World Vegan Day 2017: Nutritionist Madhuri Ruia Shares Top 5 Tips For Becoming a Vegan

We share with you some tips to keep in mind if you want to turn to veganism.

Veganism is a way of living which includes abstaining from cruelty to and exploitation of animals. Refraining from animal products not only in the diet by also veganism as a concept, comes from a sense of responsibility towards animals animal products and towards the need for a healthier lifestyle. A lot of people turn to veganism for a healthier lifestyle. Just ahead of World Vegan Day 2017 which will be celebrated on November 1, we share with you some tips to keep in mind if you want to turn to veganism. These tips have been shared to us by Nutritionist Madhuri Ruia. (ALSO READ 10 Best Vegan Sources of Protein That Will Help You Build Muscles).

Do not forget to include protein in your diet

Vegan diet includes giving up meat, eggs and milk products. But while doing so you may end up depriving your body of proteins. While plant-based foods can provide you the required amount of the essential nutrient, remember to include adequate amounts in your daily diet by including rich source of protein in your daily food. Almonds are a great source of 15 nutrients including essential ones such as protein. Hence, snacking smart with almonds is a great way to start leading a healthy lifestyle.

Don’t limit your food choices

Becoming vegan does not necessarily mean that you will have fewer food options, you just need to find alternatives. There are alternatives for almost everything. Milk can be replaced with soya or almond milk, eggs and cottage cheese can be swapped with tofu, and meats can be replaced with soya chunks or nuggets. (ALSO READ Top 10 Bollywood celebrities who turned vegetarian or vegan).

Reduce dependency on processed snacks

When you follow a vegan diet, it is important to remember that it is easy to fall prey to the processed food available off the shelves, when hungry in-between your meals. You should avoid this at all costs since processed food is usually high in sodium or sugars which make them unhealthy. Make sure that you educe the processed food intake by carrying your vegan snack options like sunflower, flax seeds and almonds that can be eaten anywhere and at any time of the day. Snacking of these alternatives instead of unwholesome snacks, can make a healthy difference to your life.

Drinking water is not passé

While veganism does increase your consumption of fruits including those with a high content of water, you must still strive to consume at least 2 liters of water every day. If you get bored or tired of drinking plain water, you can mix it up by adding slices of citrus fruits like lemon, sweet lime, orange or you can also add mashed fruits like strawberries, cranberries. Tossing few fresh mint leaves with slices of cucumber will also work. (ALSO READ Here’s how Sonam Kapoor stays healthy on a vegan diet).

Start small and stay positive

Going vegan suddenly can be a big adjustment for your body and may end up making you uncomfortable. Begin the transition by being a part-time vegan; keep one meal or snack time in a day in which you will consume moderate servings of non-vegan food items that you have been used to like chicken, fish or eggs. Gradually decrease your cheat days from once a day to once a week and so on till your body has transitioned successfully into the vegan diet. Eating fresh, healthy food and exercising regularly can help bring positivity.

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