EN
VN
Vegan diet: how your body changes from day one
Veganism, the plant-based diet which shuns meat and dairy, is having its time in the
sun.
Since 2008, there has been a 350% increase in the number
of
UK alone. Where this motivation stems from is
varied, but includes concerns about animal welfare, worries
about the environment and
religious reasons.
Many people, though, seek a healthier diet. Research suggests
that veganism can havehealth benefits , if well
planned. For those who have pursued a diet rich in meat and dairy for most of their
lives, embarking on a vegan diet can lead to significant
changes within the body.
The first few weeks
The first thing that someone starting a vegan diet might notice is an energy
boost with the removal of the processed meat that is found in many
omnivorous diets,
in favour of fruit, vegetables and nuts. These foods will boost your
vitamin,
mineral and fibre levels and thinking ahead about your meals and snacks
rather than
relying on convenience foods can help sustain consistent energy
levels.
As time
without animal products grows into weeks, there is likely to be a shift in
bowel
function either towards a more regular, healthy pattern or an increase in
bloating, wind
and loose motions. This is due to the higher fibre content of a vegan diet
and the
simultaneous increase in carbohydrates that ferment in the gut and can cause irritable bowel syndrome.
This may settle eventually and could lead to
some positive changes in the
diversity of the bacteria in the colon, depending on whether a vegan diet is
made up of processed food and refined carbohydrates or is well planned and
balanced.
Although not proven yet, scientists believe that a
high species diversity for gut bacteria could be beneficial for
the whole
system, in the same way that ecosystems are stronger as a result of lots of
different types of species thriving.
Three to six months later
Several months into a vegan diet and some people may find that the increase
in
fruit and vegetables and reduced processed food
As time without can help acne to clear
up.
By this point however, your stores of vitamin D might be dropping as key
sources
of it in our diet come from meat, fish and dairy, and it isn’t always
noticeable
until it’s too late. Vitamin D isn’t well understood but it’s
This may settle eventually and could lead essential
in keeping bones, teeth and muscles healthy and deficiency has been
linked
with cancer, heart disease, migraines and depression.
This is because vitamin D stores are only thought to last about two months
in
the body. How long your stores last will depend on the time of year that you
decide to go vegan because the body can make vitamin D from sunlight. Making
sure you eat plenty of fortified foods
or
take a supplement is important, especially in the winter months.
Comments
Leave a comment