Blogs

Happier gut

About 65% of the global population is lactose intolerant, which means they are unable to digest lactose ,a sugar present in animal milk. While this isn't life threatening, it causes a host of minor discomforts like nausea , abdominal cramps, vomiting, chronic inflammation and constipation. So if you are lactose intolerant (or experience similar symptoms after consuming milk products), going vegan helps. It removes animal milk (thus lactose) from your diet and incorporating vegan milks which are naturally lactose-free, helps you feel physically better in daily life.

Clearer Skin

Vegan cosmetic and hair products are cruelty-free as they are not tested on animals and thus are an ethical option for animal welfare.In addition, a large proportion of vegan cosmetics today use natural ingredients such as aloe vera, mint, cucumber, ginger, turmeric which not only contain hugely beneficial antioxidants but also provide essential vitamins and minerals that repair and hydrate skin and hair. This not only keeps them healthy and reduces acne breakouts, but also reduces the chances of allergies and inflammation. Animal compounds used in skin products can be harsh on our body and clog skin pores. Most cruelty free products do not contain harmful synthetic chemicals like paraben, sulfates and synthetic dyes. Vegan cosmetic products with fewer synthetic compounds are better for the environment too, as after they are washed off our body, they mix into water and are released in soil, water and air and since they contain environment friendly compounds, they pollute nature less than their synthetic non-vegan counterparts. Eating vegan also helps in clearer skin. A vegan diet essentially comprises a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, legumes and grains from which the body's required nutrition, including protein is obtained. Antioxidants are compounds naturally found in plant foods that fight skin damaging free radicals. Because a large proportion of vegan diet is plant derived, eating vegan also helps in achieving healthier skin and hair

Lighter on the scale

Studies have shown that in people following plant based diets, which are essentially vegan diets, the incidence of obesity , a silent killer in today’s lifestyle of excessive processed food consumption and reduced body movements, is significantly lower. Animal derived food has higher fat , unhealthy saturated fats and calories than plant based food. Due to meat consumption, fat tends to accumulate in the body leading to obesity. By cutting meat and dairy and consuming a balanced mix of vegan food whether as simple salads, soups or as more elaborate vegan meals, there will definitely be a noticeable difference in body size reduced weight, slimmer waistline and more. According to studies, less the proportion of animal food in a person's diet, lower was their Body Mass Index (BMI) on average and hence lower body weight . Obesity rates in meat eaters was found to be thrice more than in vegetarians and nine times more than in vegans. Thus a vegan diet can meaningfully contribute to long term weight loss and stable insulin levels

Lower risk of heart disease, osteoporosis

Dietary cholesterol, linked to heart disease, is found in animal products like eggs, shrimp, dairy and red meats like bacon. A vegan diet is low in cholesterol and thus reduces the risk of heart disease, a major killer in modern age. Additionally, it was popular belief that animal milk is the only source of calcium, a mineral essential for bone health and whose deficiency causes Osteoporosis which weakens bones and reduces mobility . But research has found that calcium is abundantly found in plant greens like kale and broccoli and in a more digestible form, thus eliminating worries of calcium deficiencies in a vegan diet.

Lower risk of food contamination

E. coli is a bacteria linked to food contamination and is found in raw or undercooked meat products and raw milk. One of the biggest sources is ground beef. Being vegan cuts out meat and thus significantly reduces the chances of food contamination. Additionally, people who follow plant based diets have healthier diets and thus healthier digestive tracts which provides protection against harmful E. coli bacteria.

Kinder to animals

The global demand for animal products is skyrocketing due to explosive population growth,and farm factories are commonplace today. Here animals such as cows, pigs and hens are reared in suffocating sheds with extremely poor hygiene with a singular goal in mind-to rear the animal and obtain meat, eggs , milk or other animal products. The animals are kept in battery cages, with no space and almost negligent care which allows diseases to spread and causes pain and suffering to animals. Less demand of animal products will eliminate the need of such rearing practices and reduce animal cruelty

Kinder to the environment

The environment also suffers similarly. Ruminants such as cows, and other livestock are major contributors to methane emissions , a major greenhouse gas causing global warming. Bacteria in their gut produce methane which cattle eject by belching. As an Economic Times article points out: “ If cows were a country, the United Herds of Earth would be the planet’s third largest greenhouse-gas emitter”. Whatever be the reason to switch to a vegan lifestyle , one fact remains undisputable - the benefits arising are massive, be it concerning health, animal welfare or environmental impact.