Does A Vegan Diet Really Make You Happier And More Productive?

A vegan diet can affect a person's happiness and work focus. (Unsplash/Sam Moqadam)

JAKARTA - People who follow a vegan diet can be more positive and productive than their meat-eating counterparts, new research reveals.

An investigation conducted by food delivery service City Pantry found vegan staples such as dark chocolate, green vegetables and plant-based proteins, were the best intake to improve brain power and better mood.

From remote workers to city residents, more than a third of employees said they felt unmotivated because of poor food choices affected by their careers.

Some of its main causes include ultra-processed meats and cheeses, cereals in boxes, chips and sweet treats with a high glycemic index, such as sweets and fizzy drinks.

Vegan illustrations. (Unsplash/Victoria Shes)

Influence of food

The relationship of our brain to the energy production of the food we eat, lies in how inflamed the food or snack is. Plant-based foods are generally associated with having lower levels of inflammation, which allows our brains to spend less energy to make us travel.

"Low-level inflammation turns off the metabolic switch in the chemical pathways that produce energy," Dr. Uma Naidoo, a psychiatrist and nutrition specialist at Harvard Medical School, told Euronews.

"When inflammation is present in the body, less energy is available to the brain. So it's important to eat anti-inflammatory foods, to make sure workers wake up in a good mood and stay energized and focused throughout the morning," he continued.

The role of polyphenols

Dr. Naidoo has worked extensively producing literature for people who want to better understand the relationship between food consumption and their mental capacity.

Vegan illustrations. (Unsplash/Shannon Milling)

Some of its main recommendations include cauliflower, carrots, red chilies, cabbage, dark chocolate, oregano, broccoli, chestnuts, blackberries, apple cider vinegar, shallots and garlic.

why? Because they are rich in polyphenols, which act as the main tool to keep your body and mind ticking through stabilizing insulin, regulating your gut microbiome and more.

Making vegan-inspired food choices during the workday doesn't necessarily mean improving overall health. In fact, Dr. Naidoo recommends foods with natural fats such as legumes, avocados and extra virgin olive oil as a more enhanced source of focus for performing long tasks.

"Fat is a key component for mental health. Your brain is made up of 60 percent fat and to do its best, the brain needs a constant supply of omega-3 fatty acids," he explained.

Increased productivity is just the tip of the iceberg of incentives for people to switch to plant-based. If the global population becomes vegan, its food-related emissions will drop by 70 percent by 2050, according to The University of Oxford.

"Your impact on planet Earth, not only greenhouse gases, but global acidification, eutrophication, land use and water use," explained study lead author Joseph Poore.

Vegan illustrations. (Unsplash/Maxsaeling)

Plant-based diets now regularly present challenges for people who want to test their productivity limits. It is now popularized in a number of viral internet challenges.

In addition to the environmental benefits provided, more and more health bodies are supporting veganism as a path to a healthier lifestyle provided that the person keeps his protein intake high and does not rely too much on vegan fast food.

Studies like those conducted by city pantry are available more widely than ever, but one of the first to build a link between veganism and productivity came from a group of researchers at George Washington University's School of Medicine, more than 10 years ago.

They adopted a vegan diet at work and found it successfully improved the quality of life associated with occupational health and productivity.

The only drawback participants cited was a lack of options when eating out, but this was offset by a 40-46 percent decrease in work-related health disorders.