Nutritional Benefits of a Vegan Diet

There are many reasons to make the vegan transition.  Most do it for the love of the animals but there are also nutritional benefits to be gained from living a vegan lifestyle. Vegan diets are generally full of fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and soy.

VITAMIN E - This happens to my favorite vitamin!  It offers benefits for your skin, eyes, heart and brain and it is also thought to help prevent Alzheimer's disease.

VITAMIN C - This great vitamin keep your gums healthy and helps bruises heal faster along with the obvious benefit of boosting your immune system.

REDUCED SATURATED FATS - Dairy products and meats contain large amounts of saturated fats. By reducing this you significantly improve your cardiovascular health.

CARBOHYDRATES - As evil as people want to believe carbohydrates are...they provide energy for your body. When you don't consume enough carbs your body burns muscle tissue. I love healthy carbs and you should too!

FIBER - Vegans generally have a high fiber diet which leads to healthier bowel movements. Fiber also helps prevent against colon cancer.

MAGNESIUM - Nuts, seeds and dark leafy greens are great sources of magnesium that aids in the absorption of calcium.

POTASSIUM - This is essential to balance water and acidity in your body and stimulates kidneys to eliminate toxins from your body. This helps reduce risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer.

FOLATE - This is part of the B-vitamin family and it promotes cell repair. It aids in the creation of red and white blood cells and amino acids.

ANTIOXIDANTS - This helps to protect your body against cell damage. It is also believed to reduce your risk of cancer.

PHYTOCHEMICALS -These come from plant-based foods and help boost enzymes, protect against cancer and work with antioxidants.

PROTEIN - Most Americans eat too much protein from consuming red meat, eggs, etc. Vegans get the right amount of protein through beans, nuts, peas, lentils and soy products.

Isn't it great to know that you get all these health benefits in addition to saving the animals?!