BGVebruary – 28 Day Vegan Challenge

Deb | 01/24/2015 | Reply

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Interested in modifying your diet and becoming vegan, but not sure if its something you’re really ready to do forever? Instead of sitting on the fence, try veganism for 28 days the month of February 2015 in the BGVebruary vegan challenge.

We’ll guide you through it with delicious recipes from all over the web, menu ideas, and tips for success. Whether it’s just you or the entire family wants to give it a try, we want you to enjoy the experience and will be right here with you the full 28 days of the BGVebruary Vegan Challenge.

Here are 11 great reasons you should try going vegan for 28 days for the vegan challenge:

1. It’s great if you want to lose weight or slim down. It’s easier to stay slim when you’re not consuming high amounts of saturated fats from dairy and meat products. Eating more fiber also helps you feel full faster and longer so you don’t overeat.

2. It’s easier to get your five-a-day fruits and vegetables. Never mind five, you can easily get double that on a vegan diet. Eating fruit and/or vegetables at every mealtime means that your diet will be much more nutritious than when you’re making up a third (or less) of lunch and dinner with vegetables.

3. You can discover a new love for lots of great foods. Hummus, almond butter, sweet potatoes, avocado, several varieties of mushrooms, tofu, spaghetti squash, and vegan dark chocolate to name a few. See, you won’t starve!

4. Vegans are generally healthier. Vegans and vegetarians typically have lower cholesterol levels, lower blood pressure, lower rates of Type 2 diabetes, lower body mass indexes, a lower risk of death from heart disease, and lower overall cancer rates. Science and research confirms that you don’t need meat to be healthy at all. In fact, statistics point to quite the opposite.

5. You’ll be able to run faster (maybe). Going vegan can improve your sports prowess, not impair it. Many great and successful athletes are vegan. You may not be familiar with the name, but Scott Jurek is widely recognised as the greatest ultrarunner (100 miles plus) of all time. He has been a vegan since 1999. You’re more likely to have heard of Carl Lewis – but did you know that he’s vegan? One of the world’s greatest athletes, Carl attributes his dominant and record-breaking performances of 1991 to being vegan.

6. Having a vegan diet boosts immunity and helps fight disease. Since fruits and vegetables are rich in super nutrients and many have anti-oxidant purposes, they can bolster the immune system and help the body fight against disease – including cancer.

7. Going vegan can mean you look better, more robust and just plain healthier. Vegans who consume a large amount of fruits and vegetables are feeding and nurturing the health of their skin, hair and nails.

8. Going vegan can alleviate osteoarthritis pain. Eliminating dairy consumption has long been connected with alleviating arthritis symptoms caused by inflammation, but a new study by Karolinska University in Stockholm indicates that a combination of gluten-free and vegan diet is very effective in improving the health of those suffering from rheumatoid arthritis as well.

9. It could boost your energy levels. NFL star Tony Gonzalez has talked extensively about how swapping from an omnivore to vegan diet helped him gain energy while playing at the top of his career in the NFL. So has Oakland Raider defensive lineman David Carter who is often referred to as “The 300 Pound Vegan.”

10. You’ll have greater life expectancy. Studies have indicated that those following a vegan or vegetarian diet will live an average of three to six years longer than those who do not.

11. Bad breath and body odor are reduced. Eliminating dairy and red meat from your diet has been shown to significantly reduce body odors, as meat and diary products leave lots of residue behind in your digestive tract. Vegans frequently experience a reduction in bad breath as well, again due to the high intake of fruits, vegetables, beans and other high fiber foods.

If you have meat items in your freezer or fridge, now is the time to finish them up. Check back on Friday the 30th for your first menu suggestions and a shopping list. Then get ready to change your life with the BGVebruary 28 Day Vegan Challenge.