With restaurants, cafés and even bars now catering for vegans, the movement has transcended buzzword status to be a legitimate dietary option. Thinking of getting involved?
The environmental and ethical case for a diet free of all animal products, after all, is compelling.
According to research from the University of Oxford, going vegan is the “single biggest way” to reduce your impact on the planet. But if you are a lifelong carnivore, it is hard to know where to start.
Whether your motivations are animal welfare, environmental impact or personal health goals, there are things you need to know before you make the switch.
1. You will need to consider supplements
Vitamin B12 occurs naturally only in animal foods, so you'll want to stock up on a variety of B12-fortified foods as well as a B12 supplement. B12 keeps the body's nerve and blood cells healthy and helps make DNA, so deficiencies can lead to tiredness, weakness, constipation, loss of appetite, weight loss (the bad kind), nerve problems, and depression.
As well as that, iron comes in two forms: heme and non-heme. Heme, which makes up about 40% of the iron in animal foods, is easily absorbed by the body. Vegan diets contain only non-heme, which is less readily absorbed, so you may need to ingest more iron if you want to get the same benefit.
Good vegan iron sources include legumes sunflower seeds, dried raisins, and dark, leafy greens. Vitamin C-rich foods (think: red peppers, citrus, and broccoli) aid iron absorption.
2. Your protein sources will change
Apprehension around vegan diets tends to hone in on protein availability. The Institute of Medicine recommends that adults get at least 0.8 grams of protein daily for every kilogram of body mass—that's about 54 grams for a 150-pound woman.
The best sources of vegan protein include natural soy, lentils, beans, quinoa, and seitan, Rosser says.
3. It doesn't have to be expensive
Veganism, in principle, should be really cheap. If you are on a limited budget, steer clear of processed foods – or, in fact, any product that says 'vegan' on them. Go back to basics and eat fruit, vegetables, grains, nuts and beans – and you are going to be incredibly healthy, as well as saving money.
4. Planning and preparation is key
Getting the best out of your nutrient sources – magnesium, iodine, calcium, iron and zinc, and fat-soluble vitamin A and E – may involve preparation due to a lack of bioavailability in comparison with those in animal products.
This means their uptake and absorption can be lower so you may need to treat certain foods before eating them. For example, pulses, legumes and grains should be properly soaked and rinsed thoroughly in order to remove the substances that may impair the absorption of certain nutrients.
As for eating at spaces where a vegan option may not be possible, this is where the planning comes in. A good approach for any well-mannered guest is to offer to bring a vegan dish with them. This way, you both contributing and showcasing how good vegan food can be.
If you're eating out, always check the menu and deduce needs from there.
5. It's not all salad
Being vegan doesn’t mean you are on a diet. Try to incorporate some of the gastronomical joys you had in your pre-vegan lifestyle into your current one. If that's biscuits, you'll find that lots of biscuit options in supermarkets are accidentally vegan. Chips are vegan, as are most crisps and breads and a whole range of new desserts.
For those struggling to see the light, check out any vegan food blogger who will show you that a vegan life is not one associated with rabbit food.
6. Veganism may make you happier
Looks like animals won't be the only ones happy with your vegan move.
One reason why is that, compared to vegetarian diets, omnivorous ones contain more arachidonic acid, which can spur neurological changes that drag down mood, according to a 2012 Nutrition Journal study.
And if that doesn't want to make you try more plant-based meals, we're not sure what will. Oh, perhaps that Zoë Kravitz, Lisa Bonet and Lenny Kravitz are all vegan devotees? There you go.
Main image by @zoeisabellakravitz
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