National Health Facts

People with high blood pressure, diabetes - those are conditions brought about by life style. If you change the life style, those conditions will leave... –Dick Gregory

NUTRITION IS THE KEY TO LIFE.

A diet high in fiber (as vegan eating usually is) leads to healthier bowel movements. High fiber diets help fight against colon cancer. 

Dairy products and meats contain a large amount of saturated fats. By reducing the amount of saturated fats from your diet, you’ll improve your health tremendously, especially when it comes to cardiovascular health.

Aiding in the absorption of calcium, magnesium is an often overlooked vitamin in importance to a healthy diet. Nuts, seeds, and dark leafy greens are an excellent source of magnesium.

Potassium balances water and acidity in your body and stimulates the kidneys to eliminate toxins. Diets high in potassium have shown to reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases and cancer.

This powerful vitamin has benefits for your heart, skin, eyes, brain, and may even help prevent Alzheimer’s Disease. A diet high in grains, nuts, and dark leafy greens is full of Vitamin E.

Plant-based foods provide phytochemicals, which help to prevent and heal the body from cancer, boost protective enzymes, and work with antioxidants in the body. 

Protein is good for your body is no surprise. It may be a surprise to learn that most Americans eat too much protein and in forms such as red meat that are not healthy ways of getting protein. Beans, nuts, peas, lentils, and soy products are all great ways to get the right amount of protein in a vegan diet.

EATING VEGAN HAS BEEN SHOWN TO HELP PREVENT A LOT OF COMMON DISEASES.  YOU COULD ASSIST IN AVOIDING THOSE LISTED BELOW IF YOU WERE TO EAT A MORE PLANT-BASED DIET.

Eating nuts and whole grains, while eliminating dairy products and meat, will improve your cardiovascular health. A British study indicates that a vegan diet reduces the risk for heart disease and Type 2 diabetes. Vegan diets go far in preventing heart attack and stroke.

Eliminating any food that comes from an animal and you will eliminate all dietary cholesterol from your diet. Your heart will thank you for that.

A diet rich in whole grains is beneficial to your health in many ways, including lowering high blood pressure.

Not only is a vegan diet a weapon against Type 2 diabetes, it is also "easier to follow than the standard diet recommended by the American Diabetic Association." 

A major study showed that men in the early stages of prostate cancer who switched to a vegan diet either stopped the progress of the cancer or may have even reversed the illness.

Eating a diet consisting of whole grains, along with fresh fruits and vegetables, can greatly reduce your chances of colon cancer.

Countries where women eat very little meat and animal products have a much lower rate of breast cancer than do the women in countries that consume more animal products.

Diets with lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, especially leafy greens, carrots, pumpkin, and sweet potatoes, can help prevent the onset of age-related macular degeneration.

Much the same way macular degeneration is headed off by a vegan diet, cataracts are also thought to be prevented through the intake of the same fruits and vegetables. Produce high in antioxidants are also believed to help prevent cataracts.

Eliminating dairy consumption has long been connected with alleviating arthritis symptoms, but a new study indicates that a combination of gluten-free and vegan diet is very promising for improving the health of those suffering from rheumatoid arthritis.

Bone health depends on a balance of neither too much or too little protein, adequate calcium intake, high potassium, and low sodium. With a healthy vegan diet, all four of these points set a perfect scenario for preventing osteoporosis.

WHEN YOU EAT VEGAN THERE ARE ALSO PHYSICAL BENEFITS, SEE BELOW.

Several population studies show that a diet without meat leads to lower BMIs–usually an indicator of a healthy weight and lack of fat on the body.

A healthy weight loss is a typical result of a smart vegan diet. Eating vegan eliminates most of the unhealthy foods that tend to cause weight issues. 

When following a healthy vegan diet, you will find your energy is much higher. This blog post in Happy Healthy Long Life describes how NFL tight-end Tony Gonzalez started eating vegan and gained energy–while playing football. 

The nuts and vitamins A and E from vegetables play a big role in healthy skin, so vegans will usually have good skin health. Many people who switch to a vegan diet will notice a remarkable reduction in blemishes as well.

Several studies indicate that those following a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle live an average of three to six years longer than those who do not.

Eliminating dairy and red meat from the diet significantly reduces body odor. Going vegan means smelling better.

Vegans frequently experience a reduction in bad breath. Imagine waking up in the morning and not having morning breath.

Many who follow vegan diets report that their hair becomes stronger, has more body, and looks healthier.

Healthy vegan diets are also responsible for much stronger, healthier nails. Nail health is said to be an indicator of overall health.

When switching to a vegan diet, many women tell how PMS symptoms become much less intense or disappear altogether. The elimination of dairy is thought to help with those suffering with PMS.

A mother's new born is much more likely to have proven higher IQ scores and a stronger immune system than that of a mother child's mother that has high meats in her diet.

