Are Vegan Diets Good for Your Heart?

If you've been thinking about making a dietary change, why not consider going vegan? Going vegan is a smart move if you want to improve or maintain your heart health. Heart disease is a common killer, especially in parts of the world that favor a processed diet heavy in animal products. But many people don't realize that heart disease isn't inevitable, even for people with a family history of it. A vegan diet can keep your heart healthy into old age. Here are five reasons why going vegan can help your heart.

A vegan diet helps you avoid saturated fats

Saturated fat is a well-known enemy of heart health. This type of fat is found mainly in animal products, like butter, full-fat cheese, and red meat. It's true that saturated fat is also found in some plant sources - coconut oil is one common example. But by cutting out animal products from your diet, you'll avoid the majority of the saturated fat in the standard American diet.

Getting enough fiber is easy on a vegan diet

Fiber is very important for heart health. Eating a high-fiber diet can help keep your blood pressure healthy, prevent strokes, and keep your cholesterol levels in check. Since a typical vegan diet includes lots of fiber-rich foods such as vegetables, whole grains, beans, and legumes, it's easy to get enough fiber when you decide to ditch the animal products.

Going vegan can help you keep your cholesterol levels down

Like saturated fat, cholesterol - which is another type of fat - is known for contributing to heart disease. When you have too much cholesterol in your blood, it can build up on the insides of your arteries. This buildup is called plaque. If plaque continues to build up for too long, it can block your arteries entirely, causing a heart attack. The good news? Cholesterol is only found in meat, dairy, eggs, and other animal products. That means that if you cut animal products out of your diet, you'll slash your risk of a heart attack dramatically - even if you continue to eat plant-based fats, such as avocados and olive oil.

Most vegan diets are rich in essential nutrients

Your heart health is directly tied to your general health. This is good news for vegans, because a vegan diet isn't just good for your heart - it's good for your overall health. Vegans tend to eat lots of colorful fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and healthy unsaturated fats, which contributes to general well-being. Vegans who fill their plate with lots of veggies also tend to get plenty of micronutrients and antioxidants, both of which contribute to healthy heart function. In order to get the necessary nutrients needed for your health, you might consider Le-Vel Thrive supplements.

It's easier to maintain a healthy weight on a vegan diet

Weight has a lot to do with heart health. Besides eating right, the best thing you can do to keep your heart in good shape is to maintain a healthy weight for your height. A vegan diet helps you control your weight in a couple of important ways. First, plant-based foods provide a lot of fiber and nutrients for relatively few calories, so you can cut calories while still feeling full. Second, the majority of high-calorie, diet-derailing foods are made with animal-based ingredients - think greasy burgers, ice cream, and anything covered in cheese. When you stop eating animal-based foods, you won't be tempted to indulge in these high-calorie treats anymore. Of course, you'll still have to make an effort to eat right as a vegan, but it will be easier to avoid foods that contribute to weight gain. Signing up for a healthy meal delivery service can help you make good choices and stick to your vegan diet.

Wrapping Up

Going vegan can be great for your heart as well as your overall health. A vegan diet helps you avoid unhealthy fats, increase your fiber and nutrient intake, and maintain a healthy weight, all of which will keep your heart in good shape for the long haul.