Five things you should know before going vegan
Here’s what you can eat when you give up meat and dairy in vegan diet
November 1 marked World Vegan Day. Though being vegan is a choice yet one must be aware of the potential effects of following such a diet. Here’s a beginner’s guide on how to go about it: Embarking on a vegan diet means giving up consumption of animal products including meat, eggs, dairy and other animalderived substances. Being on such a diet can make you deficient in vitamin B12, which is naturally present in animal foods, and can cause tiredness, constipation and weight loss. So, you may want to consult your doctor and take vitamin B12 supplements.
Protein is one of the important components of our diet, which may also get
BEING A VEGAN MEANS YOU SHOULD CHECK FOOD LABELS CAREFULLY. CAKE MAY CONTAIN FOOD COLOURING DERIVED FROM ANIMAL SOURCES WHILE WHEY COULD BE PRESENT IN CEREAL BARS
compromised in a vegan diet. Therefore, make sure you include protein-rich foods such as soy, lentils, beans and quinoa to make up for the loss.
Soy becomes an important part of the diet for most vegans, but there are conflicting studies about its benefits, and research is still ongoing. Also, one must keep in mind that meat substitutes are often full of preservatives and sodium, which can be harmful for health. Being a vegan means navigating food labels carefully. Your favourite cake may contain food colouring derived from animal sources while the whey that’s derived from milk could be present in cereal bars.
The benefits of going on such a diet include lower risk of cardiovascular diseases, better digestion and clearer skin. HTC