Benefits of a Vegan Diet

Veganism and its Popularity

Veganism is gaining popularity as more people become interested in sustainable living. While people choose vegetarian diets for a variety of factors, better health and healthier habits are the main motivators. Vegetarians eat a diet that primarily consists of plant-based foods such as fruits, nuts, grains, seeds, and legumes. (Mann 6).

How Vegetarians Differ from Meat-Eaters

However, some vegetarians eat dairy products and eggs. Aside from dietary preferences, vegetarians can vary from meat-eaters in a variety of ways. Their approach to habits such as alcohol use, recreation practices, athletic activity, and smoking behaviors, for example, differs significantly from their list. The demand for healthy living has also led to increased research on vegetarian diets. This paper explores the health benefits of vegan diets.

Research Question and Argument

The research seeks to answer the following research question; does following a vegan diet make healthier humans? The research argues that eating a vegan diet is healthier for people than consuming animal products. There is now plenty of evidence that supports the benefits of a vegetarian diet (Spencer 34). The main reasons behind this argument are that vegetarian diets contain lower cholesterol levels hence boosting a healthy heart, lowers blood pressure, fosters faster digestion and prevents cancer. This research is relevant to me since I have consumed both vegetarian and meat diets in my past. I therefore believe that I understand both diets and hence the study will provide useful insights in making a better health decision (Craig 41). The strategy taken in the research is mainly divided into two parts; the research will first evaluate the benefits of vegan lifestyle and then assess the health risks of consuming meat products.

Health Benefits of Vegan Diets

Healthy Heart

Consuming vegan diets helps in keeping the heart healthy by avoiding some health diseases that result from the consumption meat diets. Generally, the cholesterol level of vegetarians is lower than that of their meat-eating counterparts. The standard of cholesterol in the body is significantly increased by meat products, mostly red meat. Evidence from research has shown that vegetarians stand at a lower risk of developing cardiac complications such as heart attack (Greger and Gene 18). Research has also indicated that vegetarians stand a lower chance of dying from heart diseases. Soluble fibre reduces the level of cholesterol in the body. Nuts also protect the heart. The reason for this is that nuts contain a lower glycemic index. Further, nuts contain a lot of antioxidants, fibre and minerals. As opposed to meat diets, the levels of saturated fats in vegan diets are quite lower. According to American Heart Association, healthy foods act as the best weapons for the fight against cardiovascular diseases.

Lower blood levels

Generally, vegan diets have lower salt contents. Research has identified high salt and sugar levels in the blood as the leading cause of hypertension and high blood pressure. By reducing the salt contents in the body through the consumption of vegan diets, the chances of high blood pressure are significantly reduced. Apart from sugar and salt levels in the blood, high blood pressure also results from the inability of blood to flow freely in the vessels due to obstruction in blood vessels (Thibodeau 3). Cholesterol, a major component of fats contained in meat diets, is responsible for this obstruction. As the heart tries to pump blood faster through the obstructed blood vessels, hypertension is likely to happen. Since vegan diets do not contain cholesterol, taking plenty of such diets can significantly avoid cases of high blood pressure.

Prevention of Cancer

Studies have revealed that eating diets with plenty of vegetables and fruit helps in reducing the chances of developing cancerous cells. Evidence has also indicated that vegetarians stand lower chances of developing incidences of cancer as compared to non-vegetarians (Mann 6). By choosing plant-based diets, the likelihood of cancer can be lowered significantly. Research has also indicated that a sure way of eliminating colon cancer is by stopping the intake of red meat. Vegetarians have lower levels of carcinogenic substances in their bodies hence the lowered risk of cancer complications.

Easier Food Digestion

The extent to which the body digests consumed food significantly determines the health status of the body. Generally, vegan diets take shorter to digest. People have a harder time digesting meat products than vegan diets. Individuals who rely heavily on meat diets, therefore, end up developing weaker digestive systems (Greger & Gene 18). The impact of this would be the inability to eliminate unwanted waste in the body rapidly. Since unwanted waste is toxic in the body, the failure to remove such wastes quickly can lead to further health complications. Since vegetarian diets are easier to digest, vegetarians are in a position to rapidly eliminate waste for their bodies hence stand lower chances of retaining toxic substances in the body (Spencer 34). Faster food digestion also helps in absorption of food nutrients. This leads to building a stronger body. A healthy body has many advantages over a weak one. For instance, a more robust body has more robust immunity hence helping in fighting disease-causing germs.

