According to research the vegan diet is good for you. The researchers stress people do not have to give up meat and dairy completely to improve health, but just opt for more plant based foods for better heart health.
Even vegan food can be unhealthy such as fries and fizzy drinks, so even vegans need to be careful about their food and drink choices. Vegetarian diets have been known to reduce the risk factors for diabetes and obesity and high blood pressure.
A big study with over 12,000 people was conducted and their health and diets were assessed over a 30 year period and it was found that those following a vegetarian or vegan diet had less health issues and a lower mortality rate.
Vegans tend to be thinner, have lower bad cholesterol and lower blood pressure. However eliminating all animal products from the diet increases the risk of certain deficiencies. Special concerns are the lack of vitamin b12, D, calcium and omega 3 fatty acids.
Unless vegans regularly consume foods that are fortified with these nutrients, they should take supplements. In some casesiron and zinc levels may also be low.
For many vegans their nutritional choices centre around taking better care of the environment and ethical issues about animal care.
A higher consumption of fruit and vegetables is associated with a lower risk of stroke, lower cholesterol, and lower risk of heart disease.