The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics says that :
…[A]ppropriately planned vegetarian diets, including total vegetarian or vegan diets, are healthful, nutritionally adequate, and may provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases. Well-planned vegetarian diets are appropriate for individuals during all stages of the life cycle, including pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood, and adolescence, and for athletes.
The catch is that vegan diets can be healthy if they are well-planned, but they aren’t inherently healthy by default. Translation: you have to do your homework before you take on the vegan lifestyle in order to ensure your diet is well-balanced and you’re getting all of the nutrients you need.
As a vegan diet is completely free of meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products, if you don’t do your research, you might not be getting enough vital nutrients. Some vegan diets, if not appropriately planned, could be lacking in protein, calcium, vitamin D, vitamin B12, zinc, iron and omega-3 fatty acids.
In order to prevent falling short on these important nutrients, take these steps to ensure your vegan diet is healthy:
- Be sure to include a variety of high-protein plant foods, including tofu, beans, nut, seeds and whole grains. Try quinoa, a complete protein.
- Because dairy is a main source of calcium, you’ll have to incorporate a range of plant-based sources of calcium. Including dark leafy green veggies, almonds, and soy products will provide some calcium, but you’ll likely need to add calcium-fortified foods (non-dairy milks or orange juice) or take a calcium supplement, preferably one that includes vitamin D.
- Try to get your vitamin D the natural way–from the sun. However, you don’t need to bake all day to get your daily dose. About 30 minutes of sun exposure will allow your body to produce the sunshine vitamin. Additionally, fortified foods and supplements help fill in the gaps.
- Take a vitamin B12 supplement or include plenty of fortified foods because this vitamin is only found in animal foods.
- Aim to include adequate amounts of healthy fats from healthy oils, nuts, seeds, avocados, and olives.
- Incorporate beans, green leafy vegetables, and fortified dairy substitutes to ensure adequate iron intake.
Research has shown that vegetarian and vegan diets are associated with lower risks of heart disease, stroke, and many types of cancer, likely due to the fact that they are often low in saturated fat and cholesterol. Vegans and vegetarians also have lower body mass indexes (BMI). Although a diet that includes animal products can certainly be healthy, moving towards a more plant-based diet can bring a number of health benefits.
Kari Hartel, RD, LD is a Registered Dietitian and freelance
writer based out of St. Louis, MO. Kari is passionate about nutrition
education and the prevention of chronic disease through a healthy diet
and active lifestyle. Kari holds a Bachelor of Science in Dietetics from
Southeast Missouri State University and is committed to helping people
lead healthy lives. She completed a yearlong dietetic internship at OSF
St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria, IL, where she worked with a
multitude of clients and patients with complicated diagnoses. She
planned, marketed, and implemented nutrition education programs and
cooking demonstrations for the general public as well as for special
populations, including patients with cancer, heart disease, diabetes,
Alzheimer’s disease, obesity, and school-aged children. Contact Kari at is a registered Dietitian and freelance writer based out of St. Louis, MO. Kari is passionate about nutrition education and the prevention of chronic disease through a healthy diet and active agent life style. Kari holds a knight bachelor of Science in Dietetics from Southeast Missouri State University and is committed to helping people lead goodly lives. She completed a yearlong dietary internship at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria, IL, where she worked with a battalion of clients and patients with complicate diagnoses. She planned, marketed, and follow through nutriment education programs and cooking demonstrations for the general public deoxyadenosine monophosphate well as for special populations, including patients with cancer, heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer ‘s disease, fleshiness, and school-aged children. Contact Kari at
[email protected]
Reading: How to Be a Vegan and Stay Healthy
Read more: How To Enjoy Eating Healthy
The catch is that vegan diets can be goodly if they are well-planned, but they are n’t inherently healthy by nonpayment. translation : you have to do your homework before you take on the vegan life style in order to ensure your diet is well-adjusted and you ‘re getting all of the nutrients you need.As a vegan diet is wholly free of kernel, poultry, eggs, and dairy products, if you do n’t do your research, you might not be getting adequate vital nutrients. Some vegan diets, if not appropriately planned, could be lacking in protein, calcium, vitamin D, vitamin B12, zinc, cast-iron and omega-3 fatty acid fatty acids.In holy order to prevent falling short on these crucial nutrients, take these steps to ensure your vegan diet is healthy : inquiry has shown that vegetarian and vegan diets are associated with lower risks of heart disease, stroke, and many types of cancer, likely due to the fact that they are frequently broken in saturated adipose tissue and cholesterol. Vegans and vegetarians besides have lower consistency mass indexes ( BMI ). Although a diet that includes animal products can surely be healthy, moving towards a more plant-based diet can bring a act of health benefits .