Nutritional Advice For Vegan Diets
There is an ever increasing trend of people adopting vegan or plant-based diets. A vegan is someone who for ethical, health or other reasons does not consume any products from animal sources including, eggs, milk, honey etc., whilst someone who is plant based is less strict on wearing or using animal products.
We could all stand to increase the amount of fruit and vegetables in our diets, and the benefits of a vegan diet include achieving a healthy weight, lowering cholesterol, blood pressure & blood glucose levels, as well as improving overall health. This is largely due to the increase in plant-based fibre and micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) and the decrease in saturated fat.
Research has shown that a plant-based diet can be an extremely healthy lifestyle choice if followed in a nutritionally balanced way. Unfortunately, many people cut out foods without educating themselves first on what their body needs to function, and do not replace them with adequate substitutions. This can be dangerous in the long-term and can result in malnutrition and nutritional deficiencies.
Some common nutrients which can be lacking in a vegan diet include:
- Calcium
- Protein
- Omega 3 (EPA and DHA)
- Iron
- Vitamin B12
By consulting with one of our expert registered Dietitians you'll learn how you can embrace a nutritionally balanced diet and achieve your health goals.
Consultations can cover (but is not limited to):
- Vegan pregnancy
- Sports nutrition for the plant-based athlete
- Disease prevention with a vegan diet
- Weight gain with a vegan diet