If you’ve been wondering “why should I go vegan”, we’re here for you. There are plenty of reasons why you should go vegan. There’s animal welfare, the impact of animal agriculture and climate change, as well as your health. But, for today’s purpose, we’re talking strictly about why you should go vegan for your health.

If you were to compare vegan bodies before and after, there are quite a few differences.

Here are 5 things that can happen to your body when you go vegan.

1. Weight loss

Depending on what you’re consuming, you can experience weight loss by going vegan. Typically, weight loss occurs if you’re sticking to a meal plan that includes whole plant foods and high protein. Many find that giving up animal products leads to weight loss. This happens because people are consuming food that is lower in calories and higher in fiber. In addition, a vegan diet can help reduce the risk of obesity.

2. Improved heart health

Next, let’s look at heart health. It’s another great reason why you should go vegan. You can help your heart by consuming a vegan diet that is high in fiber, healthy fats and antioxidants. At the same time, reduce your saturated fats and cholesterol. By going vegan, you can lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease (which is one of the leading causes of death). Vegan diets have also been shown to lower blood pressure and improve blood sugar control, both of which are important for heart health.

3. Lower risk of certain cancers

Now, let’s talk about how going vegan may lower the risk of getting certain cancers. For example, a report from the National Institutes of Heath (NIH) shares that most large prospective observational studies report that vegetarian diets are “at least modestly cancer protective”. They reduce the overall cancer risk 10 to 12 percent. In addition, plant foods like fruits and vegetables that are high in fiber, antioxidants and other phytochemicals may reduce the risk of cancer diagnosis and recurrence. 

On the flip side, research links the consumption of meat, especially red and processed, to an increased risk of cancer.

4. Improved kidney function

Still wondering why you should go vegan? When it comes to kidney function and going vegan, it may help improve kidney function. According to the National Kidney Foundation, replacing animal-based foods with plant-based foods can help prevent and slow the progression of chronic kidney disease, Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure. Superfoods like blueberries, cauliflower, garlic and cabbage can help prevent or alleviate the pain and symptoms of kidney disease.

5. Better blood sugar control

In 2018, the American Diabetes Association recognized a vegan diet as an effective approach to treat Type 2 diabetes. Then, in 2021, the American Heart Associate’s Dietary Guidance to Improve Cardiovascular Health shared that the majority of proteins people consume should be plant-based since those with Type 2 diabetes have a greater risk (between three and five times) of heart disease. 

Vegan diets that are high in vegetables, legumes, fruits. whole grains, nuts and seeds have been shown to improve insulin resistance.

Final thoughts about what happens to your body when you go vegan

This information should not be in place of meeting with your doctor to discuss going vegan. It and is not intended as medical advice. Like any lifestyle change, please discuss this with your doctor and nutritionist to ensure that you are getting the nutrients you need. With planning and education, a vegan lifestyle can meet your needs. 

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What’s lurking in your wine?

According to Frances Gonzalez, the founder of Vegan Wines, a plant-based wine club, and Despacito Distributors, an entirely plant-based wine distribution company, most people aren’t even aware of what non-vegan ingredients are in wine.

“We’re talking egg whites, gelatin, fish bladders, and milk proteins, all of which are used to clarify the wine,” she says. These ingredients bind to and remove unwanted wine sediments during the fining process. In addition, they can camouflage a bad harvest.

There’s more.

Is wine vegan?

@thedianaedelman There’s WHAT in wine? @veganwines #tiktokpartner #learnontiktok #wineislife #winelover #winetime #veganwine ♬ Soul Catcher – MikhailovMusic

Lots of vineyards also use animal products in their fertilizers, like fish emulsion, feathers, blood, and bone meal,” says Gonzalez.

Even manure used for fertilizer can come from factory farms where the animals are fed chemicals and antibiotics, which is then transferred to the soil, and then the grapes, the wines, and finally, into the consumer’s body.

She believes that most people aren’t aware of what’s in their wine because there is no law that requires winemakers to disclose ingredients, which, aside from animal byproducts, can also include sugar, water, and even dye if the harvest was bad.

This doesn’t have to be the case though.

Can winemakers skip animal byproducts to make wine?

Instead of using animal byproducts, some winemakers use the process of racking to remove the larger pieces of sediment from the wine. This allows the winemaker to move wine from one barrel to another. It uses the force of gravity instead of the non-vegan process.

