Is it healthier to be vegan?

Over the past couple of years, different diets and food regimes have spiked in popularity. The keto diet, the vegan diet, detox diets, and intermittent fasting being some of them. With the wave of social media and Beyond Meat taking over, the vegan diet has been one of the most popular diets people have converted to– but is it actually healthy? 

The Basics 

What exactly is a vegan diet? Similar to a vegetarian diet, a vegan diet excludes any type of meat. The difference between a vegan and vegetarian diet is that a vegan diet also excludes any animal food products, such as eggs and dairy.  

Is a Vegan Diet Healthy? 

Just like any other diet, a vegan diet can be healthy if it is implemented correctly into your lifestyle. The lack of protein can create a loss in essential nutrients such as calcium, iron, and vitamin B12, but you can make up for those with additional vitamins or other supplements in your diet. So is a vegan diet healthy? Yes, but a vegan diet is not the answer to a healthy lifestyle. 

Is a Vegan Diet Healthy for the Planet? 

Speculating whether hipsters are right about veganism being “a way to save the planet” has been a question to many people. According to researchers in the Guardian, they conclude that removing meat and dairy from our diets is the single most effective way to regenerate our ecosystems and prevent their further destruction. Two additional important takeaways from a report in the Science journal says: 

1. Meat and dairy only provide 18% of our calories and 37% of our protein– yet make up 83% of farmland
2. Without meat and dairy consumption, global farmland could be reduced by more than 75% and still feed the world

An article from Forbes also says that livestock production is the single largest contributor of emissions around the world– which is more than planes, trains, and cars combined. Therefore, by removing livestock production, it could help regenerate the earth. 

So What’s the Takeaway? 

Veganism is a popular diet many people have converted to, but it’s important to remember that it is not the solution to a healthy lifestyle. For vegans, replacing essential nutrients from protein is crucial and it can be done by taking additional vitamins and supplements. As for any other diet, it’s important to have a variety of foods that offer a multitude of nutrients. Overall, whichever diet you take on, make sure it compliments you and your lifestyle accordingly.