The vegan diet

When it comes to endorsements for going vegan, they don’t get much better than a roll call of gushing A-listers. ‘You wake up and feel great,’ insists world-famous beauty J-Lo, and Gwyneth Paltrow is looking younger every day thanks to her strict vegan diet. Superstar Beyoncé and husband Jay-Z have been using veganism to lose weight – claiming it had dramatic results after just 22 days.

For actors Brad Pitt, Anne Hathaway and TV-star Ellen DeGeneres, it’s a way of life. It takes conviction and sacrifice, but it seems eschewing dairy, meat and fish may be worth it, as converts boast of benefits including high energy, lower cholesterol and improved skin.

Others are vegan for the health benefits, and according to Asma Begum, nutrition specialist at Superfoods LLC, Dubai, many are cottoning on to the benefits. New vegan restaurants and vegan options are popping up too. The raw chocolate fondant with coconut filling served at Bestro in The Dubai Mall is the new go-to dessert according to the foodie buzz, while Cactus Cantina in Wafi Mall serves delicious Mexican food without the cheese, and Coco Yoga at the Friday Foodie Market in Safa Park offers vegan cheesecakes, and ice cream made from coconut milk.

‘With so many celebrities going vegan and more restaurants and supermarkets catering to this way of life, popularity is sky high’, says Asma. ‘It’s great for weight loss because it is a high-fibre diet that makes you feel fuller for longer.’

As a result you’ll eat less, and expel toxins from your system. ‘The result is a lighter, more energetic body,’ she adds.

A vegan diet can also be effective in regulating blood sugar levels, hypertension and hyper cholesterol, as fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds – which feature heavily in a vegan diet – have high levels of antioxidants. ‘These protect the body and boost our immune system,’ Asma explains. ‘Antioxidants have also been shown to have anti-ageing benefits and are important for healthy glowing skin.’

With promises of high energy and radiant skin, veganism is tempting even to the most reluctant of recruits. Nicole Abramowski, 28, an American consultant living in Berlin, Germany, who often travels to Dubai for work, writes a blog Vegan Noms Noms (vegannomnoms.net). It’s packed with recipes and guides to eating vegan. Strangely, even Nicole was a reluctant starter.

‘It’s funny, but back in 2006 I thought veganism was kind of stupid!’ she says. ‘All my friends in college were trying it out and I thought they were insane, but I decided I’d do it for a month to test my willpower. At the end of the month I felt much healthier and less tired, so I stuck with it. I like that veganism has forced me to pay attention to the food I eat.’

Nicole says her blog has connected her with many other vegan enthusiasts and she’s even attending a vegan bloggers conference in Austin, Texas, next May – but she admits people can still be baffled by her eating habits. ‘In Berlin, people don’t really bat an eyelash, but when I leave my little bubble I get the usual “what do you eat then?” or “I could never give up cheese!” comments.’

For many, the prospect of going vegan may seem overwhelming, but Nicole believes veganism doesn’t limit her at all. ‘I think it’s the same as when you have a favourite type of restaurant or cuisine – that’s where you hang out,’ she says. ‘My favourites just tend to be places with vegan dishes, and then there are literally thousands of recipes online that I still haven’t tried – the options are endless.’

Another committed Vegan, Leena Al Abbas, founder and CEO of The Organic Glow Beauty Lounge – a completely green ladies’ salon, offering organic, cruelty free natural products – admits it was difficult at first. However, it was the weight loss and increased energy that kept her going.

‘It takes a lot of practice, experimentation and education, to be a healthy and confident vegan,’ believes Leena. ‘At first, I used to be very strict about what I ate. I didn’t like to eat out in case there was nothing suitable, I ate boring food and didn’t enjoy having to justify why I was vegan. This changed as I developed more nutritional knowledge. Now, eight years later, my diet is varied, and with a huge rise in the popularity of veganism, restaurants are happy to prepare vegan alternatives, and luckily my husband is an amazing cook.’

But how can cutting out whole food groups be a healthy way of life? Some critics argue that a plant-based diet won’t give your body what it needs. However, Sandra Hook, consultant dietician for The Vegan Society in the UK, disagrees, ‘All life ultimately depends on plants, so to say that cutting out non-vegan food groups is a bad idea or can make you ill is nonsense,’ she insists. ‘A vegan diet can provide all the nutrients for good health, growth and development.’

However, Asma warns that eliminating food groups should be done with caution and careful planning. ‘There are many claims from hard-lined vegans that a vegan diet can meet the bodies’ nutrient and mineral requirements, but so far there is no evidence to prove this,’ she says. ‘It’s extremely important that meals are carefully planned to ensure you get all the nutrients you need. ‘As long as you do that, and take the necessary supplements, being vegan can aid your well-being.

Jimmy Pierce from The Vegan Society agrees. ‘Many vegans give real thought and effort into ensuring they have a healthy, balanced diet; I’m not so sure the same amount of non-vegans do the same.’

There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to going vegan. ‘People don’t always go vegan overnight, for many it’s a journey of little steps, so we welcome any move towards a vegan diet, however small. We’re helping more and more people to go vegan with our 30-Day Vegan Pledge (vegansociety.com/pledge). Those who sign up receive daily emails with healthy, easy and unusual recipes to try out.’

So it seems going vegan has never been so easy, and with the promise of improved health, more energy and a smaller waistline, this could be the diet that changes your life forever.

Typical day

Breakfast Vanilla chia pudding with 1 cup of fresh berries

Lunch Crunchy red cabbage and green apple sesame slaw with 1 cup of steamed, cubed sweet potato (or one small potato, baked)

Afternoon snack ¼ cup hemp hummus with fresh vegetables (carrots, celery, romaine leaves, peppers, etc.)

Dinner Black bean and quinoa salad with quick cumin dressing

Dessert Dark chocolate