Others may use different types of fining agents, like bentonite (a clay) to clarify their wines. Or, they may use cold stabilization or filtering processes to remove sediment.

Are vegan wines better?

Gonzalez says that winemakers using vegan practices are better able to retain the grapes’ natural character. Others use hard ingredients which strip or mask the grapes’ character. In addition, they generally don’t have additives like sugar, water, dye, or any of the other 300 (!!) ingredients which can be used in winemaking. She finds that those winemakers who embrace minimal intervention practices and work with nature, rather than against it, produce a superior product. So, in short: yes, they are better.

How can you tell if wine is vegan?

“There’s no way to tell except by doing your research,” she says. “You can’t know what the vineyard uses to fertilize the soil or what the winery’s fining processes are unless you talk to the winemaker.”

Her company does this by visiting vineyards around the world to meet the winemakers. Theypersonally vet every wine they sell and distribute.

Apps like Barnivore only tell you if animal byproducts are used in the actual wine itself.

Where can you find wines that are vegan?

If you’re looking for an easy way to find vegan wines, discover five vegan wines you can enjoy tonight. Always look at labels — some wines will clearly mark a wine as vegan. Keep in mind that most don’t consider the fertilizer when designating it as such. And, of course, use services like Vegan Wines and their wine club to get your wines animal-free.

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People go vegan for many reasons — for the animals, for their health, or for the environment. For many, the idea of going vegan seems challenging or plagued with misconceptions that eating vegan means salads and potatoes. But, going vegan doesn’t have to be hard, and you can absolutely eat more than salads and potatoes.

Remember, the whole point of going vegan is to do less harm. There is no such thing as a perfect vegan, and what works for one may not work for someone else. Not everyone has the same access or means to make immediate changes, and that’s OK. Anything you do is better than nothing and makes a difference.

7 easy steps to go vegan for Veganuary

1. Sign up for Veganuary

It doesn’t matter if we are already into January, it’s never too late to make the decision to remove animals and their byproducts from your life. Head over to Veganuary’s website and sign up. When you take the challenge, you’ll get a celebrity cookbook, meal plans, nutrition tips and daily emails to assist you in making the change.

2. Go to restaurants participating in Vegan Dining Month

Violette’s Vegan in Las Vegas has a pop-up menu the entire month.

We’ve made it easy in Las Vegas and Portland to find vegan options when dining out. Simply head to restaurants participating in Vegan Dining Month and offering special dishes all January. If you’re not in those cities, look for restaurants with vegan options in our city guides or check Happy Cow to see what restaurants near you have vegan options.

3. Start by swapping out ingredients

Today, there are numerous vegan replacements for traditionally non-vegan ingredients like butter, milk, and eggs. Popular butter replacements include Earth Balance, Miyoko’s and Milkadamia. For milk, the sky is the limit. There is oat, soy, almond, pistachio, hemp and more. Next, for egg replacements, try JUST Egg. The liquid egg replacement made of mung beans can be used on its own, as well in baking. 

4. Swap out non-vegan food for vegan counterparts

Remove the idea that you could “never give up fill-in-the-blank” because the plant-based food industry has made it easier than ever. With spot on textures and flavors, Impossible and Beyond have veganized burgers. Other meats being made vegan and in most grocery stores are Gardein, which makes everything from chicken tenders to crab cakes and grocery brands like 365 by Whole Foods and Simple Truth by Kroger. 

Specialty groceries often carry other vegan swaps like vegan shrimp and vegan fried eggs by BeLeaf.

Aside from mock meats, the vegan cheese industry is on fire. Major grocery chains carry VioLife, Miyoko’s and Daiya. We’ve got an ultimate guide to vegan cheese to check out to get you started.

Ice creams are another easy swap to make. Brands like Ben and Jerry’s and Magnum offer dairy-free ice cream to enjoy.

5. Shop the exterior of the grocery store

Being vegan doesn’t have to mean you’re eating mock meats and processed foods. Or spending a lot of money. You can find delicious vegan recipes online and make meals using fresh produce, grains and legumes. Stick to the produce aisles and grain/bean aisles. Between the two, you can get all the protein you need. 

