The beginner’s guide to vegan nutrition
Want to go vegan but need a little help? We have the answers for you here…
The UK’s leading vegan campaigning charity
Viva! Health are the experts in vegan nutrition – the number one place to go for information on diet and health! We provide the latest research on why a vegan diet can help prevent and treat disease. Whether you want basic or complex information – we have the answers.
For members of the public, journalists, health professionals, whether you are vegan already or just feeling vegan-curious – we are here for you!
On our colourful and informative pages, you will find out what you need to be healthy and which foods you need to eat to get all the nutrients you need to thrive.
Sign up to our monthly health newsletter. Bringing you the latest health, nutrition and lifestyle news.
Select ‘Health’ on the sign up page below.
Want to go vegan but need a little help? We have the answers for you here…
Is being vegan more expensive? Do vegans miss out on nutrients? Is eating tofu harmful? Are we wheat-eaters or meat-eaters? Here we debunk 10 of the most common vegan food myths.
Are all ultra-processed foods (UPFs) equally bad and do vegan UPFs offer any health benefits?
Are plant-based meat alternatives healthier than meat? No, according to the meat industry; yes, according to science.
How much protein do you need? What’s the difference between good fat and bad fat? Where can you find health-protecting vitamins and minerals? Our A-Z of Nutrients has all the answers and more!
A vegan diet is packed full of amazing, health-promoting foods. In our A-Z of Foods, we take you through them one by one, explaining and exploring their benefits, unique properties and potential risks.
What we eat can affect our bodies in a number of ways and there’s no denying that animal products are linked to all kinds of health problems – from diabetes and cancer, to arthritis and zits. We explain all in our A-Z of Diseases.
It’s never been easier to avoid meat, fish, eggs and dairy – but what about those hidden ingredients? Do you know what isinglass, carmine or shellac is? Our A-Z of Hidden Nasties will help you spot the hidden ingredients in our everyday products.
Need some nutritional knowledge or answers to quandaries, queries or questions? Drop a line or email to Viva!Health’s vegan health experts
Find out everything you need to know about fuelling your performance on a plant-based, vegan diet.
Plants can do more than just keep us well-nourished and healthy – a plant-based diet can also shift your sports endeavours to the next level. It’s no coincidence that more and more athletes are going vegan – and reaping the benefits.
There is much confusion and a real lack of information about the menopause – we explain why it can make life so difficult for many women and what we can do about it. Can vegan diets help hormone balance?
Just because you’re vegan, it doesn’t mean you’ll have to make do with bread and salad when you travel. Be prepared and you’ll enjoy your holiday food just as much as your time off!
See more health articles
A healthy vegan diet is packed with foods providing a wide range of nutrients that give you energy, are easy on your digestive system, boost your immune system, help clear-up your skin and improve your mood.
Have you ever wondered what you need to eat each day? How much protein and carbohydrate should you get? What types of fat do you need and where can you get them?
Get inspired by our vegan meal plans – healthy, delicious and colourful. Discover healthy vegan meal plans but also those for diabetics, healthy heart and healthy bones.
In recent years, the popularity of veganism has risen sharply and many more people are now becoming vegan or buying vegan products than ever before.
Just as a vegan diet is the healthiest diet for infants, children, women and older people, it is also the healthiest diet for men. There is no magic ingredient in meat or dairy that benefits men’s health.
In order to grow up big and strong with healthy bones you need to drink milk and eat lots of dairy products, right?
Why does the number of women with breast cancer keep rising? Is diet involved and what can you do about it?
In the UK, one in two people born after 1960 will be diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime. Just four types of cancer (breast, prostate, lung and bowel) make up more than half of all cancers.
Our D-Diet is specifically tailored to the needs of diabetics and has been shown to be able to reverse diabetes and enable many patients to be taken off their medication.
Heart disease is one of the UK’s biggest killers. Smoking, lack of exercise and poor diet all contribute. The government recommends lean meat, low-fat dairy and oily fish.
The global obesity epidemic is no small problem! Obesity can lead to a wide range of diseases from heart disease to diabetes but a vegan diet can help you reverse it.
You don’t need to eat meat. In fact, cutting meat out of your diet can do you a lot of good because humans are not true carnivores and meat-eating has a wide range of detrimental health effects.
Cow’s milk and dairy products are not natural foods for us – we are best suited to drinking breastmilk as babies only. Consuming dairy products made from the milk of a different species is not just unnatural, it’s also unnecessary and may harm your heath.
Regardless of confused media messages, the facts remain. Egg consumption has been linked to heart disease and stroke, type 2 diabetes, cancer and food poisoning.
Fish is not a health food by any means. Widespread pollution makes fish and shellfish so dangerous to eat that the Government recommends limits for their consumption.
The overuse of antibiotics in humans and animals has led to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria or ‘superbugs’.
Avian influenza (bird flu) viruses are among the most dangerous viruses that can affect humans, with a case fatality rate ranging from around 30 to 60 per cent.
We are in the midst of a global health emergency. Here, we answer the most frequently asked questions about Covid-19 and explain why we must stop eating animals to prevent future pandemics.
Scientists have been warning us for years that the next pandemic could come from a factory farm. Let’s end factory farming before it ends us!
The number of people with mpox (monkeypox) outside of Africa in May 2022 exceeded the total number detected outside the continent since 1970. This rapid spread has put scientists on high alert.
Three in four of the world’s new or emerging infectious diseases come from animals. Responsible for three million deaths a year, these diseases are largely transmitted through trading wildlife (legally and illegally) and factory farming.
A vegan diet offers many advantages to athletes. Here, we explore what they are, how diet affects your performance and why plants are the best sports fuel.
A varied, wholesome vegan diet is the best choice for athletes but to fuel your body right, it’s best to be aware of nutrition basics – what we need and where we get it from.
A healthy vegan diet that will support your athletic endeavours consists of these essential food groups. They are crucial to smart meal planning, so don’t skip any of them!
Each sport or type of physical activity has its own specifics. With these nutrition tips and key messages, you’ll be invincible!
See more on sports nutrition
Three in four of the world’s new or emerging infectious diseases come from animals. Responsible for three million deaths a year, these diseases are largely transmitted through trading wildlife (legally and illegally) and factory farming.
Our Slash the Risk campaign involves placing huge billboards in the West Midlands and Bristol in November and December which will reach 12 million people.
Scary Dairy reveals the hidden cruelty of the dairy industry. Discover the truth and find out how you can help.
See more health campaigns
The word ‘processed’ gets a bad rap but some processed plant-based foods are actually health powerhouses that deserve a place on your plate.
Intermittent fasting could be a healthier option for weight loss while possibly lowering your risk of disease and improving your overall wellbeing.
One-third of adults in England have high blood pressure but managing it effectively is possible, and adopting a plant-based diet offers a powerful solution.
Apricots, peaches and nectarines offer a superb nutrient bundle and what's more - they make a delicious addition to your diet.
We all know that we need calcium for healthy bones and teeth, but many still believe that we need cow’s milk and dairy products to get it.
Lactose intolerance and cow's milk allergy are often confused because they both involve reactions to milk, but they are very distinct conditions. Lactose intolerance is a digestive issue related to...
Plant-based meats are an exception among UPFs in that they are better than the foods they were designed to replace.
A plant-based diet can shift your fitness results to the next level. Find out why and how being vegan can help you move and feel better.
Many of us are very familiar with the commonly touted ‘superfoods’ but let's shine the spotlight on some more unusual foods we’d be wise not to overlook.
