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A Vegan lifestyle: Plant Based Nutrition

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There is no one right way to eat for everyone. We are all different and what works for one person may not work for the next. However with more and more people choosing to follow a vegan lifestyle I hope this plant-based eating blog will be of interest.

The extent to which plant-based sources can provide excellent sources of nutrition is endless. With a balanced vegan diet, you can help yourself become the healthiest version of yourself. For those starting Veganuary this month, these minimally processed substitute animal products can be seen as ideal replacements.

Tofu and tempeh:
versatile protein-rich alternatives to meat, fish, poultry and eggs.

Legumes:
Beans, lentils and peas are excellent sources of many nutrients.

Nuts and nut butters:
Most nuts are good sources of iron, fibre, magnesium, zinc, selenium and vitamin E with almonds, walnuts and pistachios the most nutritious varieties.

Seeds:
Hemp, chia and flaxseeds are also sources of protein and omega-3 fatty acids Alpha linoleic Acid (ALA). That Protein I Heart Pumpkin and Chia Seeds Super Protein is a great source of ALA.

Calcium-fortified plant milks and yoghurts:
In order to achieve your recommend daily allowance of calcium, opt for fortified varieties with vitamins B12 and D.

Algae:
Spirulina chlorella are sources of complete protein that aren’t animal based, they have added bonus of containing Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA), the most active Omega-3 fatty acid.

Whole grains:
Spelt, amaranth, brown rice protein and quinoa (technically a seed) are all great sources of complex carbs, fibre, iron, B-vitamins and are especially high in protein.

Sprouted and fermented plant foods:
Tempeh, miso, sauerkraut and kimchi all contain probiotics and vitamin K2.

Fruits and vegetables:
Leafy greens such as spinach, kale and bok choy are both particularly high in iron, calcium and other key nutrients.

WHAT ARE THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF A PLANT-BASED DIET?

Plant-based diets have an array of health benefits including a 15% lower risk of developing or dying from a cancer, reducing symptoms of arthritis and reduced risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

Those that follow a plant-based diet also tend to be slimmer than those who don’t, with studies demonstrating vegans have a lower body mass index (BMI) than non-vegans. This lower BMI trend may be caused by a higher dietary fibre with a vegan diet intake which can make you feel fuller. For such health benefits to come to fruition, a well-planned diet that limits processed foods and embraces organic and nutrient-rich ones is crucial. Those who follow poorly planned plant-based diets – just as with badly planned omnivore diets – are at risk of certain nutrient deficiencies. These include a significantly higher risk of having inadequate levels of vitamin B12, vitamin D, omega-3s, iodine, iron, calcium and zinc.

These nutritional requirements are particularly important for children and pregnant women as development can be hindered through nutritional deficiencies. There are however particular elements that every plant-based diet should be aware of.

5 POTENTIAL PLANT-BASED NUTRITIONAL DEFICIENCIES


Protein
A common concern amongst plant-based diets is a lack of sufficient protein. Higher protein diets promote muscle strength and satiety. Protein is of course vital for muscle and bone health but also for our cellular structure, even affecting our skin and hair. With about 20% of the human body made up of protein and as our bodies don’t store protein, it’s important to get an adequate amount from your diet every single day. Thankfully, there are plenty of delicious, protein rich plant-based foods to consider including tofu, lentils, quinoa, hemp, chia and beans.

That Protein is a plant based range of organic super proteins that are all organic and cold pressed and an excellent and easy way to add protein and nutrition to your vegan diet.

You can add to all you fav recipes or make protein shakes. It is also important to vary your sources of protein throughout the day, as each provides different amino acids, vitamins and minerals that are all uniquely important for your health.

Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 is a water soluble vitamin that is involved in the function of every cell in the body.

It is particularly important in the formation of blood and the function of the brain. As B12 is critical for life is by far the most important nutrient that plant-based eaters must be concerned with. Palmyra Nectar is an excellent way to get B12 and a range of B vitamins into a vegan diet as this sweet superfood is extremely high in all the B Vits. Nutritional Yeast like Marmite will also add B12.

Vitamin D
The type of Vitamin D we get from the sun isn’t always enough, especially in colder countries such as the UK. This issue is so apparent that it is now widely recommended that everyone supplements with vitamin D in winter months.

With studies suggesting vegans are up to 74% more likely to be deficient that meat eaters, fortified milk alternatives should be consumed.

Omega-3
Omega-3 containing foods, especially those high in alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), can help the body produce longer-chain omega-3s such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Foods rich in Omega-3 include, hemp, flaxseeds, walnuts and soybeans.

A daily intake of 200–300mg of EPA and DHA from an algae oil supplement is an alternative preventive measure against Omega-3 deficiency.

