Vegan Diet & Supplements – What You Should Know The vegan diet has grown rapidly in popularity in recent years – more and more people are avoiding animal products for ethical, environmental, or health reasons. A balanced vegan diet can offer many health benefits, including a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, obesity, and certain types of cancer. However, those who follow a purely plant-based diet should be aware that some important nutrients are difficult to obtain in sufficient quantities through a plant-based diet alone.