Several studies have reported that vegan diets tend to provide more fiber, antioxidants and beneficial plant compounds. They also seem to be richer in potassium, magnesium, folic acid, and vitamins A, C and E (1, 2,. An 11-year German study involving more than 800 vegetarian men also found that their cancer rates were less than half those of the general public. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals — FoundationPETA PO Box 70315 London N1P 2RG United Kingdom +44 (0) 20 7837 6327 +44 (0) 20 7923 6242 (fax).
Here are 13 surprising health benefits of a vegan lifestyle that you might not have considered. In the study, 32% of participants diagnosed with depression no longer considered themselves depressed after 12 weeks of consuming more plant foods. Poultry, in particular, causes about 50% of all cases, some of which are fatal. This indicates that a diet with a predominance of plants will not only reduce the risk of contracting non-communicable diseases, but can also be considered to protect against viral infections such as COVID-19 and, potentially, against new viruses in the future.
Experts recommend taking a vitamin B12 supplement, sprinkling some nutritional yeast on popcorn, or eating foods fortified with vitamin B12, such as soy milk and vegan breakfast cereals. Many vegan foods are rich in plant-based proteins, which don't have the harmful health effects of animal-based proteins. These are the most discussed motivations for a vegan diet, and it's certainly worth going vegan for all of them. Well-planned vegan diets generally include all of these foods in quantities greater than those of the standard Western diet.
Vegan diets based on whole foods rich in antioxidants can significantly reduce symptoms of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Given how healthy plant-based foods can be, it's no surprise that more and more world-class athletes and other famous names are choosing to eat vegans. Switching to a vegan diet and including lots of whole plant foods will increase your intake of dietary fiber. Researchers are concerned that much of the research that compares the vegan diet and health outcomes (also known as observational research) is unreliable, since vegans tend to be healthier.
Although the evidence is not very strong in favor of the vegan diet in particular, Cade says, the vegan diet seems to be related to better overall health, apart from bone density and fractures, which may be more common due to a possible lower intake of calcium and the likelihood of vitamin B12 deficiency. Observational studies that compare vegans to vegetarians and non-vegetarians report that vegans may benefit from up to a 75% lower risk of developing high blood pressure (40). Since these foods make up a larger portion of a vegan diet than a typical Western diet, they can lead to a higher daily intake of certain beneficial nutrients. However, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics states that nutritional yeast is not an adequate source of vitamin B12 and that vegans should take supplements or eat fortified foods.
Vegans may feel fuller after eating because they eat more nutrient-rich foods packed with fiber, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. To understand what makes a vegan diet unique, it's helpful to look at how vegan and vegetarian diets are different. These studies serve as a starting point, Faidon says, and since most of the data on veganism are observations, there are still uncertainties surrounding the vegan diet, especially when it comes to long-term effects. All vegetarian diets exclude meat, but only vegans restrict their diet to include only plant-based foods.
