Flexitarianism: The Benefits of Being a Part-Time Vegan
By Sara Butler
You may have heard that some studies are confirming a vegan diet to be one of the best diets for weight loss and heart health out there. If you can’t imagine giving up bacon, butter, and milk but are curious about the benefits of veganism, then part-time veganism may the answer for you. Here are some of the benefits of being a part-time vegan you may want to consider for your health.
The Vegan Diet Explained
Being a vegan means you eat no animal products whatsoever. That means no meat, no butter, no cheese, no milk – nothing that comes from an animal can be eaten. Naturally, vegan diets are high in unprocessed and raw foods, since it’s not like there’s a drive-through fast-food vegan restaurant you can frequent at the end of a long day. In fact, you’re hard pressed to find premade vegan items at the grocery store. Vegans eat a diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables, minimally and processed grains.
What Does It Mean to be a Part-time Vegan?
When you consider a part-time vegan lifestyle, it can occur in a few different ways, but it basically means you stay away from junk food and eat vegan food most of the time, only eating non-vegan one day a week or for a couple of hours at the end of every day.
Many people who eat a flexitarian diet follow these basic guidelines:
- Eat vegetables and fruit in abundance
- Eat fewer animal products
- Stay away from junk food
- Don’t eat out; cook at home as much as you can
- Eat high-quality foods
The point is not to deprive yourself of anything, which is the only way to create a sustainable lifestyle change for your health. The goal of being a part-time vegan is to add more fresh fruits and vegetables into your life, and it’s easy to accomplish.
What Health Benefits Might You Expect?
No change in lifestyle or diet is going to be a magic bullet, but there is some evidence that eating vegan part-time can have a positive impact. You may notice a reduction in your blood sugar, lower cholesterol, better quality sleep at night and even weight loss.
As with any diet or lifestyle change you should discuss this with your healthcare provider before you jump in, but it’s definitely an idea you may want to consider for a future of better health!