Veganism and health: World Vegan Month

Some people seem to think that you need to eat animal products to be healthy, but that simply isn’t the case. Every major nutritionist organisation in the world, including the British Dietetics Association and theAcademy of Nutrition and Dietetics, recognises that a balanced vegan diet is healthy and provides all of the nutrients one needs to live a happy, healthy life. In addition, research shows that those following a plant-based diet suffer lower rates of type-2 diabetes, heart disease and certain types of cancer.

Vegan Nutrition

Obtaining all the nutrients your body needs on a vegan diet is possible, but as with all diets it requires some knowledge and planning.

Top tips for being a healthy vegan

1) Base your diet on wholefoods, like fruits, vegetables, wholegrains, nuts, seeds, pulses, and legumes.
2) Whilst vegan junk food can be tempting, this should only be an occasional thing.
3) Ensure you are consuming a reliable source of vitamin B12; whether by consuming fortified foods or taking a supplement.
4) Consume flax and/or chia seeds and walnuts, as well as other nuts and seeds daily for those healthy omega fats.
5) Eat a good variety of different plant foods and proteins.