6. Replace household products and beauty products with vegan products

When it comes to household supplies, don’t toss what you’ve already got. But, when you run out of products in your home replace them with vegan versions. We’re fans of Meyer’s for household products. As for beauty products, keep an eye out for products that are vegan and cruelty-free. Pacifica is one brand that’s all vegan cosmetics. We love Sunday Riley when it comes to skincare.

7. Choose vegan clothing when shopping

Nix leather, wool, cashmere and silk from next time to go shopping for clothes. 

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Collectively, we are experiencing more anxiety, grief, and disruption to our daily routines and life as we know it. The best thing we can do for ourselves is to understand and honor our needs. By staying present, we avoid sacrificing our inner peace to the uncertainties of the future.

10 wellness habits to help you build more present moment awareness as you manage the many changes quarantine brings.

1. Honor Your Energy

Firstly, honoring your energy is the umbrella that all other wellness habits fall under.

In experiencing the ups and downs of being human, we can expect our energy levels to rise and fall, too.

Some days you’re killing it in the gym or going the extra mile for your loved ones. Other times, your body might be signaling you to take a nap or unwind with a good book or show.

Ask yourself, “How am I feeling? What do I need and desire? What can I do to put myself in a positive place?” In order to experience more peace of mind, we must live less with force, and more in flow.

2. Spend Time Away From Social Media

While staying informed of current events is important, there’s a fine line between awareness, preparedness, and overwhelm.

Overindulging in stress-inducing news, apocalyptic articles, and posts that make you worry only harm your wellbeing.

Feeling gloomy after consuming content? Try stepping away from social media to pour more into yourself. A break from the noise could benefit your mental health.

For instance, screen time boundaries, app limits, or shutting your phone off completely will free up plenty of time and brain space.

3. Ramp Up Your Self Care

Now is the perfect time to check in with yourself and decide whether you’re practicing enough daily self care.

What makes you truly feel good?

For example, journaling, running, yoga, reading, cooking, crafting, and bubble baths are all forms of self care.

Can you think of your favorite self care activity? Take what you like and leave the rest. The key is to do things that you actually enjoy, rather than dreadfully do things you think you “should” do.

4. Tend to Your Health

We all know the pandemic best practices of thorough hand washing, avoiding touching your face, and social distancing.

Although usually brushed off as common knowledge, don’t forget the wellness habits of good sleep, a balanced diet, movement, and plenty of hydration.

Knowing these wellness habits, and actually implementing them, are two different things. Rank yourself on a scale of 1-10 in each of these four areas. So, what do you need to prioritize to bolster your health right now? You don’t have to be perfect, but there’s always room for improvement.

5. Seek Support From Your Network

Just because we are social distancing does not mean we need to sacrifice being social.

Feeling isolated and lonely can take a toll on your mental health and augment feelings of depression.

Connection with others is a basic human need, and moreover, how we will get through these trying times. Schedule time with supportive people to chat about things other than the doom and gloom of the virus. Virtual coffee date or wine night, anyone?

6. Set and Stick to Your Boundaries

Boundaries vary from one person to another, but the important point is to make yours crystal clear, and actually stick to them.

If you are quarantined with family, significant others, or roommates who are feeding into your anxiety, kindly assert your boundaries. This can sound like:

“I don’t want to talk about the virus right now/ today/ anymore.”

“Please let me work uninterrupted for the next two hours.

“I would like us to do something other than watch the news tonight.”

“Let’s reschedule our plans for a better time.”

Setting boundaries can be tough. However, remember that you have the right to advocate for yourself, regardless of how the other person responds. Similarly, try setting boundaries with yourself. For instance, shutting your phone off an hour before bed may help with overwhelming thoughts keeping you awake.

7. Help Others

Research shows that helping others can boost our own positive feelings.

In addition to making someone else’s day, helping others in need is an easy way to boost your own mood. However, don’t feel pressure to do more than you are able.

For instance, call a loved one to ask how they’re doing, pick up groceries for your elderly family members, or donate canned goods to a local food bank. So many people are working tirelessly to ensure the health of our society. Expressing genuine gratitude to those working on the front lines, and letting them know they are truly appreciated, goes a long way.

8. Regularly Practice Wellness Habits to Avoid Burnout

Burnout is not something that suddenly sneaks up on us.

In other words, the daily wellness habits you practice now can prevent other health complications in the future.

