On both a vegan and vegetarian diet, you do not consume meat, fish, or poultry. A vegan diet also eliminates other animal products and by-products, notably dairy, eggs, gelatin, honey, lard, tallow, and sugars filtered with bone char.
Vegan diets have been around for centuries, although the term vegan was coined by Donald Watson in 1944.
Why follow a vegan diet?
Individuals typically begin a vegan diet for ethical reasons related to the treatment of animals and environmental impacts. However, veganism is increasingly being touted for its perceived health benefits. One popular study showed that vegetarians and vegans live eight years longer than other Americans. A controversial book called The China Study is amongst the most comprehensive analyses of plant vs. animal-based foods; it concluded that blood cholesterol levels driven by animal protein consumption are highly correlated with diseases including coronary heart disease, diabetes, and several cancers.
The health benefits of vegan diets may be due to their lack of inflammatory ingredients, specifically Advanced Glycation End products (AGEs), and purines; both of which are far more prevalent in animal-derived foods, especially meats.
Issues with vegan diets
Over 90% of strict vegans are deficient in one or more of the following nutrients: Calcium, Iron, Protein, Vitamin D, and Vitamin B12.
Additionally, vegan diets often rely heavily on soy-based products such as tofu which are a high FODMAP food and are tied to lower testosterone in men and intestinal issues.
GentleBelly, a 100% vegan food
GentleBelly’s philosophy is to avoid foods that can do harm to humans or the environment. All GentleBelly ingredients are 100% vegan and legume-free. GentleBelly also addresses some of the nutrient deficiencies common in vegan diets, as it meets at least 20% of the RDA for Calcium, Iron, Vitamin D, Vitamin B12, and every other nutrient with a recommended daily allowance.