People have various reasons for choosing to go vegan. Some people do it for health reasons, some people do it to try new things but the majority of people choose to go vegan because it is a lifestyle that prevents cruelty to animals in any way. It is a lifestyle that is also very conscious of the environment.
But it is sometimes difficult being vegan. Mainly, you cut out a whole range of foods from your diet, which then requires extra work when shopping or going out with friends. Why then would anyone choose to mix that with another strict diet such as the ketogenic diet?
Well, the truth is that it does bring more dietary restrictions, but it's easier than most people think. It's also an even healthier form of veganism.
All of the vegan tips in this article are certified vegan and are truly focused on including no animal products whatsoever. If you are thinking of adding a ketogenic supplement, it's a good idea to check out reviews that address the issues of being vegan-friendly, such as this Approved Science Keto Review.
What's The Point Of Going Ketogenic?
So being vegan is healthy right? Is there even a point to further restricting your diet? The short answer, yes. Being vegan does come with a certain set of health benefits such as reduced low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, but unfortunately, the science says that there are some health benefits it doesn't offer.
For example, a meta-analysis published very recently show that veganism also had a reduction in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and did not reduce triglycerides. Let's break this statement down. First off, a meta-analysis is a brilliant scientific study that looks at a number of other scientific studies and puts all their results together. The great thing about a meta-analysis is that it is probably one of the best forms of scientific evidence you can find because it considers all of the data with regard to a particular topic.
Secondly, the study showed that there was a reduction in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. high-density lipoprotein cholesterol is a good form of cholesterol so reducing it is not at all beneficial to health. Lastly, the study showed that there were no significant reductions in the amount of fat in the body which is also not particularly beneficial to health.
The good news is that several studies have shown that a ketogenic diet reduces low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (the bad kind), increases high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (the good kind) and also lowers triglycerides (fats).
And There Are Some Vegans Who Gain Weight
Most people think going vegan comes with losing a whole lot of weight. Unfortunately, this is not necessarily true. Several people who begin a vegan diet gain weight because they don't do it properly. Some vegan authors attribute this to new vegans not knowing what to replace their animal products with. Some poor choices include eating a lot of vegan junk food, overcompensating with bread and pasta and drinking too much juice.
But being ketogenic while being a vegan helps to avoid these problems.
Vegan Is Actually Ketogenic Friendly
So many people view a keto diet as one that is full of meat and cream and cheese, but that's not actually true. A diet rich in meat is actually a high protein diet, which is different from a ketogenic diet. A ketogenic diet also heavily favors plant-based fats compared to animal-based ones because the body just deals with them better.
Vegan alternatives to non-vegan foods such as coconut milk and coconut cream are already high in the kinds of fat that a ketogenic diet demands. Vegan cheese and nut-based yogurt are perfectly suitable replacements too. And flaxseed is a great component of a keto diet, so really by being vegan, you're already halfway there.
The Advantages Of Being Both Vegan And Ketogenic
As mentioned before there are certain health benefits that come with a ketogenic diet that are not available through veganism alone. So above getting more health benefits, you also get a greater degree of the health benefits that come from both diets, for example, lowering cholesterol. Another great advantage is that the high-fat content of the ketogenic diet is a lot more filling - which is something many vegans otherwise struggle with.
