We’re lucky to live in this generation that caters to and embraces a wide variety of diets and lifestyles. It’s great that there are now more options to choose from, especially for people with very specific health and moral concerns.
As such, vegan restaurants here in Albuquerque, NM and many other states are seeing an increase in the number of their regulars. Now, if you’ve been thinking about changing your diet and improving your overall health condition, adopting a plant-based diet – whether it’s vegan, vegetarian, or pescatarian – may just be the right choice for you.
Going for a more plant-based diet can be a very healthy approach, even if you’re worried about getting adequate amounts of protein. Here are some facts.
How do I get started?
Start by doing research and reading through websites and cookbooks about veganism, vegetarianism or pescetarianism, whichever approach you’re actually interested in. If you want to add more vegan or vegetarian food options into your diet but aren’t ready to commit to zero animal food consumption, you can try researching a flexitarian approach.
Instead of consuming meat daily, this diet plan will limit your meat intake to just a few times a week. Keep in mind that changing your diet and committing to a new eating plan takes time, so be patient.
Will I get enough protein?
Of course! This may be one of the biggest issues people have about turning vegan or vegetarian. But there are plenty of plant-based food items that are actually excellent sources of protein, such as beans, peas, lentils, peanuts, and many other types of nuts, as long as you consume them routinely.
Protein is also present in whole grains and many kinds of deep green leafy vegetables. Here’s what everyone should know: unless you’re a professional weight lifter or an endurance athlete, people only need 10 to 20% of calories from protein.
How about other essential nutrients, such as iron and calcium?
Just like with protein, there are many plant-based sources of iron, calcium, and even omega 3. The common knowledge since we were children is to drink milk and consume fish and meat to get these nutrients.
However, what many failed to realize is that the reason why these animals are excellent sources of nutrients is that they got them from plants! They are living creatures that ate whatever was served to them, and that’s how they got those nutrients in the first place, which we then try to get from them.
So, why not go straight to the source instead and skip all those saturated fats and cholesterol.
Is it possible to get a vitamin deficiency?
Yes, if you choose to consume highly processed junk food with little to no nutritious value. But, even people who consume meat are not safe from this condition and have deficiencies.
Once you’ve switched to consuming more plant foods, you can expect improvements to your health, such as a lower risk of developing cancer and other chronic diseases, including heart disease and diabetes.