Whether you’re just starting out on your vegan journey, or you are a long-time veteran, it’s incredible to make the decision to become healthier, and there’s no better method than veganism. But why stop there? Make sure to not only top up on essential nutrients, but consider these superfoods to boost your health further.
CBD
CBD has become an increasingly popular choice for vegans, and has a huge array of benefits for your physical and mental health. It’s easy to incorporate in your diet – one of the best (and most fun) ways are gummies, like these Herbal Health CBD Gummies, particularly if you’re unfamiliar with CBD. One of the major benefits is that it can help improve your sleep, both in terms of keeping a regular sleep cycle but also encouraging deeper sleep, allowing you to feel more rested and energetic in your day to day life. It also contains essential nutrients such as proteins, B-complex vitamins, and iron, helping you fill in any gaps you may have in your diet.
The effects for mental health problems are even greater. CBD can help reduce the symptoms of anxiety and anxiety-related disorders (such as PTSD), as well as depression and mood disorders. Considering 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem every single year in England, taking steps to look after your mental health is more essential than ever.
Seaweed
Seaweed is rarely talked about, but it should be up there as a priority for vegans for the huge range of benefits it offers. Firstly, let’s talk about DHA – this is something you’ll often have to top up with tablets, as often it is found in animal products, and is one of the major acids that support the structure of the brain. Seaweed is one of the only plant products to contain DHA, meaning it’s a great food to help keep your brain healthy.
It doesn’t stop there, though – seaweed contains a ton of other useful nutrients including iodine (which is essential for your metabolism), magnesium, potassium, and vitamin B12. It’s also a major source of protein, so if you’re sick of loading up on beans and pulses, it can be a fun way to mix up your meal plans.
Choline
Though choline is a nutrient, it can be found in plenty of foods, many of which are easily included in a vegan diet. You’ll find choline in cauliflower, tofu, and quinoa – for a more extensive list, click here.
Why choline, though? Well – choline is essential for many parts of your body, such as your brain, your nervous system, and your liver. Choline aids specific functions, such as memory, and without enough of it, we can experience serious effects, including an increased risk of diseases such as cardiovascular, Alzheimer’s, and liver disease. In the short term, you’re also at risk of extensive sweating, vomiting, and smelling fishy! Though our bodies can produce choline, they don’t produce enough for us to function healthily – that’s why topping up is so important!
Making sure to include these three superfoods will send you in the right direction to keep yourself healthy.