Is going vegan GOOD FOR YOU?

Meat-free foods are not always as virtuous as they sound, but there are ways to sidestep the pitfalls and get your plant-based diet in gear

- LOUISE PYNE

If you're looking to power up your diet, jumping onto the plant-based wagon might well have crossed your mind. Last year, a record-breaking 580,000 people signed up to Veganuary, the month-long initiative that encourages everyone to experiment with veganism each January - but is a plant-only diet actually healthy? 'A well-thought-out vegan diet has many benefits,' says Alison Cullen, nutritional therapist for A.Vogel. 'For example, cutting out animal protein can lower your risk of inflammatory conditions, while removing dairy products can help to clear up skin problems and reduce catarrhal congestion.' But it's not always the healthiest choice. Here's what you need to know...

THE PROS

Forgoing animal products can be a diet upgrade provided that you chow down on the right foods. Known to help slash the risk of chronic heart disease, a vegan lifestyle can also keep weight loss on track. In fact, going vegan* is more effective if you want to slim compared with vegetarian, pesco-vegetarian, semi-vegetarian, or omnivorous diets.

And that's not all. A study that took place in six countries found that a vegan diet may protect against COVID-19, reducing the severity of symptoms. Plus, with concerns about climate change rapidly gaining momentum, giving up animal products could help to reduce our environmental impact on the planet.

Plant-based pitfalls