SWAPPING VEGAN FOR PEGAN
Move over keto – there’s a new food fad dubbed the ‘pegan’ diet and it’s
working its way to the top, promising to promote optimal health through
the ultimate combination of benefits from two popular eating regimes –
paleo and vegan.
Words: Clementine Page
W
hile the two styles may seem
like they’re at odds, the main
principle that ‘peganism’ takes from
both is a focus on real, nutrient-dense
whole foods – in short, anything you can
find based on the concept of ‘hunting
and gathering’. Primarily consisting of
fruits and vegetables, alongside small to
moderate amounts of meat, certain fish,
nuts, seeds and good fats, ‘peganism’
limits dairy intake and avoids heavily
processed foods like sugar, oils and grains,
instead embracing low gylcemic fruits and
vegetables like strawberries, grapes, peas
and kumara and heart-healthy oils such
as olive, avocado and coconut.
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August 2019
When done right, the diet not only aids
weight loss because of the filling fibre
and less calories offered by fruits and
vegetables, it also claims to help control
diabetes through balancing blood sugar
levels – although sadly you will have to
abolish coffee and alcohol. Whole foods
– fruit and veggies – are famed for their
anti-inflammatory and detoxification
benefits, which will evidently lead to a
healthier you.
So whether you want to up your health
game, embrace a new diet that doesn’t
limit your food options, or you’re a once-
steadfast carnivore looking to welcome
a more plant-based style of eating into
your dieting regime, ‘peganism’ could
be for you!