I thought it would be useful to explain some of the concepts behind the 30 Day Detox I am doing. The first concept is the Vegan Diet Plan that is essential for the detox and which Trisha Stewart recommends following beyond the detox too.

Here are just a few of the benefits of a Vegan diet:

• less saturated fats because you are not eating meat or dairy products
• less cholesterol
• more vitamins and minerals because you are naturally eating more fresh fruit and vegetables
• less junk food and processed foods (meaning fewer chemicals) – have you ever tried to find Vegan fast food restaurants?
• a reduction in toxins (unfortunately even fish high in Omega 3 usually has high levels of mercury picked up through the food chain, and many animals we eat are pumped full of hormones, antibiotics and other chemicals)
• fewer simple carbohydrates, that raise blood sugars and can heighten your chances of Type 2 diabetes

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Of course, this does rely on eating a balanced Vegan diet. The only Vegan I knew when I was younger always looked pasty white and had constant illnesses, but we discovered that she was so fussy about her food she would live on tinned sweetcorn and bread. Can you say vitamin deficiencies?!

One of the biggest arguments against a Vegan diet is that without dairy products like milk, you cannot get enough calcium, which will lead to bone problems like osteoporosis. Actually leafy green vegetables and legumes are great sources of calcium and contain other vitamins and minerals too. Whereas animal proteins can leech calcium from your bones.

So, all in all, providing you eat a good balance of foods on a Vegan diet plan, you can benefit from all the necessary vitamins and minerals, and reap the health benefits too.

I had never considered eating a Vegan diet before, in fact my friend recommended one to me a couple of years ago and I thought it would be too tough so didn’t even entertain it. I’ve been amazed at how easy I have found it over the past few weeks since I started the 30 Day Detox – I’ve never felt hungry, I enjoyed some foods and recipes I would never have considered in the past, and I’ve already seen some weightloss and increased energy.

Will I stay a Vegan after the 30 days? Probably not totally. I do find that I have to be extra organised about preparing food, and it’s difficult to go to dinner with family and friends, but I think I will maintain it for the majority of the time and just eat eggs, cheese, fish and meat occasionally.

For more information on the 30 Day Detox and Vegan Diet Plan, I recommend you visit Trisha Stewart’s website and read her Healthy Tart book.

30 Day Detox: Vegan Diet Plan is a post from: PCOS Matters... Please visit the blog for more information on PCOS

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