Going Vegan: Your Guide To A Plant-Powered Life

I am sure you have heard of a vegetarian (plant-based), non-vegetarian (plant and animal-based) and to an extent an only egg-based diet, but do you know what a vegan diet is? So, veganism is defined as a way of living that attempts to exclude all forms of animal exploitation and cruelty, whether for food, clothing, or any other purpose.

Therefore, a vegan diet is a plant-based eating pattern that excludes all animal products. This means no meat, dairy, eggs, and even honey. Vegans focus on plant-derived foods like fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds. The choice to follow a vegan lifestyle often extends beyond diet, encompassing ethical, environmental, and health considerations. People choose veganism for reasons ranging from animal welfare concerns to environmental sustainability and personal health goals. 

Like any other diet, There's no one-size-fits-all vegan diet. Usually, different versions are aimed at a particular health outcome. Here are a few of the most common types of vegan diets.

• Raw vegan diet: Raw vegans eat only raw plant foods like uncooked fruits and vegetables, raw nuts and seeds, and sprouted and soaked grains.
  

• High-protein vegan diet: Protein is one of the nutrients often lacking in a vegan diet. A high-protein vegan diet addresses this by focusing on higher-protein plant foods like tofu, quinoa and beans.

• Low-carb vegan diet: Plant foods are often higher in carbs than animal foods. This makes it challenging to follow a vegan low-carb diet but not impossible. Quite a few vegan foods are low in carbs, like bell peppers, broccoli, olives and avocado.

Other than these, a few popular food items that vegans consume include- rice, pasta, plant-based milk (almond or soy) and vegan cheese.

Although a well-planned vegan diet can provide all the nutrients you need, because vegans are more limited in their food choices than vegetarians and meat eaters, it's harder to plan a balanced diet and the best way to get everything you need is to focus on variety. Include a little of everything in your daily diet like calcium (orange juice), vitamin D (cereals and bread) and iron (soyabean).