The plant paradox

People choose a vegetarian or vegan diet for several reasons. Sometimes it’s out of concern for the way animals are treated or for the environment. But it’s also common to choose a plant-based diet because it’s considered healthier.

New research by California Raisins has revealed that 40% of people in the UK think going vegan is healthier for you, with 18% of Brits believing that all vegan food is healthy, but this isn’t necessarily the case.

First off, you don’t need to be a vegan to follow a plant-based diet, and not all vegan diets are equally healthy. It’s easy to be an unhealthy vegan! Too much saturated fat, sugar and salt from any source isn’t good for your health. There are plenty of processed plant-based meals and snacks like meat-free burgers and sausages, vegetarian sausage rolls, vegan doughnuts and chickpea crisps. Some of these meals and snacks are perceived as ‘healthier’ but still contain ingredients that may increase your intake of saturated fat, salt and sugars – especially if you eat them regularly.

Aston spoke to dietitian and nutritionist Helen Bond.

Photo by Dan Gold on Unsplash