Despite seemingly rampant misconceptions that a vegan diet might lack essential nutrients, scientific research shows that it can actually be incredibly healthy and beneficial to your overall well-being. In this article, this article will explore ten reasons why a vegan diet can be advantageous for your health backed up with scientific research.

  1. Reduced risk of chronic diseases: Studies have shown that a vegan diet can significantly reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer. For example, a study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that vegans have a 75% lower risk of developing high blood pressure than non-vegans. Similarly, a review of 96 studies found that vegans have a 15% lower risk of developing or dying from cancer than meat-eaters. (Sources: https://academic.oup.com/ajcn/article/70/3/532s/4714947 and https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4073139/)
  2. Lower cholesterol levels: A vegan diet is naturally low in cholesterol, which can help to lower your cholesterol levels. High cholesterol is a major risk factor for heart disease, so reducing your cholesterol levels can significantly improve your overall health. A review of 49 studies found that a vegan diet can reduce total cholesterol levels by an average of 10% compared to non-vegan diets. (Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4073139/)
  3. Better weight management: A vegan diet can help you to maintain a healthy weight, as it’s typically low in saturated fat and high in fiber. This can also help to reduce your risk of obesity, which is a major risk factor for many chronic diseases. For example, a study published in The Journal of General Internal Medicine found that participants on a vegan diet lost more weight than those on a non-vegan diet over a 6-month period. (Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2671114/)
  4. Improved digestion: A vegan diet is high in fiber, which can help to improve your digestion and prevent constipation. It can also help to reduce your risk of developing digestive disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome. A review of 19 studies found that a high-fiber diet can reduce the risk of constipation by up to 61%. (Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3257631/
  5. Better skin health: A vegan diet is high in antioxidants, which can help to improve your skin health and prevent premature aging. It can also help to reduce inflammation, which is a major contributor to many skin problems. A study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that participants on a vegan diet had a 16% reduction in wrinkles compared to those on a non-vegan diet. (Source: https://academic.oup.com/ajcn/article/86/4/1225/4633164)
  6. Reduced inflammation: A vegan diet is naturally anti-inflammatory, as it’s high in antioxidants and other nutrients that help to reduce inflammation in the body. This can help to prevent a wide range of chronic diseases. For example, a study published in The Journal of Nutrition found that participants on a vegan diet had lower levels of inflammation markers than those on a non-vegan diet. (Source https://academic.oup.com/jn/article/146/12/2553/4585092)
  7. Lower blood pressure: A vegan diet can help to lower your blood pressure, which is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. This is because a vegan diet is typically low in sodium and high in potassium, which can help to regulate your blood pressure. A review of 7 studies found that a vegan diet can reduce systolic blood pressure (the top number) by an average of 4.8 mmHg. (Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5466937/)
  8. Improved kidney function: A vegan diet can help to improve your kidney function, as it’s low in protein and phosphorus. This can be particularly beneficial for people with kidney disease, as a high-protein diet can be hard on the kidneys. A review of 9 studies found that a low-protein vegan diet can improve kidney function and reduce proteinuria (excess protein in the urine) in people with kidney disease. (Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3775240/)
  9. Increased energy: A study published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition found that a low-fat, vegan diet increased energy levels and reduced feelings of fatigue in participants. (Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19279075/)
  10. Better overall health: According to a review of multiple studies published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, a vegan diet can help improve overall health by reducing the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer. (Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4703655/)

In conclusion, a vegan diet can offer numerous health benefits. It can help reduce the risk of chronic diseases, lower cholesterol levels, maintain a healthy weight, improve digestion, enhance skin health, reduce inflammation, lower blood pressure, improve kidney function, increase energy levels, and improve overall health and wellbeing. If you are considering a vegan diet or are already on one, we hope this article has inspired you to continue on your journey to better health.

If you need help getting started with cooking healthy plant based meals at home, check out the Happy Healthy Vegan Cookbook featuring some of our favorite personal recipes, available in print or ebook format, or our Keep It Carbed, Baby! cookbook available in ebook from our webstore.