With many of us experiencing changes in our working situations, it’s important to practice sustainable work-life balance.

For example, if you’re working from home now, don’t forget to take breaks and put your work away at a decent hour. There will always be more to do, so don’t feel pressure to do everything in one day. De-stressing with other fun or relaxing activities is crucial to your wellbeing and in preventing burnout.

9. Explore Your Creativity

Now is a great time to do more of what you LOVE.

Bored or unsure of how to occupy your time? Try creating just for the pure enjoyment of it, without judgment of the outcome.

For instance, test out a new recipe, print a coloring sheet, paint, draw, sing, dance, write, or do a puzzle.

Bonus: combine this habit with number seven and create something for someone else! As a result, you’ll bring a smile to someone’s face while having fun in the process.

10. Practice Mindfulness

Mindfulness is defined as maintaining a moment-by-moment awareness of our thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and environment.

Some ways to practice mindfulness are through meditation, prayer, spiritual or religious support, or personal development books. Pick a tool that resonates with you and practice cultivating more mindfulness. Above all, staying present helps us to take everything one day at a time without stressing over an uncertain future.

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Loaded with omegas 3, 6 and 9, plus full plant-based hemp extractions, Gnome Serum offers body care, face serums and extracts available for shipping for a flat rate of $7 in all 50 states.

There are a lot of options, but our hands-down favorite is the silky Unicorn Cream that smells like citrus and sandalwood and leaves our skin feeling ridiculously soft and nourished. It’s made with red clover, which can help make skin more radiant and healthy and includes benefits like anti-aging, reducing skin damage and encouraging skin health, hemp oil to protect your skin from free radicals that can lead to wrinkles and fine lines, green tea to reduce puffiness and under-eye bags, and blackcurrant seed oil, rich in antioxidants and gamma-linolenic acid to help reduce inflammation, increase elasticity and helps to protect the skin.

Other top picks include Timeless, an anti-aging face serum, and Sand Man, a body lotion made with French lavender essential oil, chamomile and melatonin extract. Rub it on your feet and wrists before its time for bed to decrease anxiety and ease you into sleep. The Sand Man has become our go-to for sleep, helping to unwind the body and get some serious shut-eye.

Want to try some for yourself? Head over to Gnome Serum and save 20% when you use 20VEGANSBABY at checkout.

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What else do we love about Real Pro Life Nutrition? A portion of the proceeds from the protein sales benefit farmsancutary and other animal activist organizations.

*Support the businesses who support vegans! Check out our Deals section with special offers on Las Vegas restaurants, health and wellness services, national products and more!

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These tiny tablets pack in organic essential oils and plant-derived components to clean your teeth and protect your enamel. In naturally-whitening mint and carbon ultra white with activated charcoal in mint and clove, we dig these little guys. You will dig this new vegan toothpaste, too.

We also dig how environmentally-friendly Bite is. The bottle is reusable and refills come in a cardboard box, so you’ll never need to purchase any plastic tubes again. Plus, the jar is TSA-approved size for traveling.

You can order a bottle now … soon a monthly subscription service is launching so you’ll never have to worry about toothpaste again.

**NEW! Vegans, Baby presents Vegans, Baby Food Tours in Las Vegas. Book your spot today!**

*The 2018 Las Vegas Vegan Food Guide is out now! Download or purchase the full-color print guide today and find out all the best spots for vegan food in Las Vegas, featuring more than 30 categories and 70 picks!*

*Support the businesses who support vegans! Check out our Deals section with special offers on Las Vegas restaurants, health and wellness services, national products and more!*

*Want some groovy vegan products? Check out our list of faves over on Amazon. Please note: when you purchase through this link, we receive a small commission. This proceeds go directly to the operation of Vegans, Baby.

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Take advantage of the turmeric’s numerous qualities, including helping to fight inflammation, protecting the heart, alleviating arthritis, boosting your brain power, and fighting diabetes and cancer. * Timeless Turmeric also offers banana flour, sour sop, black pepper, amaranth and more all farm fresh from its harvest. Order your products today.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not medical advice or treatment.

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Synergy Wellness offers personal training sessions, health coaching, kitchen audits, a sugar detox program and fitness workshops.

*Support the businesses who support vegans! Check out our Deals section with special offers on Las Vegas restaurants, health and wellness services, national products and more!

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