Types of Vegan Diets: Which is Right for You?
So you’re already vegan, but what kind of dietary plan works best for your body? We know that being vegan is more than just a way of eating, it is a lifestyle, but there is an infinite number of realms of veganism. With items that before were unattainable now available at your fingertips, it’s easier than ever to follow any of these types of vegan diets.
We have compiled the top, most headline-worthy vegan meal plans, and have listed the potential benefits and risk factors of each. Let us know your favorite types of vegan diets in the comment section below!
Vegan Ketogenic Diet
We take a more in-depth look at the vegan keto plan here, but we could simply not leave it out of this list, given all of the attention the press has been giving it lately. Following a regime of high fat, moderate protein, and low carb, the ketogenic diet aims to get your body into ketosis, thus burning fat for energy, instead of relying on simple sugars and carbohydrates. Athletes tend to love this diet due to its long-lasting energy source, and there are many health benefits to be reaped from following this plan. Many people disagree with the plans motives, highlighting the trouble you can get into when coming both in and out of ketosis, in addition to the high levels of fat, but it is definitely here to stay. Whether or not it is something you can maintain for long periods of time is another story.
2. Peganism
The pegan, or paleo vegan diet, rely on the dietary plan of our ancestors in the Paleolithic period, some three million years ago. The original and über popular paleo diet tends to rely on high levels of meats and dairies and does not allow for the consumption of legumes and grains. For this reason, many pegan’s do tend to stretch the rules, so as not to completely cut out two major food groups in the vegan diet. Removing all packaged and processed foods, and eliminating additives and unwanted chemicals in a huge health benefit for this diet, however hard to maintain it may be.
3. The 80/10/10 Diet
Otherwise known as the High Carb Low Fat diet, the 80/10/10 diet consists of eighty percent carbohydrates, ten percent protein, and ten percent fat, and is all the rage with many social media stars and instafamous vegans. Primarily sourced from fruits, the carbohydrate consumption on this diet does tend to raise flags for some people. Many people credit this diet with clearing their acne, helping their weight loss, and helping them overcome disease, while others fear the quick spikes in insulin that the fructose provides. It depends on your atmosphere and lifestyle whether or not you will be able to make this diet work for you. It can be better for people that live in a tropical climate, with easy access to fresh produce, rather than someone who lives in a chilly climate who’s body would be better off with starchy comfort foods.
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4. The Starch Solution
Focusing on starches, instead of fruits, the Starch Solution is otherwise quite comparable to the 80/10/10 diet. With a belief that one can eat strictly potatoes for a couple of weeks and still be healthy, this diet contains an abundance of spuds. The Starch Solution is unlike any of the aforementioned diets due to the fact that it requires seventy percent starches, twenty percent vegetables, and ten percent fruits. Fruits are not to be consumed as meals, but rather as desserts or additions to a meal and no more than the suggested three servings a day. Fatty plant-based items like avocados, nuts, and seeds are to be completely avoided unless you are already slender and do not wish to lose any more weight. Whole grain bread, potatoes, pasta lentils, and corn are some of the diets main proprietors, and due to their label of comfort foods, this meal plan claims to stimulate the taste buds and aid in weight loss.
5. Raw ’Til 4
The basis of this diet is explained quite simply in its name. Taking fruitarianism to the next level by consuming strictly raw foods until four o’clock, you get a similar result as intermittent fasting. The diet consists of a plethora of smoothies and monomeals, in addition to one cooked meal a day, after four o’clock, and plenty of water. The meal at the end of the day is not to contain any oils, chickpeas, beans, lentils or grains so the original diet plan does not have room for much outside of potatoes, steamed greens, and the like. You do, however, get to consume as much fruit as you want, due to it being hard to reach caloric goals on fruit alone. This is where calorie counting and huge portion sizes come into play. Both of these factors can contribute to disordered eating, so be aware and pay attention to any changes when it comes to your eating habits. Many people recovering from eating disorders tend to do well with this diet in their initial recovery stages, though it can be taken too far, and it is something to keep a close eye on.
Above all else, it is imperative to listen to your body, not somebody’s opinion when it comes to the different types of vegan diets. What causes one person to gain weight may be the thing that rids you of your migraine tendencies and helps you lose those last few pounds. Nothing is permanent, and it’s okay to switch between the different types of vegan diets depending on your body’s needs. Trust your gut!
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