Eating right is one of the most important secrets to a long healthy life. These days, there are all sorts of fad diets promising everything from overnight weight loss to perfect health. However, none can hold a candle to legends like the vegan diet that has been around for centuries.
If you are on this regimen or considering joining the movement, then you should consider adding superfoods like microalgae to your diet. Here is more on why and what this food group has to offer you.
What is a Vegan Diet?
This is for all the newbies in the building. The vegan diet can be a little tricky to understand and distinguish from other plant-based diets especially if you are just starting out.
By definition, a vegan diet is one where all the food is sourced from plants and their products. Unlike vegetarians, vegans do not eat any animal products, including milk and eggs. The diet mainly consists of foods like:
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Non-animal proteins like tofu and legumes
- Whole grains and cereals
- Nuts and seeds
- Healthy fats
- Herbs and spices
Why It’s a Great Choice
Plant based diets in general have numerous benefits to offer you. The vegan diet in particular, due to the exclusion of animal products like milk, eggs and animal fats and more focus on a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, offers additional benefits. Below are a few of the most important of these. Note, these benefits rely heavily on the consumption of fruits and vegetables.
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It is rich in fiber. This is the case mainly with the vegetable and whole grain components of the diet. The fiber helps in digestion ensuring proper functioning of the system and preventing things like constipation.
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Rich in vitamins and minerals. The vegan diet is rich in vitamins including vitamins A, C, E and several from the B series most of which you get from fruits and vegetables. It is also rich in minerals like non-heme iron, calcium, and zinc.
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It is rich in antioxidants and low in oxidants. These are found mainly in the fruits including berries and other citrus-rich fruits. The antioxidants help with clearing of toxins from normal physiological processes. In addition to this, the lack of meat and animal products means fewer toxic byproducts like urea.
- It is low in cholesterol. Cholesterol is mainly found in animal products and the low density type (bad cholesterol) has been linked with numerous diseases including heart disease. With a vegan diet, you get to avoid the consequences of high levels of cholesterol. The good thing is that you can still obtain beneficial fats and “good cholesterol” from things like nuts, avocado and coconut.
Nutritional Gaps
While the vegan diet does have a lot to offer, it is not a complete diet. There are some important nutrients that you can only get from animals and their products. There are others that, though present in the vegan diet, are not always in adequate quantities.
Here are five of the most important nutritional gaps you need to supplement if you go vegan.
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Vitamin B12: Vitamin B12 is found primarily in animal products. It is an essential vitamin when it comes to ensuring optimal brain function.
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Heme iron: Heme iron is found exclusively in animal products. It is important in the formation of hemoglobin in red blood cells which carry oxygen to your tissues. The vegan diet provides you with plant based non-heme iron which though effective in hemoglobin synthesis is not as easily and effectively absorbed as heme iron.
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Omega 3 fats: These are primarily found in animal products like fatty fish and fish oil. Omega 3 is important for both brain development and function. With plant based diets, you can get alpha-linoleic acid (ALA) which is a form of omega 3 found in plants. It is less efficiently absorbed and converted to active forms than Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) which is the form of Omega 3 found in animal products.
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Creatine: This is a product of muscle protein breakdown and is important in building muscles. While on a vegan diet, you might find it difficult to gain muscle bulk after working out because of this.
- Vitamin D: Plants are also deficient in vitamin D which is important in bone formation. Fortunately, your body can make the vitamin itself with sun exposure. This means that vitamin D deficiency in your vegan diet is only a problem if you do not spend enough time outdoors.
How to Fill Those Nutritional Gaps
These nutrients are all clearly very important in your diet. You, therefore, need to find ways to supplement their absence in your vegan regimen. There are two main ways to do this:
The first is by taking supplement products that contain concentrates of the necessary nutrients conveniently packaged for easy consumption. The second alternative is by turning to superfoods that have these nutrients but are also vegan-friendly. In this case, blue-green algae are your best choice on both fronts. They have everything from vitamins and minerals to proteins, among other blue-green algae benefits. The best option here would be adding an organic Wild Microalgae supplement to your diet.
Why AFA is a Great Supplement for Vegans
Organic Wild Microalgae, also known as Aphanizomenon flos-aquae (AFA) has been sending shockwaves through the health conscious living community for over 30 years. The unique microalgae is particularly useful in the vegan diet for a number of reasons including:
Wide Nutritional Profile
AFA contains a wide variety of nutrients including minerals, antioxidants, protein, carbohydrates, fats and fiber and more. It is also rich in numerous B vitamins including vitamins B1, B2, B3, B6 and B12.
Rich in Trace Minerals
AFA has more than 60 trace minerals including copper, sodium and magnesium. All these play different roles in ensuring wellness and optimal functioning of systems.
High Levels of Antioxidants
This is one of the most important benefits of AFA and the microalgae superfood group in general. Some of the antioxidants here include Chlorophyll, Beta-carotene, Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and Glutathione.
100% Vegan
Blue-green algae are considered botanical products and therefore plant based. This means that you get to enjoy all these benefits without straying from your diet restrictions.
Superior Algae
This rare algae is the cream of the crop and is known as one of the most superior algaes on the market today. It grows organically in nature and its nutrient profile is to thank for that.
Join the #NewEarthLife Movement
#NewEarthLife is a movement aimed at promoting a healthy and sustainable lifestyle. With that it is our mission to provide botanical, real food supplements to every body and soul on the plant. Mind, in particular, is awesome for vegans and offers convenient access to all the wonderful benefits AFA brings.
Join us! Check out our website today and find out more about the algae capsules and how you can get a supply for a healthier and more fulfilling vegan lifestyle.