Eating a vegan diet can actually boost your productivity at work

The answer to your productivity woes may not be in your brain, but in your stomach – studies show that vegan diets lead to increased brain power and longer life.

A study from the George Washington University School of Medicine revealed that both vegetarian and vegan diets are used preventatively, and effectively, against chronic diseases. Worksite vegan nutrition programs in particular have a startling impact on worker productivity and quality of life.

In the study, vegan dieters reported improvements in “general health, physical functioning, mental health, vitality, and overall diet satisfaction compared with the control group.” Among the vegan group, food costs appeared to be lower, and there was a reported “40-46% decrease in health-related productivity impairments at work and in regular daily activities.”

Those who love their charcuterie plates might be rolling their eyes, but the science dictates that foods loaded with processed animal products are turning your body and brain to mush.

Bad indulgences

CityPantry, in their Productivity Pick-Me-Ups study, amalgamates the advice from nutritional experts across disciplines. They’ve found that, generally, there are overarching “mental and physical implications of eating sugar-laden foods during the working week.” This extends to processed animal products in particular, and sugary, starchy snacks.

The Laborers’ Health and Safety Fund notes that sugar, sodium and fat might taste good, especially in animal products, but it’s making you unhealthier in the long run, and can lead to serious issues such as “obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes.”

The reason that these chemically altered animal products are ultimately worse for productivity is simple. Because these foods are high in the things you don’t need, like fats, and low in what you do, such as nutrients, the crash after your binge can be awful, resulting in a lower energy level and less ability to focus.

Harvard Health Publishing also notes that your chips, sliced cheeses, bologna sandwiches and packaged cookies could be bad enough to put you at a higher risk for cancer.

“Every 10% increase in consumption of ultra-processed foods,” such as “dehydrated soups, baked goods, sugary cereals, processed meats, biscuits, and sauces was associated with a 12% higher risk for cancer in general and an 11% increased risk for breast cancer.”

Good indulgences

As for what a healthy, productive worker seeking to live a long life should be eating instead? Ask any vegan: the answers lie in foods loaded with polyphenols.

Online medical database Healthline defines polyphenols as “micronutrients” acquired through “certain plant-based foods.” In addition to containing antioxidants, “it’s thought that polyphenols can improve or help treat digestion issues, weight management difficulties, diabetes, neurodegenerative disease, and cardiovascular diseases.”

This claim has been substantiated in articles everywhere from Harvard’s School of Public Health to the University of Allahabad in India.

While many might think vegan diets are restrictive and ascetic, there are plenty of ways to indulge in delicacies without shortening your lifespan, or decreasing your productivity. You don’t have to throw the baby out with the bathwater, and only eat kale from now on in order to keep your brain sharp. There are foods that contain protein, healthy cholesterol, and natural sugars that don’t contain all of the awful trans fats and simple carbs of processed products. Foods loaded with polyphenols can be healthy as well as decadent.

One of the tastiest treats that are also chock-full of polyphenols is cocoa powder. Healthline reports that there is over 3,400 mg of polyphenols per 100g of cocoa powder. But if you’re not into hot cocoa, never fear – dark chocolate is also high in polyphenols. Chocolate also contains caffeine, which can help give an energy boost for those sluggish days.

If you’re more into protein than sweets, vegans have an answer for the over-processed, gout-inducing meats we often consume in sandwiches or burgers. Beans are generally healthy, filled with fiber, protein and vitamins, and they’re also full of polyphenols. In particular, black beans and white beans have the highest number of polyphenols, more than any other food. So take out your favorite bean dip recipe, or try a black bean pasta and watch your productivity skyrocket.

Another great source of polyphenols is in the ultimate milk, flour, and egg replacement: soy. While you might be accustomed to soy tasting like floppy, unseasoned tofu, chances are you’ve been enjoying soy in a lot of your favorite meals already, in the form of sprouts, soy milk, cereals, protein bars or canned tuna.

For those who want to make the switch to veganism but don’t have the time to invest in researching how to make the transition without sacrificing their iron and protein intake, there are meal kit services like Purple Carrot to send vegan recipes right to your door. If you want to go slow, try swapping out your meat or dairy for some of the ingredient alternatives listed online.