Going Vegan: Your Top 5 Questions Answered
Are you making the switch to a vegan diet, or just vegan curious?? You have everything to gain, and nothing to lose...apart from lorry loads of toxins and some unwanted pounds. If you’re thinking of going vegan but aren’t quite ready to take the plunge, here are your top 5 questions answered...
1. Will I lose weight?
The way your body and brain works together on food is based on the nutrients you eat. So when you’ve stocked up on junk food and you feel like you’re about to explode, you’re still hungry as your brain knows your body didn’t receive the goodies it needed. On a plant-based, nutrient-rich diet, the hunger signal will be switched off without the need for such a high volume of food because the brain knows the body has the fuel it needs. Result? Shedding a few pounds.
2. Where will I get my protein?
We’ve been conditioned since early childhood to believe that the best – and only – form of protein is meat and dairy. And that we need loads of it - utter rubbish! For a plant-based diet, the principle sources of protein are greens, nuts, seeds, tofu (eat in moderation only a couple of times a week), and, less healthy - but fine for a start - are meat substitutes, such as Linda McCartney mince.
3. Where will I get my calcium?
Again, the answer is pretty much the same as with protein - most people think milk is the only way to get enough calcium. In my opinion, it’s actually the worst form you could pick! It's no coincidence that the parts of the world with the highest levels of osteoporosis are a near-perfect match for those with the highest dairy consumption.
Being calcium-deficient is virtually unheard of worldwide and is nothing to fret over. You can get all the calcium you need from leafy green vegetables and, if you’re feeling adventurous, sea vegetables like kelp and dulse (which I absolutely love).
4. Will I need to take supplements?
The short answer to this is yes. But not because you are embarking on a life-long eating plan which is nutritionally-deficient. It is the same advice I would give to someone on a standard, animal-based diet: we should all be taking more B12 and B complex vitamins - even the healthiest people on the planet! I get a helping hand from probiotics and digestive enzymes, and would recommend anyone else going vegan to consider taking these too.
5. How will my choices effect my family and friends?
Any change is scary. But we will never progress or grow without it. Just be sure to stand firm in your decision and be happy about it, and face each challenge with a smile! Another important factor is to not deprive the rest of your family of animal-based products if they are not ready to join you. Simply try reducing the number of times a week you prepare animal-based meals and swap these for tasty plant-based ones instead!
This post is an extract from my ebook: Going Plant-Based, A Beginners Guide. It’s available to download from my website (find the link in my Yumbles Community profile, below). If you’re thinking about going vegan and have any questions, I’d love to hear from you! Just leave a comment below.
#Healthy Living #clean eating #healthy #vegetarian #vegan #Vegan
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