Veganism is gaining popularity in the past few years and the number of people who recognize themselves as Vegan has also increased. The vegan diet offers many health benefits but to compensate for any nutritional deficit the diet needs to be well planned and examined. The diet includes chickpeas, tofu, black beans, almonds, and the one and all, walnuts. Walnuts have become a true friend and a lifesaver for Vegans. Now the question arises what is a vegan?
The term Vegan was first coined by Donald Watson in 1944, who broke from the vegetarian society in England to form the vegan society. You might think that both vegan and vegetarians are the same, however, these are two divergent categories with distinctive characteristics. Vegans and vegetarians both restrain from eating meat and seafood however vegan diets go a bit further. They not only avoid meat but also keep away from honey, egg, and dairy products as well.
According to research carried out by the University of Oxford, excluding meat and dairy products from the diet can help in reducing the carbon footprint of an individual by up to 73%. Not only that, but it can also significantly free up farmlands and wildland that have been lost to agriculture. This can lead to a substantial decrease in greenhouse emissions and help us prevent wildlife from going extinct that depend on these lands for food and shelter.
People choose to be vegan for a variety of reasons including health, ethics, and environmental concerns. Vegans believe every living being on the earth has the right to life and freedom. Hence, they avoid eating animal flesh and products that are obtained by exploitation of animals & instead sustain themselves on substitutes that are available in the market.
Walnut – A Substitution for Meat
The nuts, especially walnuts can provide them with many of those essential nutrients such as protein, iron, zinc, calcium, omega-3 fat, etc, to supplement their diet. Walnuts have been recognized by Kerry Taste Chart as the #1 ingredient for meat alternatives in 2021. Walnuts are a popular tree nut & the ideal ingredient for many uses in plant-based meat alternatives. They can provide flavor & texture to plant-based meat alternatives, an attribute that consumers are craving.
Benefits Of Walnuts
- Walnuts are high in antioxidants which may help in reducing heart disease, cancer risk, and improvement in the functioning of the brain.
- Inflammation, which may be a result of many chronic diseases, can be reduced with the help of compounds and nutrients available in walnuts.
- Walnuts increase the reduction in hunger and fullness for a long time, thus helping the person aiming for weight loss.
- Eating walnuts nourishes the healthy bacteria in our body which leads to a decrease in the risk of diseases in the future.
Conclusion
Deciding to turn into a vegan is not child’s play. It needs a lot of effort, work, dedication, and commitment. The skepticism of what to consume and what to avoid can be a real struggle. Proper research is needed and sometimes, sticking to the diet becomes difficult. However, there are a lot of plant-based products that can replace animal-based ones. One just needs some motivation and inspiration.