Verified by Marianne Poulsen

Certified Nutrition Advisor

signature
avatar
Posted on

Plant-Based Lifestyle

In a nutshell, a vegan diet is a plant-based food plan that includes vegetables, fruits, grains, nuts and seeds and excludes animal byproducts such as meats, dairy, and eggs. Strict vegans also avoid using products like honey, since it is made from living creatures. Whether you are already following a vegan lifestyle or are considering switching over to one, the various health benefits that a plant-based diet offers make it an appealing option. One common motivation is to slim down with a plant-based nutritional plan, also termed “vegan weight loss.” Consuming a diet with an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables is an excellent way to provide the body essential nutrients and maintain optimal health. As long as your daily caloric intake is less than what your body uses, you will lose weight according to the classic weight-loss equation. Some studies have shown that people with a plant-based diet generally have lower mortality rates and tend to weigh less on average.

No matter what type of diet you choose to follow, conscious nutrition is key. Following a vegan lifestyle may be the perfect cure-all for some, but of course it depends on the needs of each individual. Luckily, there are a wide variety of food plans to choose from – you may be curious to try a ketogenic diet, a very low carb diet (VLCD), intermittent fasting, a Mediterranean diet, a completely plant-based food plan or some combination of these. There’s a host of information and foods readily available for you to find the diet that is ideal for your goals, needs, and lifestyle. Note that it is always a good idea to check with your general practitioner to see what the best option is for your specific situation.

Vegan Weight Loss

Many of us share the common goal of shedding extra kilos, with the aim of doing it as quickly as possible. Efficient and rapid weight loss can be a healthy goal when keeping a focus on a balanced diet that provides all the necessary vitamins and nutrients. Vegan weight loss is a noteworthy alternative among many successful methods, and one that many people have discovered as their all-time favourite. Some individuals report benefits like feeling lighter and more alert and having more energy. Even if one person eats exactly the same diet as another, the results will vary, so it is worth spending the time to find out what works best for your body.

Now you might be wondering what kinds of food you can eat on a vegan diet, especially when looking to lose weight quickly. As with any other diet, it is important to be mindful of how many calories you consume in a day and how much you burn. Staying well-hydrated is another essential component of good health. Since fresh produce is a staple of the vegan diet, it is easy to get ample amounts of antioxidants and fibre. However, vegan diets exclude meat, poultry and fish, which are significant sources of dietary protein, so it is important to ensure that you get enough protein from other, plant-based sources, such as nuts, seeds, lentils, beans, seitan, and soy-based products like tofu and tempeh, to name a few. Exciting flavours of plant-based protein powders and vegan diet shakes are also available and can be fun options to experiment with and add into your food plan. Try different kinds to find your favourite – it may just be this delicious vegan chocolate mint shake! For vegan weight loss, it is also crucial to make sure you are getting adequate amounts of vitamin B12, vitamin D, Omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, and iron, and to avoid consuming an excess of processed foods.

Clean vegan fuel

These days, there is a large variety of vegan-friendly alternatives to staples like meat and milk. For example, there are plant-based burgers and nuggets, as well as dairy-free beverages made from grains, nuts and seeds. Supplementing with protein powder can be a good idea for anyone following a vegan diet, and especially for those who are looking to lose weight with a plant-based food plan. A wide selection of great-tasting plant-based protein powders and vegan diet shakes are now on the market, as well as meal replacements that provide protein, essential amino acids and fibre – like Nupo’s One Meal Prime vegan products.

As long as you stay away from too much processed food, the fresh, whole and simple foods a vegan diet favours, can be a very “clean” way of eating. While people have all sorts of reasons for choosing a vegan lifestyle, many do so to take better care of their bodies as well as reduce their impact on the planet. In this regard, veganism can inspire a conscious nutrition, where you carefully consider the foods you eat, their sources, and the reasons for choosing just what is on your personal menu. Some people practise mindful and intuitive eating solely as a method of achieving and maintaining excellent health. Conscious nutrition and mindful eating are a fantastic addition to any way of living and are a harmonious complement to vegan weight loss.

All Weight Maintenance posts