What is Veganism?
Veganism is a practice that eliminates all animal products out of the diet including eggs and dairy. "Vegan" was a term first coined by Donald Watson in 1944, Great Britain ("What Does Vegan Mean?"). Watson was the leader of the "Vegan Movement", and he desired a term that was accepting to other methods of eating, but descriptive to his own eating practices ("What Does Vegan Mean?"). Like all other diets, being a vegan requires dedication, motivation, and a change in eating habits. People choose to be vegan primarily for 3 reasons: 1. They want to be healthier. 2. They want to protect the environment. 3. They have ethical issues with the treatment of animals. ("What Does Vegan Mean?"). Being vegan, according to scientists, has no scientific evidence of a healthier way of eating and requires supplements such as vitamin B12 and possibly iron supplements. Both of these essential nutrients are found primarily in animal products ( Fetters). Although it has not been linked to a healthier way of eating, the Vegan Diet has been linked to weight loss (Mangels). According to a recent study, participants who took part in the Vegan Diet for 6 months lost on average 7.5% of their starting weight. However, as mentioned before, without a balanced diet, deficiencies can occur and can lead to serious problems. So is the Vegan Diet right for you? If you have a big issue with the treatment of animals or feel strongly about the environment, then this may be the right diet for you. As mentioned before, there is no scientific evidence of health benefits related directly to the Vegan Diet.
What can I Eat?
For a list of food you can eat click here.
Veganism is a practice that eliminates all animal products out of the diet including eggs and dairy. "Vegan" was a term first coined by Donald Watson in 1944, Great Britain ("What Does Vegan Mean?"). Watson was the leader of the "Vegan Movement", and he desired a term that was accepting to other methods of eating, but descriptive to his own eating practices ("What Does Vegan Mean?"). Like all other diets, being a vegan requires dedication, motivation, and a change in eating habits. People choose to be vegan primarily for 3 reasons: 1. They want to be healthier. 2. They want to protect the environment. 3. They have ethical issues with the treatment of animals. ("What Does Vegan Mean?"). Being vegan, according to scientists, has no scientific evidence of a healthier way of eating and requires supplements such as vitamin B12 and possibly iron supplements. Both of these essential nutrients are found primarily in animal products ( Fetters). Although it has not been linked to a healthier way of eating, the Vegan Diet has been linked to weight loss (Mangels). According to a recent study, participants who took part in the Vegan Diet for 6 months lost on average 7.5% of their starting weight. However, as mentioned before, without a balanced diet, deficiencies can occur and can lead to serious problems. So is the Vegan Diet right for you? If you have a big issue with the treatment of animals or feel strongly about the environment, then this may be the right diet for you. As mentioned before, there is no scientific evidence of health benefits related directly to the Vegan Diet.
What can I Eat?
For a list of food you can eat click here.
For a list of "Vegan Friendly" recipes click here.
Photograph: Vegetable Photograph. Digital Image. ILoveVegan. Web. 28 July 2016.
Photograph: Vegetable Photograph. Digital Image. ILoveVegan. Web. 28 July 2016.