Veganism 101: What is a Vegan diet? How is it helpful?

Today, one of the most popular diets is the vegan diet. More people are actively choosing to opt for the vegan diet for environmental, ethical, or even health reasons. 
When followed correctly, the vegan diet demonstrates numerous health benefits such as improved blood sugar control, weight loss, etc. Here is everything you need to know as a beginner in the vegan diet. 

What is a vegan diet?
Essentially, veganism refers to a lifestyle that attempts to exclude all forms of animal cruelty and exploitation. Thus, the bottom line is- that veganism attempts to eliminate all forms of animal products.

Types of Vegan diets 
Although many versions of vegan diets exist, let us take a look at the most common ones:
Whole-food vegan diet- This diet is essentially based on a wide range of whole plant foods which includes- vegetables, fruits legumes, whole grains, seeds & nuts.
The raw food vegan diet- This vegan diet consists of consuming raw vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, and/or any plant foods exclusively cooked below 118°F (48°C).
Starch solution diet: Here is a vegan diet that entails low-fat and high-carb nutrients. This diet centers on cooked starches, for example-rice, potatoes, or corn.
The 80/10/10 diet- This diet is focused on raw foods and soft greens. It curbs the consumption of fat-rich plants including avocados, nuts, and seeds. This is also known as the fruitarian diet. The idea behind the name is the ideal diet should offer at least 80% of calories resulting from cards, with 10% calories from proteins and 10% calories from fats.
The junk food vegan diet- With this diet one heavily depends on pseudo or mock meats, various cheeses, and vegan desserts. This diet also lacks whole plant foods.

Benefits of vegan a diet
When planned right, this diet serves many advantages. According to research and data here lies a few benefits of the vegan diet:
Weight loss: Since the vegan diet is filled with nutrient-rich foods such as fruits, vegetables, nuts & seeds, etc., it makes for the perfect balanced diet that promotes weight loss.
Reduces risk of diseases: By consuming vegan foods powerful in antioxidants, a vegan diet essentially lowers your cholesterol levels and thus deduced your chances of heart diseases. Moreover, it also helps lowering risks for cancer and manages diabetes by lowering A1C levels
Glowing skin: Now, who doesn't love a glowing complexion? By eliminating dairy and meats from your diets, studies have shown that vegan diets, rich in fruits and vegetables help you develop healthy skin.
Mood booster: Research has shown that vegans and vegetarians have had better scores when compared to meat-eaters on mood profiles and depression.


By Arshiya Ahamed