Migraine suffers who go on vegan diets frequently discover relief from their migraines.

Reduction in dairy, meat, and eggs is often tied to alleviation of allergy symptoms. Many vegans report much fewer runny noses and congestion problems.

KNOW THAT THE NORMAL FOOD PRYAMID FOR HUMANS HAS WAAAAY TO MUCH FOOD ON IT TO BE CONSUMING IN ONE DAY ACCORDING TO STUDIES.

The average American eats twice as much protein as necessary for a healthy diet and much of that is from red meat. Getting protein from beans and grains is much healthier and reduces the risk for osteoporosis.

The human body is not designed to digest cow milk and cow milk dairy products, yet the idea of milk being healthy is pushed through advertising. As many as 75% of people in the world may be lactose intolerant and many people suffer from undiagnosed milk allergies or sensitivities.

By eliminating cow’s milk from your diet, you are improving your overall health.

Many nutritionists believe that the number of eggs in the American diet is too high. While sometimes disputed, it has been shown that eggs can raise cholesterol levels.

96% of the fish and shellfish consumed has some trace of mercury in it. While some fish have less than others, it is almost impossible not to be putting mercury in your body when you eat fish.

Most people have heard that Americans consume way too much sugar. Relying on other sweeteners that are not synthetic, processed, or derived from animal products is a healthier way to eat. Many vegans do not eat processed sugar due to the fact that most of the cane sugar is refined through activated charcoal, most of which comes from animal bones.

SAVE OUR ENVIRONMENT BY TRYING VEGAN AT LEAST SOME DAYS IN YOUR WEEK.

Many people begin a vegan diet out of concern for animals. Whether opposed to the conditions of animals intended for food or eating animals in general, going vegan will help your conscience rest easily.

Growing plants takes much fewer resources than growing animals. By eating vegan, you can help reduce the toll on the environment.

E. coli comes from eating contaminated red meat and is the leading cause of bloody diarrhea. Young children, those with compromised immune systems, and elderly people can become extremely ill or die from E. coli. Eating vegan means completely avoiding the risk of E. coli infection.

Another gastrointestinal illness from animal products, salmonella food poisoning is closely related to E. coli. The most frequent way people contract salmonella food poisoning is through contact with raw eggs or raw chicken meat from chickens infected with salmonella. Again, going vegan means eliminating this risk altogether.

It’s safe to say that most people would want to avoid contracting a fatal, non-treatable disease. One way to ensure you don’t get Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is by not eating animals infected with mad cow disease. While the incidence of mad cow disease is not reportedly so high in North America, it does exist.

Feeding grain to animals meant as food sources reduces the amount of food that is available to underdeveloped nations. Many people will go hungry while that same food they could be eating is given to animals raised for slaughter. Eating vegan ensures that you have removed yourself from the participation of this imbalance.

Eating animals that have been given hormones to speed growth (a common practice in the meat industry) means those hormones go into your body. Not only can this disrupt the natural balance of your hormones, but some of the hormones given to animals have shown to cause tumor growth in humans.

Antibiotics are frequently given to feed animals, which can lead to bacterial resistance. Many of the antibiotics used to treat human infections are also used in feed animals.

BEING VEGAN OR SOMEWHAT VEGAN IS ACTUALLY FUN AND BRINGS MORE VALUE IN YOUR LIFE AND THAT OF YOUR FAMILIES IN THE LONG RUN.

A raw diet lends itself to veganism by the very nature of its design. 

Eating organic and vegan is super easy to do even when your funds are low. Find out where the farmers are in your community and buy right from them even smaller farms…or better yet start your own in your window or backyards.  You can get the support of your neighbors and use their yards too!

Vegan eating is typically pretty low in fats anyway, don’t forget your good fats though.

Eating out isn’t usually associated with eating healthy, but a vegan diet ensures there will be a lot less of the bad things in the food you choose. Find eating out options around the world for vegans here.

Maintaining a vegan diet means you are likely to take your lunch more often than most people. 

Coming up with new dinner ideas is challenging for everyone–regardless of what type of diet you follow. So make it fun and even involve other friends and your kids.

Pairing vegan food with wine may be challenging for those who rely on the old standard of "white with fish and red with meat." But here and there it’s ok and can be complimenting….be careful of how the wines are made especially reds.

One Day At A Time...

(Medicalnewstoday.com, NursingDegree.net The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, The Vegetarian Times, Harvard Health, National Library of Medicine, USDA Nutrition Center)

  *That Vigor Virgo Vegan is not responsible for any diets or challenges you partake in through this blog.  I am not a nutritionist, nor am I a registered physician; my methods are built on my own personal experiences, research I have done myself, and individuals who have shared with me.  None of my methods have been tested or will guarantee a curing any bodily dysfunctions.  To protect yourself, please consult with your doctor before starting any new diet.*