Going vegan is a difficult decision to make. That’s most true if you’ve been a meat-eater for most of your life. It’s like suddenly deciding you no longer want to breathe air. But more and more people, likely once meat-eaters themselves, are deciding to pursue the vegan lifestyle. Leading the pack are high-profile celebrities including Zac Efron and Beyoncé. And it’s understandable why.
For starters, our eating habits affect our carbon footprint. And the more meat you eat, the higher your contribution to the climate crisis. That’s why for people who feel for Mother Nature, going vegan is a logical option. It absolves them from the guilt that comes with existing in the human mind and body that are not very kind to the planet. Well, at least a little.
On top of being eco-friendly, the vegan diet comes with an array of personal benefits as well. Take, for example, the following.
Improves sleep quality
We all want a good night’s sleep. You probably even take sleeping pills or use a temperature-controlling blanket just so you’ll have an interrupted trip to la-la-land enough to rejuvenate you for the following day’s to-dos. However, when insomnia strikes, it can be unrelenting.
This is where a vegan diet comes in. A study from the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine found that eating meat might be compromising your sleep quality. That’s because of the fatty acids available in meat cuts.
Boost skin health
A good night’s sleep allows your body to heal itself. Your organs, including your skin, are revitalized if you get sufficient shuteye on the regular. Plus, your stress levels lower significantly. These conditions contribute to healthy-looking skin. That means radiant and glowing.
Also, fruits and vegetables that are staples of a vegan diet are rich in anti-oxidants. Those boost your skin health as well.
Reduces pain from arthritis
Arthritis, at its worst, can be debilitating. That’s because the inflammation triggers so much pain. Studies have shown that a vegan diet can be beneficial to those living with different types of arthritis.
Eating plant-based food reduces the occurrence of arthritis’s common symptoms. Those include swelling of the joints, stiffness in the morning, and unmanageable pain. If you are suffering from arthritis, consider slowly transitioning to a vegan diet and see the difference.
Lowers blood sugar
Type 2 diabetes is a lifestyle disease. One culprit of this widespread condition is unhealthy eating. That’s why the vegan diet is highly recommended to people living with diabetes or those prone to contracting it. If you are more than 40 years old with a thicker than average waistline, you could be at risk of diabetes. Here prevention is better than cure. That is if you want to be spared from diabetes’ usual complications.
Keep in mind that unmanaged diabetes can lead to a horde of illnesses from neuropathy to liver failure. Those health threats you can keep at bay by choosing plant-based food.
Lowers risk of certain diseases
While there is still no definitive stance on what triggers cancer, again lifestyle is zeroed in as a potential culprit. And lifestyle covers the food we eat. By going vegan, you can improve your chances of not contracting certain types of cancer.
For example, regularly consuming legumes reduces your risk of getting colorectal cancer. Soy, which is a staple of vegan diets, is also linked to breast cancer prevention. Aside from cancer, a vegan diet also fortifies you against heart diseases and kidney failure.
Helps shed off excess weight
If you gain weight easily and you find it difficult to lose surplus pounds, maybe it’s time you entertain transitioning to a vegan diet. This lifestyle change will introduce you to meals with fewer calorie counts. But they are still quite filling and yummy. And contrary to popular belief, you are not deprived of options.
Paired with regular exercise, eating plant-based meals will fast-track your fitness goals. That means you’ll look your best and your health will be at its best too.
If you haven’t committed to the vegan diet, and the vegan lifestyle as a whole, it’s time you seriously consider doing so. Here we have cited the benefits of eating a plant-based diet. And they are not something you can shrug off. They can truly improve one’s quality of life.
Sure, it won’t be easy. But nothing worth pursuing is. But if you set your mind to it, we’re sure you can pull off this lifestyle change. Surround yourself with people who’ll support your decision. And once you go vegan, do not look back.
