When it is about nutrition and body health, it is hard to know what to believe. And there are several myths and misconceptions about vegan food. People have created so many misconceptions regarding safety, health, and palatability of eating a plant-based diet. However, if you check out this article, you will find out about 8 Complete Misconceptions About Vegan Food.
So without further delay, let’s start with the article.
1. Vegan food is pretty expensive
Talking about myths of veganism, one of the biggest myths is that vegan food is pretty expensive. But the real truth is that just like any other diet, a vegan diet can be costly if you are going to get your hands on processed foods, ready to make meals, as well as products from some specific vegan brands.
And the reality is that there are several vegan foods as well as ingredients that are quite cheap and easy to afford. Especially if your diet is based around some cheaper alternatives such as some specific vegetables, beans, grains, and fruits.
If there is a rise in the demand for vegan foods, then there will be a decrease in the price of a vegan diet.
2. Vegans don't have enough protein
There is a huge belief among people that vegans cannot acquire protein from plants. However, that is completely a misconception about vegan food. And the truth is there are several plant based meat protein. In fact, most of them are way healthier than animal products and come with more portion per calorie than animal meat.
The list of plant based meat protein is endless such as mushrooms, beans, lentils, nuts, pasta, beans, broccoli, etc. There are several benefits of having vegan meat for athletes. In case you check properly, then you will see that almost all the protein is sourced from animals like chickens and cows originates from plants.
3. Vegans won't have sufficient vitamins and nutrients
There are people who believe that a vegan diet doesn’t offer all the essential vitamins and nutrients that are needed to stay healthy. In the case of calcium and protein, vegan food provides you with all the essential nutrients that your body needs. But the only exception here is Vitamin B12.
Talking about iron, the good news is that it is highly available and you can get it from many plants. For example, chickpeas, tofu, lentils, pumpkin seeds, cashew nuts, kidney beans, figs, tofu, raisins, etc.
Animals get iodine via soil while they graze and, you can often find it naturally in sea life. There are some plants that offer very little amount, which is not much sufficient. In that case, seaweed is a great source to intake a moderate amount of iodine while being on a vegan diet. If they take regular supplements, then vegans can get iodine.
Omega 3s and 6s are great for brain health, and it is a misconception about vegan food that they are only achievable from fish. Whereas, they are a number of plant-based sources, including seeds like sunflower, chia, flax, and pumpkin, as well as soya spread, walnuts, and seaweed.
Vitamin B12 can be consumed from vegan spreads, plant milk, breakfast cereals, nutritional yeast, etc.
4. A vegan diet has too many restrictions
If you do a little bit of research, then you should know by now that there are plenty of different foods that vegans can consume. In fact, some of them are constant in all kinds of diets.
But, the primary challenge for a vegan is that animal products are always high in demand than vegan products. Especially, the items that are easy to cook as well as while eating out. You will find several products with little traces of animal derivatives.
But, no doubt, the options for vegan foods are increasing and that is because the number of vegans is rising. And with the number of vegans increasing, we are getting countless recipes. The best thing is that you will have substitutes or alternatives for each and every animal product starting from milk to meats to chocolates.
As per the recent reports, there are several vegans who became even more creative with their cooking styles. And they are consuming a huge variety of food since they changed their diet.
5. Can't be on Vegan diet when pregnant
One of the myths about veganism among the soon-to-be parents is that a vegan diet won’t be helpful while pregnant. Pregnancy is quite challenging as no matter which diet you are following; your body will need more nutrients.
A pregnancy-related vegan diet must be nutritious and varied, as well as carefully planned. If it isn’t, it may be lack vital nutrients. Vegan diets deficient in essential nutrients like vitamin B12, protein, Vitamin D and calcium, DHA, and iron can increase the chance that your child could be born with low weight or birth defects. But, eating a proper diet will keep you and your baby healthy. Furthermore, pregnancy is different for everyone and hence, it is recommended that you consult with your doctor for more professional medical help.
6. Vegan diet guarantees weight loss
Well! It is a bitter truth, but no vegan diet won’t let you lose weight. It is absolutely possible to have more calories without evening consuming animal meats or dairy products. The only key to losing weight to by having a healthy diet along with regular exercise. Although some people choose the vegan lifestyle out of ethical concerns for animals, the diet itself can have some health benefits. According to recent studies, being vegan may even help you lose a significant amount of weight.
Hence, even if you are following a vegan diet, you need to check on the calorie count to lose weight.
7. Vegan food is always healthy
Another big myth about vegan food is that all of them are healthy. Well! No, not all plant-based food items are healthy. If you decide to be the vegan or go vegetarian you must to eat a balanced diet, consuming the appropriate nutrients and supplements in a proper manner. Research has shown that the vegan diet to less cholesterol and blood pressure and, as a consequence and lower incidence for heart-related disease. This is likely due to the fact that the vegetarian diet tends to be lower in calories and high in fibre in the diet as well as an excellent source of heart-friendly nutrients , such folate as well as vitamins C and E as well as magnesium, potassium as well as unsaturated oils. The staple foods that are vegan, including wholegrains and nuts, can also provide cardiovascular benefits. If you consume processed vegan foods, then they will have a high content of sugar, saturated fats, and salt.
Hence, it is always suggested you check the quality of food you are eating.
8. You can't build muscle with plant-based meat
It is one of the most worried about myths regarding the vegan diet. Yes! If you want to build muscles, then you will need to consume more protein. And you can get more protein from all other things, including plant-based meat or vegan foods apart from animal meats. Researchers discovered the vegetarian protein as effective for building muscular strength and mass as the animal protein. Protein can help repair and build muscles. That’s why it’s important to recover from a strenuous workout by drinking smoothies, drinks, energy bites, or a different protein-rich snack.
