5 Reasons to Eat Vegan for Your Health

There have been many myths about vegan diets. Many people think that such a diet is hard to maintain or that it will make you sick. These myths are not true, and here are five reasons why eating vegan is good for your health.

1. Weight loss

Eating a vegan diet by its very nature reduces calorie intake because plant-based foods tend to be lower in calories than animal-based foods. This results in a lower overall body fat percentage and a healthy BMI. A high fiber diet is essential for proper bowel function, but most Americans get only about half the recommended amount. A vegan diet naturally contains more fiber because it eliminates all animal products, which contain no fiber whatsoever. Fiber helps clean out your system by flushing cholesterol out of your body as well as toxins and other waste products. It also keeps your digestive tract healthy by helping maintain regularity, which is critical for overall health and well-being.

2. Lower cholesterol

Vegan diets generally contain far less saturated fat and cholesterol than non-vegan diets. Cholesterol is only found in animal products. The American Dietetic Association states, “Appropriately planned vegetarian diets, including total vegetarian or vegan diets, are healthful, nutritionally adequate, and may provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases.”

3. Better blood sugar control

Lower risk of type 2 diabetes: Research shows that following a plant-based diet can reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes by up to 42 percent. Plant foods contain no cholesterol and are very low in saturated fat which helps maintain healthy insulin levels. They’re also rich in magnesium which improves insulin sensitivity and reduces insulin resistance.

4. Reduces your risk of heart disease

The American Heart Association recommends eating more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains to reduce the risk of heart problems, while the CDC says that diets rich in fruits and vegetables may reduce the risk of some types of cancer and other chronic diseases. A vegan diet already includes all these foods! Less processed foods, more fresh produce — that’s what you get when you go vegan.

5. Protects against certain cancers

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the U.S., and many of these deaths could be prevented with a healthy, plant-based diet. The American Institute for Cancer Research recommends that people reduce their risk of cancer by eating more whole grains, beans, fruits, and vegetables every day.

Easy Vegan Home Cooking by Laura Theodore

There is nothing more important than finding delicious, easy-to-prepare vegan recipes for your family, whether you are a seasoned vegan chef or just getting started. In Easy Vegan Home Cooking, celebrity chef Laura Theodore shows you how to prepare them. 

Easy Vegan Home Cooking is filled with healthy recipes that require eight ingredients or fewer and focuses on filling breakfasts, light lunches, satisfying dinners, and tasty desserts, pleasing vegans, vegetarians, and omnivores alike.

Using shopping lists, pantry “must-haves,” quick-cooking tips, flavor enhancers, and plant-based substitutions, Easy Vegan Home Cooking simplifies living a healthy lifestyle.