Veganism was once a trend that many thought was nothing more than a passing fad, but as more research came out that showed our consumption of meat is harming the environment, more and more people around the world are turning to veganism to decrease the impact they’re having on the planet.
While changing over to a vegan lifestyle can be difficult, it is by no means impossible, and can be done relatively easily and cheaply. There are a lot of misconceptions when it comes to veganism, with the most pertinent one being that we don’t receive the right amount of nutrients when we cut animal products out of diet.
The truth of the matter is that supplementation is necessary when making use of a vegan diet, but much the same can be said of a diet that includes animal products. These are easy steps to begin to journey into veganism.
1. Do The Research
The human body is incredibly complex, and needs a huge variety of minerals and nutrients in order to function at its best. While an animal-product focussed diet does have many of the nutrients we require, it also introduces a plethora of potentially harmful chemicals that have been linked to obesity, heart disease, and cancer.
Before starting on a vegan lifestyle, take the time to learn what kind of supplements you may be expected to take, and what vegan alternatives may be worth checking out.
It might also be helpful to take a visit to the doctor, and have tests done to see if you are deficient in any nutrients in particular. Taking a supplement that you’re not deficient in can cause some health problems, with iron supplementation being a prime example. It’s not that different to the amount of research required when trying anything new, such as online betting, as an example.
2. Incorporating Certain Foods
With meat out of the picture, it’s important to begin incorporating other foods that provide the nutrients that meat once provided. Whole grain, legumes, beans, seeds, nets, and tofu are all important items to have on the shopping list, and can provide most of the nutrients that your body needs.
It also helps to get hold of a vegan cookbook, allowing you to experiment with a number of different recipes, and to help you find alternatives that you like.
3. Swap Out Milk
Dairy products are often the most difficult items to swap out when entering a vegan diet, especially for those that grew up on a western diet. Fortunately, there are a number of alternatives on the market for both milk and cheese.
Keep an eye out for almond or soy milk, which provide healthy alternatives to dairy milk. If almond and soy is not to your taste, others are available, such as Tiger Nut, Hemp, and Rice milk.
4. Stay Motivated
It’s easy to lose faith in a new diet, especially when it’s easy to run to the shop and buy a steak.
Instead, write down the reasons why you want to become a vegan, and have it on the fridge to look at whenever you begin to lose motivation.