Iron
Despite a plentiful dark leafy green diet, without vitamin C very little iron is absorbed and any benefits won’t be obtained. Additionally, the type of iron in plant-based sources contain non-haem iron which is very difficult to be absorbed effectively. With too much iron causing serious health complications, iron supplementation should only be considered where there is documented deficiency.

If these potential deficiencies are enough to consider a complete plant-based diet one step too far, meat-free Mondays are a great way to dip your toe in the water.

A TYPICAL MEAT-FREE MONDAY FOOD DIARY

Breakfast: Porridge with That Protein I Heart Pumpkin and Chia Seed Raw Vegan Super protein is a great start. With almond milk and topped with almond nut butter and a handful of raspberries.
Lunch: Quinoa falafel on a bed of spinach, peppers and pomegranate topped with flaxseed and seeds.
Snack: Brown rice cakes with hummus.
Dinner: An Asian stir fry with tons of vegetables and bok choy, complete with some baked tofu.
Dessert: Fortified coconut yoghurt with blueberries topped with crushed nuts That Protein’s Blissful Brown Rice and Raw Cacao Super Protein and some cacao nibs.

Extend Your Lifespan with Nuts and Seeds

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Did you know that eating nuts may help extend your life, lower your risk for cardiovascular disease and cancer, help in weight loss and are beneficial in diabetes management?
It’s amazing that such a tiny food possesses such remarkable properties.

Nuts and seeds are such wonderful sources of micronutrients and healthful fats.
You should try to include them in a variety of ways when you prepair a meal.
You can toss a few raw walnuts and flaxseeds in your breakfast cereal and you can add
nuts or seeds to the blender if you make a smoothie;or you can add lightly toasted nuts and seeds to your salads at lunch and dinner; and use nuts to make creamy salad dressings and dips.

Health Benefits Nuts & Seeds
Nuts and seeds are very healthful and versatile, but they are often mislabeled as fattening. They are calorie-dense, so they are not for snacking on. They replace the calories supplied by meats, oils and processed food in your diet and as such they offer well-documented cardiovascular and longevity benefits.

Nuts May Add Years to Your Life
In a study of Seventh Day Adventists, a group whose unique dietary habits have been demonstrated to lower their risk for certain diseases, nut consumption was among a number of lifestyle factors that were found to be associated with their longevity. On average, Adventists live 10 years longer than the average American. In the study, the Adventists who had a high level of physical activity, followed a vegetarian diet, and ate nuts frequently lived an average of eight years longer than those who did not share those habits.
An analysis from the Nurses’ Health Study, including more than 76,000 women, compared multiple lifestyle and dietary factors based on the size of their associations with mortality  risk.
Nut intake and fiber intake were the two dietary factors associated with a lower risk.
The PREDIMED study in Europe, investigating the health effects of a Mediterranean diet, assigned groups to a control low-fat diet, a Mediterranean diet supplemented with olive oil, or a Mediterranean diet supplemented with mixed nuts.
Both Mediterranean groups saw improvements in blood pressure, blood glucose, and cholesterol, and five years later had experienced fewer heart attacks and strokes than the low-fat group.  A very interesting finding in the PREDIMED study was the link between nut consumption and a longer life. The participants who were already eating three or more servings of nuts a week before the study began, and then were assigned to the Mediterranean diet plus nuts group had the lowest risk of death throughout the duration of the study.
Why the link between nuts and longevity? It appears because nuts and seeds have properties that are protective against heart disease, diabetes and even cancer.
Eating five or more servings of nuts per week is estimated to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease by 35 percent. This appears to be at least in part due to prevention of sudden cardiac death and in part due to cholesterol-lowering; other factors that may contribute include improved blood vessel function and reduced inflammation and oxidative stress.
Nuts provoke a minimal glycemic response, which helps to limit blood glucose and insulin after a meal, in turn helping to prevent insulin resistance and diabetes. Almonds, for example, have been found to decrease glycemic and insulin response of a carbohydrate-rich meal while reducing oxidative stress on cells.
There is also substantial evidence that nuts protect against cancer, not just from their own salient features, but also because their fats enhance the absorption of anti-cancer phytochemicals from other foods.

Use Nuts and Seeds to Replace Oil in Salad Dressings
An easy way to include good-for-you raw seeds and nuts in your diet is to replace the processed (no-fiber) empty-calorie oils found in most salad dressings with a nut-based dressing. This allows you to achieve the maximum nutrient value from a salad. In addition to increasing the absorption of nutrients in vegetables, nuts and seeds supply their own spectrum of micronutrients including plant sterols, minerals, and antioxidants. They are also a source of plant protein and fiber. Plus several seeds and nuts (flax, hemp, chia, and walnuts) are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which are beneficial for brain health. Some seeds—flax, chia and sesame in particular—are rich in lignans, that have been shown to protect against breast and prostate cancer. Replacing olive oil-based dressings with vinegar, fruit and nut-based dressings are definitely the way to go!