Going vegan is taking off in a BIG way. I get it, it seems like a great way to be healthier AND save the planet. But I do worry that people going vegan don’t have all the information they need to stay as healthy as possible. So I want to talk about how to avoid some of the pitfalls of a vegan diet.
Just to say, I personally am not a vegan, but I am all for individual choice, and respect for people making those choices. I am all for eating more of a plant based diet, that’s just a no-brainer. And some people do thrive on a purely vegan diet, but I do believe many of us need animal foods to feel our best.
If you do choose a vegan lifestyle, here are my top 5 tips to make it a healthy one.
TOP TIPS for a healthy vegan diet
- Avoid processed foods – the food industry has jumped on the vegan bandwagon and is busy producing lots of ‘vegan’ friendly processed foods laden with chemicals, additives, vegetable oils, salt and sugar. Watch out for those fake meats, cheeses and ‘healthy’ veggie crisps.
- Don’t overload the carbs – going without animal foods can make you favour the carbs which we know pushes up your insulin (contributing to fat storing, mood swings, fatigue, and more oestrogen). Just because chips and bread are vegan does NOT mean it’s healthy! Good carbs are great, refined carbs not so.
- Take it easy on the soy – many sources of soy are genetically modified or heavily processed – so go for more fermented soy like miso, tempeh, and moderate amounts of organic soy milk and organic tofu.
- Supplement your diet – there’s no getting away from it, a vegan diet doesn’t supply all your nutrients. Those most at risk are: Vitamin A (retinol); B12; Vitamin C; Vitamin D (D3 the animal form); calcium; iodine, iron, omega-3 essential fats (in the right form) and protein. This is a great new Vegan Health Spray that supplies some of these nutrients (use my code NJW010 for a 10% discount).
- Make sure you get enough protein and healthy fats – both are needed for your energy production, detox systems, brain function and HORMONES – hormones are made, stored, transported and eliminated by fats and protein.
DON’T follow the NHS ‘Eat Well’ advice; ‘For a healthy vegan diet: eat at least 5 portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables every day. base meals on potatoes, bread, rice, pasta or other starchy carbohydrates.’
No wonder we have a Diabetes epidemic!
Follow the Food4Health Vegan guide instead;
Click here to download this guide.
And lastly, if you don’t feel your best on a vegan diet, please consider going back on to animal foods. I’ve had many clients who have tried it but felt worse on it. It’s often a sign that your body needs more than a vegan diet can offer.
Like I said, I’m all for choice, but INFORMED choice, not because of the latest trend or that everyone else is doing it.
Let me know in the comments if you have any questions or concerns. Or arrange a FREE Discovery Call if you want to speak to us directly.