Around the time of the coronavirus pandemic, awareness of health also increased, and we started to see more plant-based processed products in supermarkets.
Those interested in health and beauty are likely quite interested in a plant-based diet. So today, I'd like to write about the pros and cons of a vegan lifestyle based on my own experiences.
Health Pros:
Reduced risk of cardiovascular disease: With lower intake of saturated fats and cholesterol, the risk of heart disease is reduced.
Easier weight management: A low-calorie, high-fibre diet helps prevent obesity.
Improved digestive health: Being rich in dietary fibre, digestion becomes smoother and it is effective for preventing constipation.
Health Cons:
Vitamin B12 deficiency: Due to lack of vitamin B12 found in animal products, there is a risk of anaemia and neurological disorders.
Difficulty consuming iron: Plant-based iron has lower absorption rates, increasing the risk of iron deficiency anaemia.
Lack of essential fatty acids: Omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA) tend to be lacking, which may affect cardiovascular and brain health.
Lifestyle Pros:
Reduced environmental impact: Greenhouse gas emissions are lower compared to animal agriculture, being friendlier to the environment.
Improved animal welfare: Respecting animal rights and reducing animal cruelty and exploitation.
Increased culinary creativity: More opportunities to try new ingredients and cooking methods, diversifying meals.
Lifestyle Cons:
Dining out constraints: Limited vegan-friendly restaurants and menu options make dining out difficult at times.
Coordinating meals with family/friends: Choosing a menu can be troublesome when dining with non-vegans.
High cost of certain foods: Some vegan-specific products and processed foods are expensive, increasing living costs.
As solutions to the health and lifestyle cons, I think it's a wise choice for vegans to use vitamin B12 supplements, as it's very difficult to obtain this vitamin from foods. It's an essential nutrient affecting blood quality, so it can't be missed. Especially for women, Eastern medicine says health is governed by blood, so we must be careful.
Here is a vegan-friendly vitamin B12 supplement.
Vitamin B12
For iron, which is abundant in red meats, vegans need to consciously consume iron-rich foods like lentils, chickpeas and quinoa, and improve absorption by consuming vitamin C and iron together.
Essential amino acids are found in chia seeds, walnuts, etc. Every morning I drink hemp protein powder mixed with chia seeds.
For the lifestyle aspect, the biggest concern is relationships, but by pre-searching vegan restaurants or serving vegan dishes yourself, it can become an opportunity to improve relationships. For non-vegans, it's an exciting new world, so they often enjoy it.
Personally, although I'm indecisive about making choices, once decided I stick to them rigidly, so I'm quite extreme. But partially adopting a plant-based diet or transitioning gradually to veganism is also fine. There are various reasons for health, beauty, etc., but I think the most important thing is for each person to live true to themselves.