If you’re looking to lose a few pounds, it’s likely you’ve put some thought into making the switch to a vegan diet. There are thousands of accounts of people dropping meat from their diets and losing large amounts of weight, so why not give it a shot? 

For those who aren’t in the know, a vegan diet is one where all forms of animal products are eliminated from consumption. It’s not just beef that is cut out, but also fish, poultry, eggs, dairy, and even honey! Due to this, a vegan diet can appear to be quite restrictive in comparison to other diets. In order to give yourself the best chance at succeeding with weight loss while on a vegan diet, it is best to not look at it as restrictive. Most fad diets fail because the dieter only looks at it as just that, a temporary diet that they’re going to stick with till they lose a few pounds. After weight loss occurs, then what? 

It’s best to look at the vegan diet, as well as any other diet, as a lifestyle change and a decision you plan to stick with for the long haul. A vegan diet is more than just a set of rules to help lose weight for most practitioners, it is a choice made based on reasons of health and ethics. 

Pros of a Vegan Diet

• Helps Lower Cholesterol Levels: Research has concluded that in patients suffering from Type 2 diabetes, following a vegan diet resulted in a significant drop in LDL cholesterol. On average, cholesterol levels were reduced by around 20 percent! 

• Helps Lower Blood Pressure Levels: Studies have shown that those who stick to a vegan diet benefit from lower blood pressure as well a marked reduction in risk of developing heart disease or hypertension. 

• Results In Increased Antioxidant Consumption: Due to the increased intake of fruits, vegetables, legumes, beans, and whole grains, followers of a vegan diet benefit from increased antioxidant intake as well as more vitamins, minerals, and fiber. 

Cons of a Vegan Diet

• Easy To Become Vitamin Deficient: If you aren’t careful about the variety of foods you eat, while on a vegan diet it is possible to become deficient in certain vitamins. Vitamin B12, D, and calcium are all commonly found to be low in vegans who don’t pay close attention to what they eat. A way vegans can work around this common issue is by including something like red superfood powder into their diet to still get their necessary amount of vitamins and minerals.

• A Radical Change In Diet: Making the switch to a vegan diet can be a big change for some people and can be hard to stick with in the long run. 

• Makes Dining Out Difficult: If you enjoy going out to eat with friends frequently, following a vegan diet can make it difficult. Most restaurants don’t offer truly vegan options devoid of any animal products and it may mean having to cut out some establishments entirely from your dining experience. 

Focus On Green Veggies

When following a vegan diet to lose weight, try to focus on making the bulk of your meals cruciferous and leafy green vegetables. These types of vegetables are best for weight loss because they’re extremely low in calories and high in satiating fiber. They’re among the most nutrient-dense of food options and really offer the best bang for your buck when it comes to vegetables and food in general. 

Watch Your Protein Intake

If you’re not careful with what you’re eating while following a vegan diet, it is very possible that you can become protein deficient. Adequate protein consumption helps to keep you fuller for longer and well make your diet much more bearable. 

Protein consumption is easy to overlook while following a vegan diet due to the focus on vegetables. You might think that since you’re not supposed to eat meat then protein must not be important, but then you’d be wrong! 

Make sure to include some higher protein vegan foods such as tofu, tempeh, seitan, and legumes to make sure you’re getting a decent amount of protein. 

Conclusion

Following a vegan diet can be a great way to shed a few pounds. With proper care taken to ensure adequate protein, vitamin, and mineral consumption the vegan diet is one of the healthiest diets you could follow!