A person who eats a diet with only fruits, vegetables and grains is called a vegan. This form of vegetarianism is less commonly practiced than lacto-ovo vegetarianism and eliminates all animal-derived foods. It is possible to attain all the nutrients you need from a diet with fruits, vegetables and grains in all life stages, according to the American Dietetic Association, or ADA. However, it requires proper meal planning that includes a balanced diet from a variety of foods.
Vegan Philosophy
People switch to a vegan diet because of health, religious and ethical reasons. More than just a diet of fruits, vegetables and grains, it is also a lifestyle that follows a principle that promotes non-exploitation of animals. People who live by this philosophy avoid wearing leather, use cruelty-free beauty products, avoid soap with animal fat and avoid products fortified with calcium extracted from animal bones.
Advantages
Eating a diet consisting of fruits, vegetables and grains offers a number of advantages. The ADA says it lowers fat grams in the diet and increases the amount of fiber, magnesium, potassium and folate. This reduces your likelihood of developing risk factors for chronic diseases like high blood pressure and diabetes.
Expert Insight
You may not be aware that some of the ingredients in seemingly vegan foods actually contain animal-derived products. Gelatin, made from meat by-products, is found in desserts and a very popular brand of processed cheese food. Rennet, a common ingredient in natural cheeses, comes from an enzyme in the stomachs of calves, young goats and lambs. Honey is made by bees, and cochineal is a red dye found in fruit punch, derived from an insect with the same name.
Environmental Benefits
Eating a diet of fruits, vegetables and grains reduces the consumption of fossil fuels and non-carbon dioxide emissions associated with livestock production, according to the University of Chicago's Gidon Eshel and Pamela Martin in a report published in the April 2006 issue of the journal "Earth Interactions." Nitrous oxide and methane gas emitted from manure lagoons are more powerful gasses than carbon dioxide, says Eshel.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
A nine-month vegan diet, which is also gluten free, has been shown to improve the signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, according to a study conducted by the Department of Rheumatology at Karolinska Institute at Huddinge University Hospital in Stockholm, Sweden. Gluten is a protein found in some grains. The results, reported in the October 2001 issue of the medical journal "Rheumatology," found that 40.5 percent of the vegan group showed improvement.
Member Comments