There has been a lot of upheaval in the health industry of late. This change has swept through the world many different food habits, especially in retaliation to Covid-19. People have become all the more conscious about what they are putting inside their bodies. One term that has entered our daily conversations in this realm is Veganism. You will hear about veganism, vegan diets, vegan ice creams, and so on. The western countries are affected to a huge extent. All those who were purely concentrating on a vegetarian diet, are stressing on more. Veganism is one of the specialized diet plans, to capture your attention today.
So, what is veganism? Is it a new fad diet or a stylish diet plan? A vegan diet is a diet plan that is devoid of any sort of animal produce. It can be meat, dairy products, and eggs. Some people will not take honey as well, as it is sourced from the live bees’ hive. A vegan lifestyle is said to have lots of offerings towards the environment. Yoga schools in India are also adopting the diet plan, and have amalgamated it as a part of the Sattvic diet, as laid down in the Vedic texts. If you are a Vegan and want to travel to India, then you can now do so without any apprehensions. Gurukul Yogashala is one of the prominent schools in Rishikesh offering holistic wellness education. They also offer vegan food.
So, before you start unearthing the benefits one after the other, it is important for you to go back to the background of Veganism. Let us understand why people go vegan and what they are supposed to avoid.
Foods That Vegans Need To Avoid
Vegans need to avoid the following food groups.
- Meat and Fish – Beef, chicken, pork, mutton, shellfish.
- Eggs – Additionally, vegans also avoid cakes made with eggs.
- Dairy Products – milk, cheese, butter, ghee, cream and foods made with these ingredients.
- Animal-derived Products – honey, gelatin, shellac, casein, etc.
You will not find the above foods at any holistic health and wellness den in India, like the yoga school in India.
Reasons Behind Turning Vegan
- Ethics – This is one of the first reasons why people turn vegan. Ethical vegans believe that all creatures living on this planet have the right to life and freedom. It also stresses the fact that animals also have a consciousness. This is the main reason why vegans refuse to touch animal produce. The animals who are not directly killed for meat or their fur, also have to go through immense psychological distress. According to modern farming practices, where scarcity of space is a reality, animals are always physically and psychologically bound. Many animals are made to survive away from their babies as well. Take the example of sheep being robbed of their fur, or bees being captured and kept in dirty conditions for their produce. Calves are also killed, as they are considered a surplus in the meat industry. Then again, male calves are slaughtered as they serve a minimal purpose. These actions go against the principles of yoga, which lays special importance on Ahimsa. Ethical vegans believe that silk, fur, wool, eggs, milk, and honey are obtained through the exploitation of animals. This is the reason why ethical vegans will not touch milk or eggs.
- Environment – Many people are choosing to turn vegan, due to their impact on the environment. It has been revealed by constant studies, that animal agriculture and husbandry lead to the emission of greenhouse gases, which is responsible for climate change. Those who eat meat reportedly are responsible for twice the amount of greenhouse gas emissions than those who follow a vegan diet. So, if one eliminates meat and any sort of animal produce, it leads to lower emissions of greenhouse gases. So, the vegan diet is more effective than the vegetarian diet. More of earth’s resources such as grass, are used up in feeding animals rather than human beings. To grow the plants, a huge quantity of water is also wasted, which could have been put to good use. So, if one does not stop these actions, the earth could run out of resources in the next 25 years.
- Health – This is the next reason why people turn vegans. It has huge health benefits. We will discuss this in an elaborate manner in the forthcoming sections. The yoga schools in India are also making special provisions for vegan students, owing to their impact on the environment and earth. Moreover, if you happen to enrol for one of the holistic modalities in India, you will get the benefit of a vegan diet at the school ashram. Those looking for holistic retreats also get the same advantage.
5 Absolute Health Benefits Of Going On A Vegan Diet
From people seeking weight loss to those who want to manage their chronic illnesses, veganism has loads of benefits.
- A vegan diet is highly nutritious. You first eliminate meats and animal products from the diet plan. This will eventually lead you to seek other food avenues. The replaced diet may consist of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, leafy greens, nuts, seeds, beans and herbal teas. These foods make up a huge part of the vegan diet. You will be able to extract more fibre, antioxidants, and plant nutrients from the above ingredients. These food groups are also very rich in potassium, magnesium, folic acids, and Vitamins. To make up for the absence of iron, which is not readily available in plant foods, you can rely on supplements.
- Those looking to lose weight should definitely give the vegan diet a try. Observational studies have revealed that those who are on a vegan diet tend to be slimmer. Various studies have also revealed that those who are on a vegan diet, have lower BMI. Vegan diets have proven effective for those who have excess weight or Diabetes. A plant-based diet also keeps the blood sugar levels in control. Vegan diets are associated with reduced calorie intake, which aids in weight loss. Moreover, they contain excess dietary fiber. So, this will be the next point of discussion here.
- A vegan diet lowers blood sugar levels and also improves kidney function. It has been observed that eating a vegan diet reduces the risk of developing Type II diabetes. The same diet also comes in handy, in reducing the damage to kidneys, which is an after- effect of excess blood glucose. Most plants release simple sugars, which are easily digested and give the above benefits to be exact. You will be able to learn about such food and lifestyle choices as a part of the 200 hour yoga teacher training in Rishikesh, as well.
- The consumption of a vegan diet also leads to a reduction in the likelihood of cancer occurrence. Legumes, fruits, and vegetables have phytoactive substances that help in negating the effects of carcinogens in the human body.
- A vegan diet is also extremely beneficial for your gut health. There are neurons in the gut, similar to ones in the brain. So, your gut health and brain health are interrelated. What you put inside, affects your brain function as well. A microbiome is also created when you have lots of plant-based foods. This diverse microbiome helps in fighting off diseases.
Conclusion
If you are looking towards a holistic lifestyle, wherein you can also fit in a vegan diet, then you must join a school like Gurukul Yogashala, which professes this very idea of veganism. This is the right diet that can not only fix your body, but your mind as well. If you join a yoga teacher training in Rishikesh, you will be able to relish the benefits of a vegan diet along with yogic kriyas.