10 Things To Seriously Consider Before Going Vegan

Despite the growing trend, going vegan isn't as easy as you might think.  There are many factors that play a crucial role in defining how to effectively become vegan. And although there are many positive things about the lifestyle, it should also be noted that being vegan can come with negative things too.

Here are ten things you should seriously consider before going vegan... 

1. Protein Deficient

Protein deficiency is a genuine fear among the vegans. This is because, without foods such as meat, there will naturally be less protein in the diet. Unless you don’t eat actual food, vegan sources of protein — like beans, nuts, seeds, plant-based meat products, tofu, chickpeas, lentils, and a wide variety of legumes — are hard to come by, and many do not offer the actual quality of protein that meats do.

2. Missing Tasty Foods

Unless you just don't like food, you'd be a fool to think going vegan is an easy transition, because it's not. Going vegan isn't just a case of chucking in meat and cheese etc. it's also chucking in everything that goes with it. So, forget about burgers, lasagna, pizzas, chicken wraps, and so on. Yes, there are vegan alternatives, but do they taste anywhere near as good as the real thing? Nope.

3. Food isn't Easily Accessible 

Food shopping is going to be a real pain in the bottom the moment you turn vegan. You can forget about all those delicious little treats and snacks, because you're going to be on a strict plan from here on in. Expect to be doing a lot of label reading, and everything you buy will seem like a poor version of what you used to eat.  Like, err, soya 'chicken' strips? Yuck!

4. Food is More Expensive 

Everyone knows that healthy eating is far more expensive, and the same applies to the vegan diet. Going vegan will likely cost you more, because a lot of what you buy is specific, and tailored to your exact needs. Much of it is specifically made, and shipped in especially, which means it'll cost more.

5. You’ll Become B12 Deficient

Following a vegan diet will put you at risk of a B12 deficiency. Getting enough B12 into a vegan diet is particularly hard unless you buy yourself one of the many B12 vitamin sprays or tablets on the market from supermarkets or health food stores like Holland & Barrett.

6. You Can’t Eat Out Easily

Eating out as a vegan is harder than it has ever been; a major issue is that there seems to be not enough plant-based choice on the menu. Much like food shopping, you;'re going to find it hard ordering the things you really want to eat, and you'll likely find yourself constantly compromising instead.

7. Vegan and Vegetarian Diets Lack Specific Amino Acids

There is another big issue with both vegan and vegetarian diets: these diets lack specific amino acids. Amino acids are the 'building blocks' of proteins. You need a balanced intake of amino acids to get the most benefits out of your diet.

8. Vegan and Vegetarian Diets Lack Essential Minerals

In addition to getting enough high-quality protein and fats, vegan and vegetarian diets lack in many very important minerals, such as calcium, iron and zinc. Your body, after a long stretch without these minerals, will begin to suffer, and you'll find ageing much harder than someone who is on a normal diet.

9. Vegan Diet Can Be Bad for Your Skin

A lack of vitamins and minerals in your daily diet, due to going vegan, can cause serious skin issues. Without the vital nutrients to thrive, many vegans have experience skin problems, like acne and dryness. 

10. Vegan Diet Can Cause Hair Loss

If you have a severe loss of protein from your system, that can cause you to lose hair. When you go vegan, your diet takes on some drastic changes and some of those changes can result in nutrient deficiency. Having an iron deficiency, as well as other vitamin deficiencies, can lead to excess hair shedding.

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