Dealing with Excess Weight

Shedding unwanted and excess weight is a concern for many people in these times. Studies have shown that vegetarians tend to have lower body mass indexes as compared to non-vegetarians (Craig 61). Further, it has also been revealed that people consuming vegan diets can lose weight faster and more efficiently as compared to people eating meat products. Observational studies have also shown that vegetarians are usually thinner as compared to their counterparts. It is worth noting that vegan diets show a natural tendency of reducing the intake of calories in the body. This, therefore, makes vegan diets effective in promoting weight loss even when people do not actively engage in activities which focus on weight loss.

Opponents Counter-Arguments

Despite the above health benefits of vegan diets, some people are of the opinion that meat diets help in developing stronger and healthier bodies. Further, crusaders of meat diets argue that it is hard to find essential vitamins and minerals in vegan diets. As a result, they opine that for one to become strong and healthy, meat products are inevitable. Meat products are an excellent source of proteins in the body (Ellyn n.p). Proteins act as body builders and help the body in fighting against diseases which may lead to weaker bodies. As a result, the proponents of meat diets are of the opinion that the failure to take meat diets may lead to the body having insufficient proteins hence weaker bodies.

It is also argued that people who strictly consume vegan diets may be at a higher risk of having insufficient vitamin K and Vitamin D. These two crucial vitamins are needed for stronger bones. The argument for this is that although some vegetables such as green kales contain vitamin K, vegetarians may need to take fortified foods to supplement the greens. Finding this may be quite difficult for some people. Other crusaders of meat diets argue that the benefits of vegan diets are quite limited and hence they do not justify the sacrifice. Other may argue that vegan diets are meant for the poor and those who cannot afford meat products (Ellyn). As a result, some people are of the opinion that if one is rich, then it is only justified to eat diets which are plenty of meat products.

Acknowledgment for the Counter Arguments

The researcher acknowledges that some of the counter-arguments advanced by crusaders of non-vegan diets have some basis. For instance, the fact that meat products are a rich source of proteins in the body is founded. Further, some of those arguments are baseless and misleading. For instance, the argument that vegan diets are meant for the poor, and hence kit is only justified for the rich to take non-vegan diets is misleading.

Response to the Counter Arguments

The argument that it is hard to find essential vitamins in vegan diets is not correct. Research has revealed that most vegan diets contain almost all food nutrients that are included in non-vegan diets such as meat. For instance, studies have revealed that vegan diets offer higher amounts of fibre, potassium, magnesium and vitamins (Mann, p.7). Taking these diets can, therefore, supplement non-vegan diets such as fish in the provision of the needed nutrients.

The argument that meat products are the primary source of proteins in the body is not true. The reason for this argument is that there are other vegan diets which are rich in proteins. For instance, vegan diets such as beans contain high amounts of proteins. Vegetarians can also get protein nutrients from peanut butter and nuts. These diets can, therefore, substitute meat diets.

With regard to the myth that vegan diets are meant for people who cannot afford non-vegan diets such as meat and fish, the research argues that the argument is not valid. Research has indicated that people are now focusing more on healthy living. The rich people in the society are now concerned with the elimination of excess weight. Additionally, they are also concerned with diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes and cancer (Thibodeau 3). Vegan diets are therefore the way to go whether one is rich or poor.

Conclusion

There has been a rising popularity of healthy living and subsequently, vegan diets. The debate on whether vegan diets are better than non-vegan diets is heated. The research sought to study whether following a vegan diet make healthier humans. The research argues that eating a vegan diet is healthier for people than consuming animal products. The study has revealed that there are a lot of health benefits that accrue from following a vegan diet. Key benefits include fostering healthy heart, reducing the risk of high blood pressure, easier food digestion and lowering the risk of some diseases such as diabetes and cancer. The research acknowledges counter-arguments against vegan diets. However, the research has provided responses and alternatives for the same.

Works Cited

Craig, Winston J. “The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.” Health Effects of Vegan Diets, Mar, 2009.

Ellyn, Dana. “Outsmarted.” Vivalavegan.net, 2013, www.vivalavegan.net/list/7-updates/545-dana-ellyn-vegan-painter-art-a-inspritation.html. Accessed 30 Sept. 2017

Greger, Michael, and Gene Stone. How not to die: Discover the foods scientifically proven to prevent and reverse disease. Pan Macmillan, 2016.

Mann, Sarah E. More Than Just A Diet: An Inquiry Into Veganism. 2014.

Spencer, Colin. Vegetarianism: A History. Grub Street, 2016.

Thibodeau, Mary. How To Be A Vegan In A Meat Eater’s World: The Vegan’s Guide To Thriving And Surviving. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2015.