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Everything You Need to Know About the Vegan Version of the Paleo Diet

The vegan version of the Paleo diet combines elements of both diet plans and is known as Pegan. Created by Dr. Mark Hyman, he explains that his goal was to combine the best elements of both diets, rather than just picking elements of each one and having to pick a side. Pegan uses elements of both plans to encourage followers to eat whole, unprocessed foods without sacrificing the flexibility of less restrictive diet plans.

Although it may sound counterintuitive, the Pegan diet isn’t completely meat and animal product free. Instead, you eat a plant-based diet 75 percent of the time, while enjoying meat proteins 25 percent of the time. Technically, it’s not a vegan diet but it does focus on eating plant-based foods.

Another change is that many vegans all forms of fats. With the Pegan diet, healthy fats, those from olive oils, avocado, nuts and select other sources, are all encouraged in the right amounts. The Pegan diet avoids vegetable oils that can cause inflammation in favor of filling, high-quality fats.

Dairy tends to be controversial in the traditional Paleo diet, with people disagreeing on whether or not it should be included. On the Pegan plan, avoiding all types of dairy is strongly encouraged because dairy and dairy products have been linked to various health issues, digestive issues and more.

Avoid gluten and wheat products.

Beans and legumes are allowed in limited amounts, which is a strong departure from both diet plans. Vegans are encouraged to chow down on beans and legumes as sources of protein while they are completely forbidden on the Paleo plan. Pegans are told to opt for lentils over starchier beans.

Like most diet plans, sugar is to be consumed only in very small, limited amounts.

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