The answer is yes. I became Vegan for a month to see if it would lower my Cholesterol as I was allergic to Statins. It did, (and I lost 10 pounds). I have now been on a vegan diet for about five years and I am healthier than before. And, I have maintained my high school weight.
A recent study involving 48,000 people over 18 years compared the health of meat-eaters, pescatarians – who eat fish and dairy but not meat – and vegetarians, including some vegans. The researchers found that those who didn’t eat meat had 10 fewer cases of heart disease but three more strokes per 1,000 people compared with the meat-eaters. They speculated that this was partly due to a lack of B12 but you can get the amount we need of B12 from nutritional yeast, fortified food, (such as plant-based milks), or to be sure, take B12 supplements.
Another concern for those wanting to eat a more plant based diet is “Can I get enough protein”? For those concerned, soy milk has roughly the same amount of protein as cow’s milk, 3 oz of ground beef has the same amount of protein as 1.5 cups of Black beans, 3 oz of chicken breast has 26 g of protein to 1.5 cups of lentils at 27g of protein… 1 cup of cashews = 4 oz of steak, 4 oz of salmon = a third less protein as 1/2 cup of peanut butter… The list goes on.
So why not add a meal or two or more to your diet – or go hog wild. You will be amazed at how you feel and it is so much cheaper if money is a concern. If you need help, give me a call at 604-876-7342. I will teach you how to add those low-cost healthy meals to your diet. It is free.
