There are so many people being caught up with the ideas of a greener lifestyle these days,it is no surprise that lots of people are becoming Vegan and Vegetarian.For alot of people a Vegan Soul Food lifestyle is part of going back to the old ways, which is also considered much healthier. The fancy jargon surrounding the current foodie movement makes it seem as if current trends such as veganism and paleo diets are new discoveries. But the phrase ‘African vegan’ is not an oxymoron. Pre-colonial Africans did, in fact, rely predominantly on a plant-based diet. So the phrase Vegan Soul Food is an attempt to bring the health and the American food traditions together.
If you are still not sure whether the idea of a Vegan lifestyle is perfect for you there area couple of things that you should thoroughly consider first. If you are just rushing out to get a healthy lifestyle without considering all of the benefits of eating Vegan you could be in for a rather alarming surprise.
Many people come across Vegan Soul Food through their quest to eat healthier and getting balanced.. By altering your food you are getting the biggest benefits for not only yourself but also the environment. Many environmental groups claim that Vegan is the ultimate way to go green with your eating habits. In many ways, they are very correct and because of this, many people are turning to a Vegan lifestyle like never before. While many people might only claim to live a truly green lifestyle,those who are eating Vegan as well are really walking the walk instead of just talking about it.
Other benefits to eating Vegan Soul Food is the decrease in blood sugar levels. In our community this is key. Eating Vegan is extremely beneficial for diabetics because it can lower the need to use insulin and other medications to control blood sugar levels dramatically.. However, if you are being treated by a doctor for any reason you should talk to your doctor before changing your diet to be sure that you are getting all of the nutrients and benefits that you really need. Making changes without talking to your doctor could have bad consequences and it will only take a little bit of your time to ensure that you stay as healthy as possible.
People who avoid eating meat are also often able to lose weight much faster. In our communities obesity is a major killer. Many of the reasons people lose weight eating a Vegan lifestyle is due to the increase in carbohydrates in vegetables as well as the decrease in calories and fats. Plus many of the fruits and vegetables that are common in a Vegan diet also assist in weight loss due to their negative calorie effect. While this is not a huge benefit for all people, it is something that can be a big help if you are trying to lose weight. Of course, trying to eat only fresh fruits and vegetables as opposed to highly processed foods will help to really maximize the negative calorie impact.
A Vegan Soul Food diet also has a huge perk of providing a substantially lower fat content to your diet as well. Consuming excessive amounts of dairy products as well as meats tends to be closely accompanied by fat; by omitting substantial amounts of fat from your diet, you can make some substantial differences to not only our physical health, but also make great improvements to lower your weight. This can provide you with ample reasons to lower your intake of meat if you have been struggling to actually manage your weight.
Even the Bible advocates veganism. That is where the annual ‘Daniel Fast’, practised by many Christian congregations, comes from:
“But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the royal rations of food and wine … Then Daniel asked … ‘Let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink.’ … At the end of ten days it was observed that they appeared better and fatter than all the young men who had been eating the royal rations.” – Daniel 1:8, 11–12, 15
A final benefit is that you are consuming far more carbohydrates on a Vegan Soul Food diet. This has been considered good because it provides a great source of energy all during the day. Foods such as meats tend to be extremely low on carbohydrates, while being much higher on protein. While protein is an essential part of your diet it can take much longer to digest, which will allow you to pack on weight faster and have lower energy levels. If you are instead looking to increase the amount of fruits and vegetables that you consume you will find that your energy level will go up significantly. However, you should still ensure that you are consuming ample protein to fully protect your system and receive all of the nutrition that you need.
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