Choosing the vegan lifestyle is a brilliant decision. It means you’ve taken the time to think about the substances you consume. Maybe you’ve decided you don’t like the way in which those products reach your plate? Perhaps you’ve come to the conclusion that human beings don’t have to eat other living creatures to survive.
Whatever your reasoning, everyone needs to stay as fit and healthy as possible if they want to live a long life. So, I wanted to provide some tips that have kept me going strong over the years. You don’t have to take all the advice in this article to stay in shape. However, you should bear this information in mind if you want to avoid illness and poor health. At the end of the day, most of the same rules apply to us vegans as everyone else. Still, it’s sensible to go over everything and make sure you understand your situation.
Vary your diet as much as possible
The first thing you need to do involves modifying your diet. Too many vegans get into the routine of eating the same foods over and over again. That is not healthy, regardless of how many benefits those substances might bring. If you need help with the process of meal planning, there are thousands of vegan cookbooks available on the market today. Maybe you should purchase a few of them to give you some inspiration? You could also join online mailing lists created for people in your position. Just search Google for the most popular vegan blogs around at the current time. Bookmark your favorites, and check them every couple of days. With a bit of luck, you will find lots of information about the best meals you should consume. You can use those suggestions to plan your weekly shopping list too.
Take supplements that fight depression
Lets gets this out of the way, EVERYONE can be deficient in B12, and we should all make sure we are getting enough of it. B12 comes from the earth and because of modern agriculture and pesticides a natural source does not exist… is fortified in meat and that is the only reason others may get it. Vitamin B12, is the most important supplements you need to consider when going vegan because you are not eating foods that are fortified with B12, You can purchase it from most health stores these days for little expense. However, some people find they make savings online.
So, it’s sensible to shop around and ensure you don’t break the bank. Hopefully, those products should help to keep your brain as active as possible. They will also encourage the production of serotonin, and that should assist you in avoiding depression. If you notice that your low mood won’t budget, you could visit your doctor and ask for advice. While you should try to avoid antidepressants; sometimes they are the only answer.
Consume enough fat
As vegans don’t eat meat or dairy products, it’s sometimes difficult to ensure you consume a suitable level of fat. However, you need that substance to keep your body in the best shape possible. You use it to store energy, and people who don’t eat enough will feel worn out. With that in mind, now is the time to perform research and identify foods that will resolve the issue. You need things that are high in omega-3 fat for the best results. Thankfully, all the information you require is freely available online. Flaxseeds, flaxseed oil and chia seeds are always popular. Even so, there are thousands of other substances you could try. If all else fails, you can purchase omega-3 supplements too. So, that doesn’t have to become a major issue if you’re smart.
Join a local gym
It’s not only your food intake that will keep you fit and healthy. Just like your meat-eating friends, you also need to exercise. While you could jog around your local streets or something similar, the process is easier with a gym membership. That is because it’s hard to find the motivation to keep fit in most instances. It’s much less hassle if you can work out with other people and add a social element into the mix. There should be lots of gyms in your local area, and so you just need to select the most suitable establishment. With a bit of luck, you shouldn’t pay more than around $50 per month to use the equipment. For that price, you can visit the gym as many times as you like. However, sometimes you need some extra encouragement, and that’s why my next tip is so critical.
Hire a personal trainer
Hiring a personal trainer is an excellent move if you want to achieve your fitness goals. You just need to find a professional willing to offer a helping hand. In most instances, they will charge around $20-$30 per hour for their services. However, it’s worth every dime. People in that profession have lots of knowledge and qualifications that could help you to succeed. Most will create diet plans and fitness routines for you to follow. Ideally, you want someone with experience in creating meal plans for vegans or vegetarians at least. You should aim to meet with your personal trainer at least three times each week for the best results.
Ensure your cooking stations are disinfected
Vegans and vegetarians are more likely to become ill due to unsuitable cooking conditions and bacteria. That is because our lifestyle can result in a less active immune system. Considering that, you need to take extra care when preparing food. The last thing you want is to contract food poisoning because you didn’t clean those surfaces properly. That is especially the case if you live in a house of meat eaters. The bacteria from chicken and beef could transfer to your snacks and make you ill. I advise that all vegans find out about e-coli and its dangers as soon as possible. At the end of the day, you also run the risk of eating traces of meat if you don’t clean your kitchen sides properly. That would be a shame being as you’ve put so much effort into avoiding those products.
Spend time in the countryside
Just like everyone else, vegans can become stressed out from time to time if they work in a major city. You have changed your lifestyle in a bid to care for your body, but you also have to think about your mind. The stresses of daily life can become too much for anything. That is why I recommend that you take a break every once in awhile. Spending time in the countryside will benefit you in many different ways. Firstly, you will consume cleaner oxygen that makes you feel good. Secondly, life is slower, and so you will have time to de-stress. Camping is always an attractive option if you have children. It will help you to get them away from their computers for a couple of days.
Network with other vegans
If you live in a household of people who eat meat, the vegan lifestyle can become a little lonely. However, you should never let that stop you from walking down your chosen path. There are lots of social groups and online blogs all over the country for people in your position. Maybe you should join some of them in an attempt to meet like-minded individuals? Discussing your issues with others is often the best way to come up with new solutions. You can almost guarantee that other vegans will have faced the same problems in the past. So, you can advise each other and make suggestions. That’s helpful if you’re struggling with meal ideas. People who’ve been vegan for many years should have lots of knowledge from which you could benefit.
Getting enough protein?
It is a misconception that meat is the only source of protein and as a vegan I have heard the question “ where do you get your Protein?” many times. protein is impossible to avoid when daily calorie needs are met by unrefined starches and vegetables. Lots of vegans fail to consume enough protein because they do not consume the calories needed or their diets are not very balanced. Yes, we are all sick of hearing about protein, but we should still make sure we get enough calories so that we can get enough of everything… Protein, Fiber and Fat.
As you can see from those tips, staying healthy can involve hard work. However, you shouldn’t let that cause you to change your ethics. There is always a way around any issue, and doctors will offer advice if you’re stuck. Avoiding meat and dairy products means you’re doing your bit to make the world a better place. I congratulate you for that and hope you will continue down your noble path. Don’t worry too much if you get distracted from time to time. So long as you have the right mindset, you’ll always get back on track.
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Hi! I am not vegan but I eat a vegan diet 95% of the time although I eat the occasional fish and dairy (just for full disclosure) I think you have written a good introductory post here but I have noticed you blamed the lack of B12 in nature to pesticides and agriculture and in reality B12 can only be produced by bacteria. There is no way in which vegetables or fungus can produce it so it is not really agriculture’s fault, but the vitamin’s nature that makes it elusive for vegans.
The other little thing I think it’s worth mentioning here is on the protein bit at the end, when a vegetarian, vegan or a flexi like me wants to get vegetable proteins like the ones contained in beans, peas and lentils we have to make sure that we complement them with cereals such as rice or wheat. This is due to the fact that vegetable protein is NOT complete in amino acids making it impossible for the body to get all the nutrients from it unless it’s “supplemented”. An easy thing to do is to add a small fistful of rice when cooking or have a bit of bread with it.
I hope this helps and good luck in your journey! 🙂
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Thanks for your comment!! What I was saying about modern agriculture was brief but I thought it got the point across, that the bacteria that we would normally get from the earth doesn’t really exist anymore… as far as the protein subject goes I understand it is a bit of a controversial subject, many raw vegan get enough protein from fruits and vegetables without adding rice or bread to their diets, there are numerous studies on complete protein and apposing views by many vegan doctors 😉😘
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