Cultivating our happiest, healthiest self starts at breakfast! The food choices we make play a major role in how our minds and bodies feel and function, which is why we’re all about fixing our plates with nutrient-dense veggies, grains, and nuts as part of a balanced vegan diet.
The best part? Swapping animal products for plants offers a long list of health benefits without compromising on flavor, cost or time.
Here are some of the many ways that swapping meat, eggs, and dairy for plants could enrich your health and wellbeing.
Boost your vitamin and nutrient intake
Growing up, were you constantly told to eat your greens? Yep, there’s a reason for that! Fruits and veggies are packed full of the vitamins, antioxidants and nutrients our bodies need for healthy cell growth, muscle function and digestion.
When you replace animal products with plant sources as part of a balanced vegan diet, you will naturally eat a combination of foods with great nutritional profiles! These include cruciferous vegetables, pulses, whole grains, nuts and seeds containing dietary fiber, potassium, magnesium and vitamin C.
Some of our favorite nutrient-packed vegan superfoods include garbanzo beans, lentils, quinoa, oats, almonds, walnuts, cashews, broccoli, kale, oranges, blueberries, chia seeds and sunflower seeds. Trust us - going vegan does not mean sacrificing good food!
Manage your weight more easily
Another perk of going vegan? Vegan diets are regularly linked to better weight management. One reason for this is that plant-based eaters tend to rely on slow-release carbs (like sweet potatoes and quinoa), which are known to keep you energized and fuller for longer.
Balanced vegan diets are also rich in protein, which busts another common myth about eating plant-based! To put this in foodie terms: eating two tablespoons of peanut butter, half a cup of black beans or three ounces of tofu would offer you more protein than consuming one egg.
If you’re hoping to lower your BMI, then swapping meat, dairy and eggs for low-calorie vegetables, grains and pulses could be a meaningful first step.
For more on this, listen to our talk with the incredibly inspiring Nalida Besson. We discuss how going plant-based helped her lose weight and change her life.
Keep your heart healthy
As if we couldn’t love veganism more, research also shows that eating a plant-based diet could protect your heart. Unlike meat, which is often linked to higher rates of heart disease, many vegan staples could help to reduce your blood pressure and lower your cholesterol.
One major reason for this is that plant foods contain less saturated fat than animal products, such as beef and eggs. They also tend to offer more dietary fiber, which keeps your gut healthy, reduces inflammation and moderates blood pressure.
Remember - the nutritional choices you make are personal. They need to work for you and your body.
While we at The Cultivated Vegan wholeheartedly believe in the power of plants, you won’t find us judging what’s on your plate. We’re simply here to help by offering delicious vegan recipes (like our Kale, Orange & Avocado Salad!), food and fitness advice and a supportive family of like-minded people.
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