Health Beat

You may have seen a recent news article based on research in the Netherlands. It touted 'going vegan' for three months to lose weight. The upshot of the study found that people who were overweight lost, on average, 16 pounds in three months by switching to a vegan diet. Let's break that down. It works out to a little over a pound a week. That's considered a healthy weight loss: slow and steady. But there's more to this. A vegan diet relies on vegetables, fruits, legumes like beans and lentils, nuts and seeds, breads, rice and pasta, dairy alternatives including soy, coconut and almond milk and vegetable oils. Whole grains and other soy products are also part of a vegan diet. Provided you don't load up on processed meat-free or dairy-free foods, you're eating in a way that's heart healthy. So this might be a consideration if you have to trim down and improve your heart health. And, as we move into the abundance of the growing season, this might be a good time to give it a try. While going 'on' a diet implies going 'off' it, you may find that following a vegan diet is a lifelong choice for your health.

Benita Zahn, DPS, CHWC Health and Wellness Coach Benitahealthcoach@gmail.com benitahealthcoach.com