Pros And Cons Of A Vegan Diet

Hunters and gatherers were the only two jobs in the very beginning of mankind, hunters would stalk wild animals and kill them while gatherers would pick fruits and vegetables from plants. Because of this, meat would be a staple in one’s diet; Today, this is not the case with the recent spike in Vegans not only in the United States, but across the world. Contrary to just a few years ago, it seems that every menu contains various Vegan/Vegetarian options. A Vegetarian is someone who does not eat meat, and sometimes other animal products, a Vegan is a strict vegetarian who consumes no food (such as meat, eggs, or dairy products) that comes from animals, as well as a restriction of the use of any kind of animal product, such as leather (Merriam-Webster).

When one moves away from meat products, it requires them to shift their focus on other foods such as wholegrains, fruits, vegetables, beans, peas, nuts, and seeds. Studies have shown that vegan diets have more fiber, antioxidants, and beneficial plant compounds. They also appear to be richer in potassium, magnesium, folate, and Vitamins A, C, and E (Craig). Another benefit of a vegan diet is weight loss, a 2013 study showed that a vegan diet helped participants lose 9.3 lbs more than a control diet over an 18-week period (obesity.org). Employees from 10 sites of a major US company with body mass index greater than 25kg/m and/or a previous diagnosis of type 2 diabetes were randomized to either follow a low-fat vegan diet or make no diet changes for 18 weeks. This study also showed how a vegan diet could be beneficial for someone with Diabetes or high blood

Linebacker Wesley Woodyard initially said, “y’all crazy with this vegan thing…. I’m from Georgia I am going to eat my pork.” Soon after, he was convinced by the vegan diet and now he claims that his energy levels have noticeably gone up, in his statement he also said that although it is hard to maintain his weight as a football player, it is worth it to stay on top of his health. For an athlete, there are several benefits that are linked with a plant-based diet. Firstly, a vegan diet leads to less internal body clog-up, when one eats a lot of food high in fiber, such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, it optimizes digestions and minimizes belly bloat, allowing athletes to retain more energy. Furthermore, a plant-based diet helps maintain great cardiovascular health; plant-based foods are often low in cholesterol and saturated fat, leading to a stronger cardiovascular system, allowing athletes to have much more endurance. Lastly, plant-based diets allow athletes to easily maintain their physiques. As stated previously, vegan diets allow for more efficient weight loss, as the plant-based foods are much easier to digest compared to meat. David Carter is a former NFL player who learned about veganism through the film, “Forks Over Knives,” he noticed that the strenuous NFL season was taking a toll on his body,