From our mood to our immune system, the vegan lifestyle provides us with a vast array of health perks. Professional Holistic Health specialist, nutritionist, raw chef and life coach, Ms Geeta Sidhu-Robb is the founder and CEO of Nosh Detox gives us the top 10 benefits that arise as a result of being a vegan: 1. Our Mood Research has revealed that vegans may be happier than their meat-eating counterparts. In fact it was discovered that vegans and vegetarians had lower scores on depression tests and mood profiles when compared to fish and meat-eaters. There is an element of freshness to most plant based dishes, especially when it comes to organic produce – so this is bound to purify our minds and keep our thoughts positive. 2. Fighting Disease When done right, vegan diets are naturally low in saturated fats, and cholesterol. They have been shown to reduce heart disease risk and what’s more, data shows conclusively that vegans and vegetarians suffer from fewer diseases caused by a modern Western diet (e.g. coronary heart disease, hypertension, obesity type 2 diabetes, diet-related cancers, diverticulitis, constipation, and gall stones, among several others). Why? This can be attributed to a higher intake of fibre, phytonutrients, antioxidants, flavonoids, and carotenoids. 3. Lean Figure A bonus to sticking to a vegan diet is the positive effect it has on our figure. Vegans typically weigh less as a result of a diet comprised of fewer calories in the form of grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, fruits, and vegetables. Vegans are also generally more aware of healthy food and therefore tend to eat better. 4. Less Toxicity Further emphasising what I was saying about the vegan diet, especially organically, being purer, it is of course far less toxic. Foodborne illnesses, bacteria, parasites, and chemical toxins are more common in commercial meat, poultry, and seafood when compared with plant foods, (particularly organic fruits and vegetables). Vegans also consume less processed food as a rule. 5. Saving The Planet A plant-based diet is better for the planet as it requires less energy and farmland to feed a vegan. By a factor of thousands. 6. Sight & Looks Vegans tend to have better vision and less macular degeneration and all that extra collagen leads to better skin – what more could you want? 7. Money Saving Plant foods tend to be less expensive, saving on overall costs. It’s also much more filling as it has so much more fibre and is nutrient dense. So you eat less and stay full for longer. 8. Better Athletic Performance While most active individuals focus on protein intake, they should Instead follow a high-carbohydrate, good-fat, and vitamin and mineral-rich vegetarian diet for optimum sports performance. Conflicting studies exist, but the number of world-class vegetarian sportsmen continues to rise, Lewis Hamilton for example has recently spoken of his mission to go vegan. 9. Supporting Animal Rights Ethical reasons can be a consideration when choosing a vegan diet. And all that moral superiority. 10. Longevity Vegans have been found to enjoy longer and healthier lives when compared to meat-eaters.
Ensuring you get all of the nutrients you need Vegan diets are packed full of essential nutrients, but in the absence of meat, it is vitally important that we make sure we are still consuming all of the correct amounts of proteins in other forms. Protein is made up of small parts called amino acids, which aid your metabolism and help to keep you muscles, skin and organs healthy. Vegan options include nuts, peanut butter, seeds, grains and legumes. Iron is another key nutrient and plays a crucial role in the production of red blood cells. These can help to carry oxygen throughout your body. Good sources include or iron includes beans, broccoli, raisins, wheat and tofu. Omega-3 fatty acids improve your heart health and brain function. Flaxseed meal and oil are two good vegetarian sources of omega-3. You can also look to plant sources. Finally, Zinc is vital to our immune system. You can find it in beans, nuts and soy products which contain fewer calories. If, like so many of us, your commitments at work and home prevent you from sitting down and planning the perfect vegetarian diet, filled with all of these essential nutrients – then give us a call at Nosh Detox, we are more than happy to plan the perfect nutritional diet tailored to your needs. Alternatively, why not come down to the Nosh Garden Kitchen in Bayswater, where we offer raw, vegan and vegetarian cuisine of the highest standard. With beautiful scenery and a menu replete with organic, fresh products – you can enjoy a healthy vegetarian meal ‘al fresco’ in our garden dining area! Perfect Vegan Diet Plan Monday · Breakfast – Fresh Fruit and Porridge with nuts · Lunch- Smashed Chickpea and Avocado Salad (or with Rye bread to make sandwich) · Dinner- Baked sweet potatoes with med veggies Tuesday · Breakfast- Mango, Banana and Spirulina Smoothie · Pesto, avocado and spinach sandwich · Dinner – Rice, bean and kale bowl with soy sauce Tahini Dressing Wednesday · Breakfast- Buckwheat pancakes with apple and cinnamon · Lunch- Rice Noodle Bowl, shredded carrots & ginger with peanut dressing · Dinner- Kidney bean, corn and rocket salad Thursday · Breakfast- Tofu and Turmeric scramble · Lunch- Roasted Mediterranean Veg & Quinoa salad · Dinner- Chickpea flour and tomato omelette with a green salad Friday · Breakfast- Polenta with grilled tomatoes · Butter Bean Salad with cucumbers and cherry tomatoes · Dinner – Coconut curry