Idea 2 Research

My second idea was to do something for the benefits of vegetarianism and veganism, and how it helps the environment, people and the animals. Similarly, to my first idea I haven’t fully bulked out this idea so I have just done some general research on the topic which will help me to create my initial ideas.

Helping people:

A vegan diet is richer in certain nutrients. Several studies have reported that vegan diets tend to provide more fiber, antioxidants and beneficial plant compounds. They also appear to be richer in potassium, magnesium, folate and vitamins A, C and E. However bad vegan diets provide insufficient amounts of essential fatty acids, vitamin B12, iron, calcium, iodine or Zinc. 

It can help you to lose excess weight. Many observational studies show that vegans tend to be thinner and have a lower body mass indexes (BMI) than non-vegans. A recent study comparing the weight loss effects of five different diets concluded that vegetarian and vegan diets were just as well-accepted as semi-vegetarian and standard western diets. Even when they weren’t following their diets perfectly, the vegetarian and vegan groups still lost slightly more weight than those on a standard western diet.

It appears to lower blood sugar levels and improve kidney function. Going vegan may also have benefits for type 2 diabetes and declining kidney function. Vegans tend to have lower blood sugar levels, higher insulin sensitivity and up to 50-78% lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes. In one study, 43% of participants following a vegan diet were able to reduce their dosage of blood-sugar-lowering medication, compared to the 26% in the group that followed on ADA-recommended diet. 

A vegan diet may protect against certain cancers. According to the World Health Organization, about one-third of all cancers can be prevented by factors within your control, including diet. For instance, eating legumes regularly may reduce your risk of colorectal cancer by about 9-18%, and eating at least 7 potions of fresh fruit and vegetables per day may lower your risk of dying from cancer by up to 15%. Vegans generally eat considerably more legumes, fruit and vegetables than non-vegans. 

It is linked to a lower risk of heart disease. Eating fresh fruit, vegetables, legumes and fibre is linked to a lower risk of heart disease. All of these are generally eaten in large amounts in well-planned vegan diets. Observational studies comparing vegans to vegetarians and the general population report that vegans may benefit from up to a 75% lower risk of developing high blood pressure.