Healthy Vegan Diet Review for Weight Loss

These days, it's nearly impossible to keep track of all the different types of diets invented to help people who struggle with their weight. In fact, you have probably tried a couple of these weight loss programs, only to find yourself switching back to your old lifestyle. If this is your story, then you are probably beginning to lose interest in any fad diets that claim to deliver remarkable results in a matter of weeks or months. After all, why bother getting into any slimming diets when they hardly ever worked on you, right? Wrong. Sure, there are some diets that ultimately fail for a number of reasons (e.g. too restrictive, repetitive meals required), yet that should not be a reason for you to give up your hopes of losing weight and staying healthy. With an effective, safe and practical diet suitable for your needs, you can achieve excellent health condition and not worry about your weight anymore.

The Basics of Vegan Diet

Veganism is the practice of excluding dairy products, eggs and meat in one's diet whether in compliance to one's religion or personal choice. Those who follow a vegetarian diet also avoid consuming any ingredients or food products that are derived from animals. They may also ban from their diet any processed foods that use animal products such as refined white sugar, ice cream and some varieties of wine. Thus, you may initially assume that following a vegan diet can be quite restrictive.

Considering the number of foods banned from a vegan's diet, you may now wonder what exactly do vegetarians eat since they appear to follow a completely different diet from most people. Basically, a typical vegan diet consists of meat alternatives such as beans, tofu, legumes, grains, fruits and vegetables. There are even vegan recipes that turn your favorite dishes such as burger, hotdogs, and steaks into vegetarian-friendly meals. With that in mind, the vegan diet is never dull or unpalatable, as what some meat lovers might assume. There are also various options to choose from instead of consuming meat, which has made the vegan diet quite an interesting and healthy weight loss program.

Vegan Diet Review - Key Features, Benefits and Limitations

Switching to veganism can be challenging, particularly among those who plan to make an instant shift from being a meat-eating person to someone who purely relies on a plant-based diet. Without proper guidance from a nutritionist or dietician, vegans may suffer from malnutrition when they fail to supply their body with the right amount of nutrients it needs.

Hence, it helps to know about certain foods that any vegan should eat, as well as the proper amount or servings each day. For instance, you need to eat a variety of foods on a daily basis such as vegetables and fruits, low-fat dairy alternatives, starchy foods, and non-dairy protein sources including pulses, beans and legumes. By doing so, you can obtain good health without adding extra pounds on your total body weight.

Based on health experts, vegan diets deliver weight loss results on a shot-term basis. This happens because vegans usually consume less calories, and their body mass index is generally lower than most meat eaters. As a result, losing weight using this diet is possible.

On the other hand, this type of diet is too restrictive as it eliminates numerous types of food that can otherwise fail dieters in achieving long-term weight loss benefits. This feature makes the diet one of the most challenging and frustrating to follow. Since the vegan approach is difficult to sustain, lacks variety and severely restrictive, some people also find it difficult to eat out because of a few selections on dining options. In terms of safety, health researchers have discovered that this diet is not suitable for adolescents as they are still in the process of developing. In addition, their bodies need to receive the right amount of calories and nutrients from the foods they eat, so they can grow to the fullest. However, if you create a sensible nutrition plan, then being a vegan can be quite safe, rewarding and satisfying.

Healthy Vegan Diet Recipes for Weight Loss

Once you are ready to follow a vegan diet, you might want to learn more about the different recipes you can use in creating gourmet-like dishes that are loaded in nutrition. These recipes will also go perfectly well with the skinny fiber vegetable capsules, as these supplements can provide your body with vitamins and minerals that you may not get from your daily meals. Not only can you boost your weight loss benefits from these supplements, but these can address common issues that vegans encounter in terms of insufficient amounts of nutrients from their diet. So, check out these easy-to-prepare recipes that are perfect for dieters who are always on the go.

1. Vegetarian Stuffed Pizza

Forget about your usual meaty and oily pizza. This recipe is vegan-friendly, yet rich in taste, aroma, and nutrition. What's more, it's so easy to make as it takes less than 15 minutes to prepare. This delectable recipe is rich in nutrients including protein, fiber, calcium, magnesium, folate, potassium and vitamin A.

On a thin crust pizza dough (you can buy one at your local supermarket), spread a combination of tasty ingredients such as sun-dried cherry tomatoes, chopped spinach, crumbled tofu, fresh basil leaves and mozzarella cheese. After you have evenly spread the filling on one half of the dough, fold it - just like a sandwich! Bake your pizza at 175 degrees Celsius for 8 to 10 minutes and serve immediately.

2. Tomato and Basil Whole Wheat Penne

With pasta, it's impossible to go wrong. All you need are fresh ingredients, a few herbs as seasoning, and voila! You can enjoy a scrumptious pasta dish such as this simple recipe that's a joy to make. Most importantly, this recipe is high in calcium, vitamin C, fiber, magnesium, and anti-oxidants.

I choose whole wheat penne over regular ones for additional fiber content. Just cook the noodles according to package directions and prepare the pasta sauce. You may use canned tomatoes and bring it to a simmer, and add chopped basil for that heavenly fragrance and taste. Add just the right amount of salt, pepper, and half a cup of parmesan cheese to the mixture and stir these ingredients well. When the pasta noodles are cooked and firm, just pour the sauce on top and toss in grated mozzarella cheese for extra taste and texture.

3. Sauteed Bean Sprouts and Tofu

Eaten with brown rice or on its own, this vegetarian dish is certainly a treat. With a combination of bean sprouts and tofu, you can have an abundant supply of protein from this recipe.

For this recipe, all you need is saute a few ingredients including bean sprouts, chopped cabbage, strips of carrots and chopped tofu. Then, add 3 tablespoons of soy sauce and season with pepper according to your desired taste. This simple recipe takes about 10 to 15 minutes to prepare, which makes it a fuss-free everyday dish.

Staying Slim and Healthy with a Vegan Diet

With careful planning and an in-depth understanding of a balanced vegetarian diet, you can attain your weight loss goals while supplying your body with essential nutrients. Make sure you get your regular dose of nutrients from the foods you eat each day by eating plant-based food items that serve as an alternative to protein, iron, calcium, and magnesium. Natural vegetable supplements can also support your body's daily nutritional needs. Lastly, make it a point to consult a dietitian who could assist you in creating a meal guide that suits your special needs.