Vegan Eating: Should You Give It a Try?
By Genevieve Cunningham
When most people hear the word vegan, one of two thoughts come to mind. Some people admire the compassion and dedication it takes to lead a vegan lifestyle. When they hear the word, they think good thoughts about the people who choose it. Others think only one thing: disgust. No meat? No eggs? No cheese? No way! You must be crazy to think such thoughts. No matter which reaction comes to your mind, there’s no doubt plenty of confusion about this alternative (yet growing!) lifestyle. So what’s the deal? Should it be admired or is it not worth the fuss? To learn a little more about going totally green, take a look at this quick info guide.
What About Nutritional Deficiencies?
Many who are opposed to eating vegan claim that the consumer will have severe nutritional deficiencies due to the lack of animal products in their diet. While this can be a problem for some, it doesn’t necessarily have to be. Most nutrients can be found in other products, or if need be, in supplement form. Those who choose to go vegan will need to be especially aware of their protein and Vitamin B12 intake, and adjust where necessary. Any questions should be directed to a doctor, as they can test your body for deficiencies and give you advice about how to avoid problems.
Don’t We Need Meat?
This is quite a controversial topic amongst the general masses. Meat is necessary, right? It’s a part of a human’s natural diet. It certainly appears that humans were meant to consume meat products. How do we know? We know because of our teeth. Humans contain both plant eating teeth (the molars), as well as meat eating teeth (the front teeth and canines). Our teeth would make it appear as though we were meant to be omnivores. But proponents of a vegan diet would argue: Is it really necessary? Not necessarily. While it appears to be natural for humans to consume meat, it may not be necessary as long as all nutritional needs are met in other ways.
Is It Worth It?
Whether or not going vegan is worth it will probably depend on a lot of factors. For starters, do you have a passion for going vegan? A vegan lifestyle is not easy, and it generally only works if you truly want to go completely animal-free. It may also depend on where you live. Big cities will likely offer more vegan options than small towns. Lastly, do the benefits outweigh the disadvantages for you, personally? Benefits of a vegan lifestyle may include weight loss, less systemic inflammation, and an improvement in general focus. If veganism proves to make you feel better about your body, health, and life, then it may be worth the effort.
If you want to go vegan, there’s nothing wrong with giving it a try. You’ll definitely need to plan ahead and get prepared, but for many, it’s a lifestyle change that really sticks. For others, it doesn’t work out. Either lifestyle can be healthy and provide benefits to the body, so choose wisely, ask your doctor for advice, and lead whichever life makes you healthiest and happiest.
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