Going vegan? Which approach is best – cold turkey or a gradual transition?

Embracing veganism is a choice people all over the world are opting for, more often than we think. The lifestyle change is evident from a recent survey, depicting a 600 per cent rise in people in the United States who see themselves as vegans, over the past three years.

As more people are attracted by the cruelty-free lifestyle, the common question for those new to the idea is: should I transition gradually or go vegan overnight. Here’s what you should know about both.

Cold turkey approach

Going vegan cold turkey means dropping all animal products from your diet overnight. This isn’t an “easing into the new diet” approach, but rather a drastic immediate step. If you were already a lacto vegetarian, eliminating all the dairy products from your diet won’t be as difficult as for the meat-eating non vegans. But for omnivores, whose eating habits involve a major chunk of dairy, beef, ham and chicken, this will be a major change. There is a high probability of your body going into shock mode, with heightened cravings and withdrawal symptoms. If you haven’t tried changing your diet in a long time, I strongly suggest you don’t take this approach.

Gradual transitioning

Allow your body to transition into the new plant-based diet slowly. Consider it an adventure that unfurls gradually giving you enough time to see how your body reacts to the changes.You can start by eating vegan meals at least once a day and then increasing that regularity. Or mark three days of the week in your calendar as only plant-based meal days. The motive is to ease your body into learning to cope without animal products.

To make the transition easier and more enjoyable, consider the following tips.