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More people are getting on board these days with a healthier lifestyle by going vegan or vegetarian. The only difference between the two is vegetarians only give up meat, whereas vegans give up all forms of animal by-products including meat, dairy, eggs, and other various pre-packaged foods that contain any of these. Also, those who give up meat yet still eat fish and dairy are known as a pescatarian.

The benefits of either, however, are numerous. What we choose to consume acts as nourishment for the body, if there is no nutrition to what we eat there is mainly negative side-effects instead, usually. Thus, by switching to a vegetarian or vegan diet, we eliminate a lot of the negative side-effects, substituting meat and dairy for healthier, raw alternatives – which in turn serve to amplify nutrition.

The list below describes several benefits for going vegan. The list could go on for days but here you’ll find the top 10 reasons how this lifestyle can serve you. In fact, the biggest negative to going vegan or vegetarian is dealing with the same constant questions from other people, which can quickly grow tiresome. Instead, share this article with them as an answer! 🙂

Top 10 Important Reasons To Go Vegan Starting Now…

1.Lowered Cholesterol Levels

The levels of cholesterol found in meats is astonishing and is a leading cause of heart disease. However being vegan is mostly cholesterol-free.

2. Helps Weight Loss

Being vegan is a great method for weight management or weight loss, as less fatty foods are ingested with a vegan diet. Also fresh foods such as fruits and vegetables help keep the weight off, and vegans have a lower rate of obesity considering they weigh anywhere from 5 to 20 pounds less than meat eaters.

3. Significantly Lowers Cancer Risk

Men who consume 2.5 eggs or more a week have an 81% greater chance of developing prostate cancer compared to those who eat fewer than .5 eggs a week.(1) Also, those who eat processed red meats are 50% more likely to develop colon cancer. Furthermore, female vegans have 34% fewer incidences of female-specific cancers such as breast, cervical, and ovarian cancer.(2)

4. Increases Energy Levels

Many processed, pre-packaged foods can leave you feeling tired and sluggish. Healthier foods on the other hand are packed with live enzymes that provide healthy vitamins and minerals that break down into energy for the body.

5. Healthier Skin

Consumption of dairy or foods high in sugar can lead to breakouts of the skin. This can be due to hormones used in the production of milk to increase the cow’s yield. These hormones can leach into the milk they produce, which then enters our diet and leads to an increase in excess sebum production. This excess sebum, combined with the build-up of dead skin cells, can cause moderate to severe acne issues.(3)

6. Saves and Helps Animals

It’s no mystery a vegan lifestyle helps save the animals. Not only from consumption by humans, but in how they’re raised, bred, and farmed. Many animals are factory farmed and withstand cruel treatment in harsh environments.(4) Not to mention, for every person that becomes vegan, they save roughly 100 animals from being slaughtered every year!(5)

7. Lowers Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease

There is a strong correlation between Alzheimer’s Disease and the consumption of excess meat and dairy. According to a study published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, researchers found the development of Alzheimer’s would increase when the amount of animal fat and calorie consumption increased.

8. Saves The Planet

The costs of farming meat and poultry are constantly rising as the population and levels of consumer demand increases. Not to mention the amount of energy and time expended to farm crops in order to feed them, as well as the amount of water required to keep the livestock hydrated. The entire process creates an enormous amount of pollution and waste and is a leading contributor to climate change.

9. Increased Longevity

A study done by Dean Ornish, M.D., shows how telomeres (DNA-protein complexes that are markers of health and longevity), were elongated among men who adopted a low-fat, plant-based diet. Many organic fruits, vegetables, and herbs contain anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic properties, reducing the appearance of wrinkles and supporting the health of cells.

10. Lowered Risk of Depression & Anxiety

A vegan diet lowers the risk of depression and anxiety, as well as lowers stress levels, according to a new study done in the Nutrition Journal. Researchers ran three separate diet tests – vegetarian, meat-based, and meat-and-fish-based. In conclusion, they determined those with a vegetarian diet scored significantly better on standardized mood and stress tests.

Going vegan doesn’t have to be a difficult transition. Simply try to substitute one item of dairy or protein a week (every month or even every day, depending on your goals), with a healthier yet similar alternative. For example milk from dairy cows could be substituted with almond or hemp milk, whereas protein from meat can instead be acquired by beans, nuts, or vegetables. Even things like texture can be swapped out for something similar. If you enjoy biting into foods with substance like that of meat, try hearty mushrooms or large kidney beans as a replacement. Not only will you look and feel better, but you’ll be doing your part to help save the planet and help treat animals with equality and respect. ♥

Sources:

(1) http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/235321.php

(2) http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kathy-freston/vegan-diet-cancer_b_2250052.html

(3) http://www.skininc.com/skinscience/physiology/Long-term-Research-Links-Dairy-and-High-Sugar-Foods-to-Acne-200252611.html

(4) http://www.peta.org/issues/animals-used-for-food/factory-farming/

(5) http://www.peta.org/features/love-us-dont-eat-us/

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