According to the above-mentioned Global Nutrition Report, current food production is contributing to a third (35%) of all greenhouse gas emissions with animal-based foods accounting for the majority of the GHG emissions. For more information read our page on reducing the risk of cancer. Some compounds in tea and coffee can actually make it harder to absorb iron, so try and avoid these when consuming plant sources of iron . Here is an example of a vegan and vegetarian composite dish showing how the main ingredients fit with the food groups of the Eatwell Guide. Remember fats like coconut oil, palm oil and ghee are high in saturated fat. Most of the oils sold as standard vegetable oil in supermarkets is rapeseed oil, an oil high in monounsaturated fats.

‘Your gut microbes’ favourite nutrient is dietary fibre, which plant-based foods are packed with,’ says Dr Megan Rossi (@theguthealthdoctor). ‘A diet rich in these has been shown to keep weight in check and boost your mood, too.’ #Plantbased and thriving. Come 3pm, that meat-eating mate may be trolling you, but you’ll have already started reaping the rewards.

What Are The Potential Health Benefits Of Being Vegan?

Several of our research groups study how different diets may affect the risk of developing specific health conditions, such as heart disease and cancer. Typically, these studies involve large cohorts of participants who provide information on basic health measures and general dietary habits. Over a follow-up period of many years, the participants’ health records are updated if, for instance, they develop a disease, have an infection or experience a fracture. This allows researchers to work out the probability of an individual developing a particular disease based on their clinical and dietary characteristics at the start of the study.

In fact, cutting meat out of your diet can do you a lot of good because humans are not true carnivores and meat-eating has a wide range of detrimental health effects. Obesity can lead to a wide range of diseases from heart disease to diabetes. Plants can do more than just keep us well-nourished and healthy – a plant-based diet can also shift your sports endeavours to the next level. It’s no coincidence that more and more athletes are going vegan – and reaping the benefits.

• ‘Your gut microbes’ favourite nutrient is dietary fibre, which plant-based foods are packed with,’ says Dr Megan Rossi (@theguthealthdoctor).
• That said, be aware that some nutrients are harder to come by on a vegan diet, such as vitamin B12.
• People adopt a vegan lifestyle for any number of reasons but for those that choose to follow a vegan diet, health is often a part of their choice.
• Choose lean cuts of meat and skinless poultry whenever possible to cut down on fat.
• If you are reducing foods that come from animals, or cutting them out altogether, there are a few nutrients that you need to pay attention to.

Meat substitutes like soya burgers and soya sausages, mycoprotein , and seitan are high-quality protein sources and can be useful for those adapting to a plant-based diet. However, these can often be high in salt and fat so you should use them in moderation. Check the nutrition labels, paying special attention to salt levels.

One thing to acknowledge is that getting some nutrients into a vegan lifestyle will take a little extra effort. Getting everything you need is most certainly possible but the fact is that there are some nutrients that are largely found in animal products and are harder to get if you don’t eat those. Do remember that vegetarian options can also be high in saturated fat, salt and sugar.

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She earned a Plant-Based Nutrition Certificate at eCornell, part of Cornell University, and obtained a Master’s of Science degree in Clinical and Public Health Nutrition from the University College of London. The only must-have supplement on a plant-based diet — vegan as well as vegetarian — is vitamin B12. This is because B12 comes from the bacteria in the soil, not plants or animals.

Pronounced “say-tan”, this is wheat gluten, which has been used for centuries in Asia as a meat substitute. It is made by combining flour, yeast and water, resting the mixture and then washing it to remove the starch until only a gluten mass remains, which is then baked or steamed to solidify it. It is abundantly clear that animal farming has an environmental cost, as does feeding the globe’s burgeoning population. But not all animal farming is equal, says Richard Young, policy director of the Sustainable Food Trust and a pasture-fed cattle farmer.

However, this does not occur in the UK and there is a government recommendation to reduce salt intakes. Therefore, iodised salt should not be relied upon as a means to increase iodine intakes. Iron is essential for transporting oxygen around the body, brain function and the immune system. According to dietary surveys, 46% of girls aged 11 to 18 years and 23% of women aged 19 to 64 years have inadequate intakes of iron.

However, vegans and vegetarians typically do get enough protein from their diet. Healthy vegan diets are abundant in fruits and vegetables, which contain beneficial phytochemicals and antioxidants. These plant compounds fight free radicals, which cause damage to the body and help to prevent inflammation. Plant-based eating is recognised as an intervention to improve health outcomes. They could reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease and some cancers and may help you manage your weight.