To go green or not: Will a vegan plant-based diet work for you? - USN® Online Store

To go green or not: Will a plant-based diet work for you?

January 2023

Thanks to the Veganuary movement—a non-profit organisation that challenges people to follow a plant-based diet for the first 31 days of the year—January has become synonymous with veganism.

A new year usually comes with new opportunities and challenges, and if you are up for an interesting new challenge, why not see if a plant-based diet can transform your life for the better. Why plant-based? Thanks to the Veganuary movement—a non-profit organisation that challenges people to follow a plant-based diet for the first 31 days of the year—January has become synonymous with veganism.

You never know, you might just have a new lifestyle that you want to implement for the rest of 2023.

FIRST THINGS FIRST: WHAT IS VEGANISM?

The term “vegan” has first been used in 1944 after a group of vegetarians wanted to break away from Leicester Vegetarian Society in England to form the Vegan Society. In addition to refraining from eating meat, this new group made a conscious decision to not consume any animal products, which included honey, dairy and eggs.

WHY GO VEGAN?

Even though the shift to veganism might seem intimidating, it does not have to discourage you to give it a go. Veganism does not necessarily have to be a lifestyle choice; it can also solely be a decision to change your eating habits to plant-based foods.

Irrespective of why you want to try to follow a plant-based diet, the following benefits could also be used as a motivation:

Lose weight: Some animal products are high in fat and calories, and people who follow vegan diets therefore tend to have lower body mass indexes (BMIs). But this does not mean that you can consume lots of processed or high-fat plant-based foods and expect to lose weight.
Improve your heart health: Meat contains saturated fats, which can create heart issues when consumed excessively. According to a study published by the Journal of the American Heart Association in August 2019, a plant-based diet could reduce the risk of developing a cardiovascular disease by 16%.
Lower risk of type 2 diabetes: Dietary choices can be highly effective in preventing type 2 diabetes. An article published by the Journal of Geriatric Cardiology indicated that the prevalence of type 2 diabetes among the 61 000 participants decreased per animal product removed from their diets.

EXERCISE AND VEGANISM

There is a common misconception that if you follow a vegan diet that you will not have the strength and stamina to perform at your best due to the lack of certain nutrients in your diet. However, a study that was published by the National Library of Medicine has proven the contrary. Fifty-six active women’s physical activity levels, BMIs, body fat percentages, lean body masses, and muscle strengths were studied, with half of them following a vegan diet and the other half following an omnivore diet. After two years of studying these women’s performances, the study concluded that a vegan diet does not necessarily seem to be disadvantageous to endurance and muscle strength in healthy and active women.

It is therefore definitely possible to exercise and live an active lifestyle while following a vegan diet, but it is essential to ensure that you consume enough vitamins and nutrients to give your body the needed strength. Vitamins such as zinc, iron, vitamin B-12, calcium and omega fatty acids are essential when following a plant-based diet and can be found by consuming the necessary supplements.

USN PRODUCTS THAT ARE VEGAN-FRIENDLY

ALL9 Amino: The full-spectrum amino acid drink with all nine essential amino acids that boosts strength, endurance and recovery.
Anabolic Carb: This formulation is a high carbohydrate, low sugar muscle glycogen training and recovery fuel with real food carbs and electrolytes. Additionally, it functions as a source of energy for muscles and can add to your daily carb requirements to bulk up and gain mass. This product is also great to carbo load for an endurance event, giving you peak energy and recovery. With 0% added sucrose and 0% added creatine, this is suitable for most vegans. This vegan and vegetarian friendly product contains the smart carb known as CARB10. Anabolic Carb will fuel your muscles with glycogen and replenish the glycogen stores in muscles, whilst also increasing muscle recovery.
BlueLab 100% Plant Protein: This vegan-friendly, gluten-free, raw protein formulation is made with smooth protein and clean cream. It contains 20 g of protein and 4 g branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) derived from pumpkin and watermelon seed protein. Pea protein concentrate is also added to enhance lean muscle recovery. It is free from sugar, dairy, gluten, soya and artificial flavourants & colourants.
Wholefood Gainer: This nutritious shake is 100% plant-based and will support muscle growth and recovery. It is high in fibre and contains no soy, milk or added sucrose.
Pure Ashwagandha: This vegan product provides adrenal gland support and is useful for mental energy and concentration. Ashwagandha also assists with stress management and is a powerful antioxidant.
Pure Glutamine Capsules: These capsules have been formulated for increased muscle recovery, stamina and strength, and are pure, free-form anti-catabolic amino acids.
KETO Fat Burn: These vegi capsules will increase your metabolic rate to activate fat-burning and elevate feel-good energy, while simultaneously decreasing your appetite.
KETO MCT Oil: This medium chain triglycerides (MCT) oil provides quick and sustained energy and boosts your daily fat intake when on the keto diet.
Phedracut Burn XT One-A-Day: Known for its potent fat burning formulation, this capsule delivers powerful thermogenic technology through a multi-action single day capsule.
L-Carnicut: This stimulant-free liquid is a powerful source of L-Carnitine and other ingredients that may assist with converting fat into energy. It also boosts thermogenesis that will help to burn more fat.