The beginner’s guide to vegan nutrition
Want to go vegan but need a little help? We have the answers for you here…
Home » Health
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?
These meal plans are intended for guidance only. The information presented here is not intended as medical advice nor does it replace medical advice.
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 is the number of women with breast cancer 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.
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.
Going dairy-free is a smart move not just for ethical reasons but also because it will very likely improve your health in several ways. Try going dairy-free and see for yourself!
See more health campaigns
Fruit and veg smoothies You need to drink to stay hydrated and if you’re not hungry, the best way to get some healthy vitamins, energy-giving carbohydrates, disease-busting antioxidants and water…
Writing at length about her four-week vegan experience, Sarah Vine – married to Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs – didn’t hold back in criticising…
As a vegan parent, the gazillion questions about your child’s health you are made to answer can make you question if you’re doing the right thing. Rest assured, a vegan diet…
The latest NDNS report, covering the nine year period from 2008 to 2017, reveals trends in food consumption, nutrient intake and nutritional status for adults and children in the UK.…
Essentials at the ready Basic foods we rely on for sustenance and nutrition – fruit and vegetables, pulses, nuts and seeds, wholegrains – can be dirt cheap and if you’re…
Vitamin K was first identified in the early 1930s when it was shown to be essential for normal blood-clotting. The letter K is derived from the German word koagulation. So, it…
NHS England has announced a new treatment for type 2 diabetes in the form of a very low-calorie diet (VLCD). Thousands of patients will be prescribed the 800-calories-a-day regimen as…
Ever wondered why lemon juice stops chopped apple going brown? It’s because it contains vitamin C – an antioxidant that protects food from spoiling when it’s exposed to air. A…
The study modelled what the tax on processed and red meat products should be if the health consequences of consuming them were taken into account. They also considered the level…
Cookie | Duration | Description |
---|---|---|
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics | 11 months | This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". |
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional | 11 months | The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". |
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary | 11 months | This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". |
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others | 11 months | This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. |
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance | 11 months | This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". |
viewed_cookie_policy | 11 months | The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data. |