We bring you some Vegan alternatives, to boost your metablism, maintain healthy diet and yes, save the cause of animals. Substitute your daily foods with these nutritious simple foods.
Veganism and vegetarianism are slowly emerging as one of the growing new food trends in North America. Vegan is someone who abstains from eating meat, fish, or poultry. They also do not use other animal products and by-products such as eggs, dairy products, honey, leather, fur, silk, wool, cosmetic or anything that is made from animal by-products. There are many reasons why people choose to be a vegan – for health, environmental, and/or ethical reasons. Some vegans sense that if they consume eggs and dairy products, they are playing a role in promoting the problematic practices of the meat industry. Many vegans choose this lifestyle because they desire to create a more humane and caring world.
A vegan diet usually includes varieties of lentils, grains, beans, legumes, vegetables, fruits, and numerous foods that are processed and made with vegan hot dogs, ice cream, cheese, and even mayonnaise. Here are some vegan alternatives you can use to spice up your dishes that destabilize the myth that all vegan and sometimes, vegetarian cook is bland, full of boiled vegetables, unappetizing, and full of sprouts.
Vinegar
Vinegar is a great replacement from the calories you can gain from adding eggs into a cake batter mix. When it is combined with baking soda, it makes a great source for moisture and a binding agent in the recipe. According to a study, vinegar is a great healthy ingredient that can be use to reduce blood sugar and prevent the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Although it does not directly impact the reduction of disease, it works to curb food intake and curb appetite. As a result, it plays an important role in preventing obesity, which is nowadays one of the greatest epidemics that affect the North American population.
Cashews
Known as one of the healthiest foods, cashews make a great snack and can be found all-year round. Cashew nuts are the kidney-shaped seeds found in the Cashew fruit trees in the northeastern Brazil. The fruits are regarded as delicacies in Brazil and the Caribbean. They make a great addition to salads and can be blended with water to make cream for savory and delicious dishes like fettuccini Alfredo.
Coconut Milk
Instead of using sweet heavy milk, you can substitute by using coconut milk as a cream. This delicacy can be used to make dishes like chocolate mousse, ganache, and whipped cream. There are many benefits to using coconut milk. It contains vitamin C, E, B1, B3, B5, and B6 and contains iron, selenium, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus.
Mushrooms
Numerous mushrooms like Cremini and Portbello can be ground to make delicious burger patties and can be used to make veggie burgers or even larger mushrooms like Portbello can be grilled to perfection. The Cremini mushrooms have a special carbohydrate that increase metabolism and maintain blood sugar levels. Shiitake can even fight cancer.
Dark Chocolate
Rich in nutrients, dark chocolate eaten two-three times can lower your blood pressure. It improves blood flow and increases blood flow to the brain and heart.
Dark chocolate is loaded with antioxidants. Antioxidants help free your body of free radicals, which cause oxidative damage to cells. Free radicals are implicated in the aging process and may be a cause of cancer, so eating antioxidant rich foods like dark chocolate can protect you from many types of cancer and slow the signs of aging.
Avocado
Avocados are a great source of fiber, potassium, and Vitamins C, K, folate, and B6. Only carrying 160 calories, you can add this delicious avocado to your salads or make avocado oil for a great and delicious salad.Consider adding avocado or avocado oil to your salads. Recent research shows that antioxidants such as lycopene and beta-carotene are better absorbed with the healthy monounsaturated fat avocados have in abundance.
Nutritional Yeast
This yeast is a great substitute for cheese. You can use the nutritional yeast and are a great addition to a healthy diet. It is also one of the few B-12 sources that are available and made from non-animal fat. It is a great source of 18 amino acids, protein, folic acid, biotin and other vitamins. It is also rich in 15 minerals including iron, magnesium, phorphorus, zinc, and chromium, and selenium.
Tofu
A great and diverse substitute and a favorite of vegans, you can dice, slice, or cubed tofu to achieve a meaty consistency. Known as one of the healthiest foods and discovered over 2000 years ago by the Chinese, it is a highly nutritious and protein-rich food.Tofu is a very good source of iron, providing 33.8% of the DV for this important mineral in 4 ounces. Iron is primarily used as part of hemoglobin, a molecule essential to energy production since it is responsible for transporting and releasing oxygen throughout the body. But hemoglobin synthesis also relies on copper. Without copper, iron cannot be properly utilized in red blood cells. Fortunately, both minerals are supplied in tofu, which also contain 11.0% of the daily value for copper.
Non-dairy milk
Almond, Soy, and Rice milk is great alternatives to regular milk that is becoming popular nowadays and can be used a perfect option for any dairy recipe from milkshakes to ice cream. These milks are also beneficial for those who are lactose intolerant and can also be a healthy ingredient to promote weight loss. One cup of rice milk contains about 140 calories, compared to 185 calories in a cup of whole cow's milk, and 97 calories in a cup of skimmed cow's milk. Rice milk contains about three grams of fat per cup, while whole cow's milk contains about 11 grams per cup.
Almond Butter
Containing a great source of fiber and protein, almond butter reduces blood pressure, great for heart, controls blood sugar, and is rich in antioxidants that promote good health. Almonds are loaded with healing properties.They contain Vitamin E, which is an important antioxidant to overall well-being. According to the latest research, Vitamin E also reduces the risk of lung cancer.
Source: Todays Parent, VRG, WebMD, About, WHfoods, Odewire, Fitday, Justgoodenergy, 3fatChicks, and Vingertips
Feature Image Source: www.healthmeup.com