Many people with a passive knowledge of nutrition always doubt the benefits of a plant-based diet and come up with a list of concerns. These usually include concerns about protein, iron, amino acids, and B12. Myths of soy as a source of protein are prolific as well.
Protein
The biggest misconception about vegan diets is the ability to get enough protein. Virtually all Americans get more than enough protein. Even those on a plant-based diet. Plant protein is complete. There is no need to combine foods as a vegan to get sufficient doses. If you are an athlete and desire hirer protein intake, soy is a great option for building muscle.
Soy is a wonderful food for meat and plant eaters alike. Soybeans contain all of the essential amino acids, tons of micronutrients and are an excellent source of protein. The myths of soy and the misinformation regarding the dangers of its consumption are simply not true. Soy products are a great substitute for meat and dairy products and can help athletes accomplish the muscles gains they crave.
Food
Many think plant-based meals are boring. They assume that vegans only eat salads. This may be true when they visit restaurants with friends, but that is only because vegan options are usually limited. Vegan cuisine is full of fruits, potatoes, whole grains, beans and lots of colorful vegetables. Plant-based meals can include all the typical comfort foods from pizza to hearty stews to sweet potato lasagna. Food options are extraordinary. For many, it just requires learning a new way of eating.
Meat tends to be the centerpiece of most American plates. Any dietary change requires some experimentation and comes with a learning curve. Some of the fun of adopting a plant-based diet is trying new and exotic fruits and vegetables.
Health
Another misconception is that vegans and vegetarians are scrawny and unhealthy. This could not be further from the truth. Research actually suggests that a plant-based diet is one of the healthiest. It has even been shown to reverse heart diseases and diabetes. There are vegan athletes in many different sports, from NFL to parkour to powerlifting, that perform at the highest levels. players. Rich Roll is, according to Men’s Fitness magazine, one of the healthiest and fittest men in the world and is a practicing vegan.
The myths of soy lead people to believe that using it to supplement a plant-based diet leads to unhealthy outcomes. All soy is not GMO. Soybeans containing GMO are more often consumed by farmed animals. Others are confused about the presence of phytoestrogens found in soy. Phytoestrogen is not estrogen. It is a catchall term for many naturally occurring plant compounds that are structurally similar to mammalian estrogen. Functionally they are weakly estrogenic or antiestrogenic. Isoflavones, a phytoestrogen found in soy, have actually shown protective benefits against hormone-dependent cancers.
There are many myths of soy and surrounding the adoption of a plant-based diet. The benefits of soy are well documented in studies of Asian cultures and their diets. Veganism is not an extreme lifestyle or way of eating. It is only seen that way due to American culture. Consuming a diet of mostly plants is actually very healthy.
