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What is a Pegan Diet?
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What is a Pegan Diet?
Do you follow a paleo diet, but want to be vegan as well – or simply avoid meat? Then hop on board the pegan train! Wondering what is a pegan diet and if it’s right for you? Read on – and have a chat with a dietician or nutritionist to check if it’s right for you.
What is a paleo diet?
First up, let’s have a refresher of what the paleo diet is all about. Essentially, paleo (or ‘caveman’) dieters only eat food that our hunter-gathered ancestors hunted or foraged: meat, eggs, fish, vegetables, and grains.
For that reason, they avoid anything eaten after the agricultural revolution: grains, sugar, dairy, processed foods, or legumes.
What is a pegan diet?
A pegan diet incorporates the paleo principles, with one major difference: it’s also vegan.
Pegan dieters place fruits and vegetables at the heart of every meal. In fact, they make up at least 75% of their diet.
Nutritionists who advise clients on pegan diets suggest also chowing down on so-called ‘healthy fats’: avocado, oils, nuts and seeds.
In terms of what to avoid, the pegan diet is void of any processed foods, gluten, wheat, and dairy. Although, it does allow for some sugars and grains to be eaten occasionally. You know, for sanity.
Does a pegan diet include meat?
The beauty of the pegan diet is you can mix and match it to suit your dietary preferences and ethics. Under the guidance of a professional (to ensure you get all the essential macro and micro nutrients onto your plate), you can either eat sustainably raised and killed animal protein – or get your protein from plant sources.
Is the pegan diet healthy and sustainable?
As with all diets, opinion is divided on the pegan diet. Some say it’s healthy, such as author and Cleveland Clinic Center for Functional Medicine director, Mark Hyman:
“The foundational principles of both diets—real whole, fresh food in its natural state free of processed ingredients, refined carbohydrates, and additives—are the same.
“Designed correctly, both a Paleo and vegan diet can provide health benefits like weight loss, lowered cholesterol, and reverse diabetes,” Hyman said.
Others say that while the diet is encouraging in its limitation of processed food, it may be too restrictive. For instance, it doesn’t allow for starchy foods or dairy – a debate that continues to wage on.
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