however, do it to have a healthier diet. Research suggests that veganism may have health benefits if it is well planned. For those who have followed a diet rich in meat and dairy products for most of their lives, embarking on a vegan diet can lead to significant changes in the body.

The first weeks

The first thing anyone starting a vegan diet may notice is an energy boost with eliminating the processed meat found in many omnivorous diets, and replacing it with fruits, vegetables, and nuts. These foods will increase your levels of vitamins, minerals, and fiber.

After a few weeks, there is likely to be a change in bowel function, either to a more regular healthy pattern or an increase in bloating and swelling. This is due to the higher fiber content of a vegan diet and the simultaneous increase in carbohydrates that ferment in the intestine and can cause irritable bowel syndrome.

Three to six months later

Some people may find that increasing fruits and vegetables and reducing processed foods can help reduce acne. At this point, however, your vitamin D stores may be declining, as the main sources of this in our diet come from meat, fish, and dairy, and it’s not always noticeable until it’s too late. Vitamin D is not well understood, but it is essential for maintaining healthy bones, teeth, and muscles. Its absence has been linked to cancer, heart disease, migraines, and depression.

A few months later, a well-balanced vegan diet that is low in salt and processed foods can have impressive benefits for cardiovascular health, helping to prevent heart disease, stroke, and reduce the risk of diabetes. As the intake of nutrients such as iron, zinc and calcium in a vegan diet is reduced, our bodies improve by absorbing them from the intestine. Adaptation may be enough to prevent deficiencies in some people but not for all, in which case supplements can fill the deficit.

From six months to several years

About a year on a vegan diet, vitamin B12 reserves may be depleted. Vitamin B12 is an essential nutrient for the healthy function of blood and nerve cells and can only be found in products of animal origin. The symptoms of B12 deficiency include shortness of breath, fatigue, poor memory and tingling in the hands and feet.

The B12 deficiency is easily prevented by eating three servings per day of fortified foods or taking a supplement. Any deficiency would nullify the benefits of a vegan diet for heart disease and stroke risk and can cause permanent damage to the nervous system and brain.

Several years later, even our bones will begin to notice the change. Our skeleton is a mineral store and up to age 30 we can add minerals to it from our diet, but after that, our bones can no longer absorb minerals, so it is vital to get enough calcium when we are young.

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https://soccacorner.org/2020/11/04/vegan-diet-for-weight-loss/