Veganism and Olive Oil

For those who follow a vegan diet, are seeking to join the vegan diet  wagon or simply started to incorporate more plant-based products into their diets, it is important to make sure they are getting the necessary macronutrients for the body to stay healthy and well-balanced. This is a very important aspect of veganism and olive oil place a key role, mainly because of its properties and its healthy fat status.

But first things first - Let us explore the meaning behind the word “veganism”.

What’s Veganism?

Veganism mainly consists of completely eliminating the intake of animal products: meat, fish (and seafood in general), eggs (unlike the vegetarian diet), dairy and even honey. Most people choose to do this for ethical, health and ecological reasons, but there also other factors that contribute to making the switch. That’s why veganism is considered by many, a way of life more than a diet.
Its also worth noticing that the US  is among the countries with the most vegetarian restaurants in the world. According to a study carried out by GALLUP, almost 5% of the US population identifies as a “veggie” - meaning they have actively chosen to follow a plant-based lifestyle.. Although many of these consumers consider themselves "flexitarians" or vegetarians - meaning they consume a very limited amount of animal products -  the truth is that the number of vegans continues to grow year after year. 
But, what does a vegan person  have to take into account when following a vegan lifestyle in order to maintain a balanced diet?

 
Maintaining An Energy Balance.

Its not secret that the key  to a healthy diet lies in achieving a healthy energy balance. Carbohydrates, proteins and fats are the three kinds of macronutrients that the body needs on a daily basis. The latter should constitute between 30 and 40% of our daily energy intake, per nutrional experts. The reason behind this? They play a crucial role in maintaining our cardiovascular system healthy and developing powerful  brain cells. However, not all kinds of fat intaking  are equally beneficial. An ideal scenario includes seeking a balance between three main categories of fatty acids: omega-6, omega-3 and omega-9 fatty acids.
La Española Olive oil is made up of 80% monounsaturated fatty acids - Omega-9 fatty acids, that is. These fatty acids are important allies when it comes to preventing cardiovascular diseases and they are also known for regulating LDL cholesterol - The "bad cholesterol". In addition, olive oil  is rich in polyphenols, a kind of antioxidant molecule that enhances cell regeneration and skin elasticity. It is also highly resistant to heat, which enables it to be used for cooking hot dishes - and also making it an essential superfood in vegan diets!
Additionally, if we opt for varieties of organic olive oil, such as La Espanila Organic Olive Oil, we would be fulfilling another of the great motivations of those who follow a vegan lifestyle: protecting the environment.
 
All the facts and benefits mentioned above make olive oil the ideal complement to most vegan recipes such as Greek salads, pasta sauces, mediterranean dishes among other amazing options. The versatility of this amazing liquid gold allows us, olive oil lovers, to use it as a salad dressing, for cooking our favorite vegan pasta, make vegan soups, homemade sauces, baking, sute vegetable, you name it! Lastly, let's not forget that, in addition to multiple health benefits, olive oil gives any recipe an incomparable flavor - Specially if it a multiple award-winner!  How do you plan to incorporate olive oil in your vegan lifestyle? Head over to our social media accounts and let us know!