Many folks venture into the vegan lifestyle for a variety of reasons. Weight loss however, is a popular motive. In fact, people swear by this diet, asserting that if all meat and dairy products are taken out of one's diet - weight loss ensues. Let's look are 5 reasons why this is the case:
1. Low in Calories
Plant-based foods are low in calories and therefore dieters can eat as much of this food as they please - without having to stress over the notorious calorie-counting ritual.
2. High in Fibre
Naturally high in dietary fibre, plant-based foods are filling and are known to help control appetite and curb overeating. Vegans generally report feeling satisfied after a normal sized meal and don't feel hungry for a long time.
3. Burns more Calories
Studies indicate that persons on the vegan diet actually burn more calories between meals than those on a standard diet. More calories burned equals faster weight loss.
4. No Bad Fatty Foods
The following list of foods are notorious for packing on the kilos due to the super-high fat content that they contain: Roast lamb, fatty pork chops, cheese, pizza, milkshakes, iced-chocolate and coffee, full-cream milk and ice-cream, etc. These foods cause a problem for a number of reasons:
- They are addictive and most people find it difficult to stop eating them.
- They are high in fat and energy content.
- Weight gain occurs very quickly if these foods are consumed frequently.
Since the vegan diet omits all foods containing these high-calorie animal products, weight loss is super easy. The vegan diet actually contains healthy fats such as avocado, nuts and olive oil, which when consumed in moderation, assist with weight loss and give you a sense of satiety and helps to control your hunger.
5. Non-addictive
Unlike so many dairy foods and fatty meats, vegan foods are actually "non-addictive." You see, although they taste great, you do not voraciously crave more. So many people simply cannot stop eating one or two slices of pizza, or one slice of lamb, or one scoop of ice-cream. Why is this? Well, these super-addictive foods, also referred to as "high-palatable foods," trigger the same pleasure feeling in the brain that cocaine and heroin trigger. Studies reveal that fat (meats, cheeses and butter), sugar (ice-cream, your favourite dairy desserts and milk drinks) and sugar are all classed as "high palatable foods." Vegan foods however are milder to the palate and can therefore be eaten in moderation. In fact, most vegan foods are "anti-binge-eating" foods. Hooray for dieters! Losing weight by eating vegan foods couldn't be easier!
These are five obvious reasons why weight loss on the vegan diet is inevitable. Many people who go on the vegan diet for other health problems or personal reasons actually lose weight without even trying to!