Vegan diets were initially made popular by people wanting to support animal rights and protest the use of animals for consumption and clothing. This root of veganism remains an important factor in many people’s decision to convert to a vegan diet, but increasing bodies of research have found that vegan diets have the potential to provide incredible health benefits.

The Downside to Veganism           

First, a quick discussion of plant-based diets is in order. Moving away from meat and dairy products can make coming up with new, interesting meals difficult, particularly if you are accustomed to making meat take center stage of your meals. This can be problematic, as some vegans wind up either eating the same meal every day (which can lead to boredom and a nutrient deficiency), or rely far too heavily upon pasta and other processed items to fill their stomachs.

When going plant-based, the phrase “eating the rainbow” should not be taken lightly. Including a large variety of fruits and vegetables is essential in successfully adopting a vegan diet. This includes fruits ranging from apples to berries to papaya, and vegetables and roots as varied as kohlrabi, potatoes, and leeks. Eating such a wide variety often requires creativity and exposing yourself to new recipes.

The Upside of Being Vegan

When done correctly, a vegan diet can cut a lot of the risk associated with a diet rich in meat and dairy. Dairy has been linked to increased inflammation in the body, which can further aggravate diabetes symptoms and complications. This is particularly true of anyone who has even a slight sensitivity to dairy.

Meat has also been linked to an increased risk of heart disease and high blood pressure, both of which can be especially dangerous for diabetics. Eliminating meat from your diet has the potential to dramatically decrease the likelihood of developing heart disease, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure.

The Whole Enchilada

Eliminating dairy and meat is not all that is required of veganism. Instead, vegans also swear off foods such as honey and eggs, or anything else created by living beings. Ultimately, being vegan is a matter of health and conscience, fusing a plant-based diet with a careful moral code that places animals’ welfare on par with that of human beings.

Adopting a vegan diet can cause difficulties for some due to the restrictive nature of the diet but can be a saving grace for diabetes patients. As long as you are taking in plenty of your food groups, replacing the protein lost from swearing off meat and dairy with plant-based proteins and taking supplements to replace the loss of things such as B12 and calcium, you can live a healthy life as both a diabetic and a vegan.