Being on a vegan diet is perhaps one of the most natural ways of living. This is because we are meant to eat what nature has actually intended for us. Being vegan means we must stay away from any animal products or byproducts and anything processed. This diet routine then grants us a healthier lifestyle and longer years in life. Most vegans can then avoid problems like obesity, heart problems and even keep diabetes at bay.
It is important to count your daily nutritional intake when following a vegan diet so that you do not miss out on any vital nutrients. Yet, due to eating clean, there may be certain drawbacks for people who have a hard time maintaining a healthy weight and become underweight. This is either due to their intense workout routine or their fast metabolism that doesn’t let them gain weight. Being underweight is not a sign of good health and must be avoided as much as obesity. To counter the underweight problem and continue being vegan, you can increase selective food and nutrients to counter that problem. Here is what you need to do.
“To counter the underweight problem
and continue being vegan, you can increase
selective food and nutrients.”
Foods
Abundance of Nuts: Most nuts such as almonds, pistachios, cashews and peanuts are high in protein and healthy fat, which means they are suitable for anyone who is vegan and looking to gain healthy weight. You may use them as a snack or include them in your meals so that you get the desired amount of nutrition to make your body weight right. You may also incorporate these nuts in your smoothies along with other fruits if they do not fit you as a snack or are not a fan of their taste. A bar of granola can also contain up to 300kcal, so if nuts suit your taste palette in that combination, it can be a good option for breakfast. It is important that you eat these nuts as often as possible so that you are able to have a balanced diet and a healthy body fat ratio.
Food with Oil: Food that is prepared with olive oil contains healthy fats that are vital for your body. You may prepare the veggies that you put in your lunch or dinner sandwich with healthy oils to gain fat. Also, you can use fried or sauteed tofu in your salad bowl to add texture and fat in your meal. If you are on a raw vegan diet you can use olive oil as a dressing. Furthermore, foods that have fatty content such as avocado should be consumed more often. Avocado paste mixed with olive oil, salt and red chili pepper can be a good snack or work as a spread or a dip for other vegetables.
Beans and Pulses: Beans and pulses are the biggest sources of protein for anyone with a purely vegan diet. No matter which beans you prefer eating, and irrespective of whether you cook or boil them, they can provide you with a healthy protein source which is essential for you to gain muscle and therefore gain weight. Similarly, lentils are available in many different varieties and can be cooked and eaten with other vegetables or work well in soups. These foods should be consumed as whole meals for lunch or dinner to get the maximum benefit and proteins.
“One exercise that can actually
help you with gaining weight
is yoga.”
Exercises
Exercises are a necessary part of any human’s life; however, it can be difficult to gain weight while you have a strict exercise routine. In order to gain healthy weight, you might need to cut back on a few exercises. You may also need to keep track of the calories that you are consuming and make sure that you do not burn off all calories and fats that you are consuming. To stop that from happening you may need to increase your food intake as well as reduce the time of your workout routine.
It is important to know that men and women can gain weight differently, which is why to keep your body balanced, you must not completely refrain from exercising daily. It can also result in you gaining an unhealthy amount of weight as your body is used to physical exertion. Your weight gain should average around ½ to 1 pound per week, which can be achieved through increasing your calorie count by 250 to 500 kcal per day.
One exercise that can actually help you with gaining weight is yoga. This is because yoga has the potential to address many minor internal disabilities in your body. It boosts concentration, metabolism and increases stamina. It also helps with healing stress which may be the reason for loss of appetite in some people.
Conclusion
Staying healthy is always what every person should strive for, however, it must not be confused with a body fat percentage lower than 5%, as that can be harmful for any individual in the long run. Healthy weight gain is always possible with the right food and exercise. A healthy life is even more rewarding when you are a vegan and are living the life as nature intended humans to live.
About the Author
Brooke Whistance is a passionate health and lifestyle blogger who loves to write about prevailing trends. She has been living in Los Angeles, California with her family including, her parents and two siblings. She is a featured author at various authoritative blogs in the health and fitness industry and currently associated as a blogger with Hourglass Express, providers of quality waist trainers, belly bands, and other weight loss products. You can always follow her at @IamBrooke94.
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