Recently, I talked to a person who was thrilled to start out as a vegan and willing to have a radical shift of his diet habits. I was excited to hear about that. However, vegan starters must also be aware that becoming vegan is both a physical and mental challenge in the beginning and that there are some roadblocks in their way that need to be overcome. For instance, your body could heavily fight your new diet habits in the first three weeks after starting out. However, this doesn’t signal you are doing something wrong. It just takes some time for your body to adapt to this new way of living with its enormous health benefits. Amanda from the Huffington Post wrote a very interesting article pointing out five common traps every vegan could easily fall in when starting out. Make sure to avoid them!
“Thinking about adopting a purely plant-based diet?
We get it — after all, it’s been linked with decreased stress and increased happiness.
And who can forget that former president Bill Clinton adopted a meat-free eating planto improve his heart health? (He underwent quadruple bypass and stent surgeries in 2004 and 2010, USA Today noted.)
But whether you’re doing it for health reasons or ethics (after all, a vegan diet means you aren’t eating any animal products — even fish, dairy and eggs), there are some mistakes a newcomer to the diet might easily make.
We asked two experts in plant-based eating — Amy Lanou, Ph.D., an associate professor of health and wellness at the University of North Carolina Asheville, and Vandana Sheth, R.D., C.D.E, a Los Angeles-based dietitian and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics — for their advice for people who are just starting out on a vegan diet.
Their biggest tip? PLAN.
“A vegan diet can be healthy and have many positive health benefits, but ensure that it’s well planned and nutritionally balanced,” Sheth, who is a lifelong vegetarian, tells HuffPost. Make sure it “includes whole grains, colorful fruits and vegetables and heart-healthy fats.”
Sheth says that a vegan diet can be healthy as long as you get the nutrients your body needs from a variety of plant-based foods.
Other tips from Sheth and Lanou:
– Drink plenty of water, as your body may not be used to getting all that extra fiber from the added fruits and vegetables.
– Let your doctor know about your new diet. Every body is different, and your doctor can help you understand what you might need more or less of, within the scope of a vegan diet. Also, if you’re on medications (like for blood pressure or cholesterol), your dosages may change.”
Read on to find out about the 5 common mistakes Sheth and Lanou say new vegans may make — and their tips for avoiding them on the original source over at Huffington Post.
Image Source: Michael
This is really important! Thank you!!!
You’re welcome! I’m glad you found it helpful.
You’re welcome! I’m glad you found it helpful.