One of the new ‘it’ diets to make headlines focuses on cleaner eating and a decreased carbon footprint, with a strict set of vegan dietary rules.

The Thrive Diet was created by Brendan Brazier, professional Ironman triathlete and author of the book Thrive: The Vegan Nutrition Guide to Optimal Performance in Sports and Life. The regime focuses less on strict eating plans and more on changing the way a person eats for the benefit of health, fitness, the earth, and animal life.

According to Brazier, the diet helps a person achieve better health by eating plant-based foods that have stress-fighting characteristics.

While many diet plans include the consumption of lean meats, the Thrive Diet plan focuses solely on veganism – which means that adherents of the diet will stop eating not only meat, but also eggs, dairy products, and fish. Even honey is excluded, as it comes from bees.

Therefore, a person who follows this diet plan consumes lots of fruits and vegetables, seeds, and nuts. Legumes and whole grains also make an appearance on the menu for the diet’s followers, as well. The Thrive Diet also incorporates what Brazier calls ‘next-level foods’, such as coconut, which are supposed to provide the body with enhanced nutrition.

Shihara Hathy is a vegan and part-time student in the accounting program at SAIT who has been following a vegan diet for nearly six months.

“I think it’s extremely beneficial because you’re getting [your body] rid of any impurities that come from consuming animal meat,” she said.

As explained in Brazier’s bestselling book, some of the main benefits of adopting the diet’s rules are that aside from proving to be a highly nutritious and balanced eating plan, it is also earth-friendly and helps in the avoidance of refined and processed foods, and therefore helps reduce the risk of disease and weight-related illnesses.

Daliah Kohen, owner of vegan restaurant The Coup, agrees that being vegan is an excellent and eco-friendly way of improving one’s diet. “It’s basically just focusing on letting ingredients that are pure and healthy into your body,” Kohen said.

However, with all of these positive side-effects, what are the cons of such a diet? While it may be said that the Thrive Diet is the new nutritious path to good health and longevity, it has created some negative concerns as well.

Kelly-Anne Erdman, a registered dietitian at the University Of Calgary, believes that adopting a completely vegan diet – like the one promoted by the Thrive Diet – is an experiment that can either prove to be healthy or very unhealthy, and that’s why it’s very necessary to be completely conscientious of the nutrients one may be missing out on.

“One has to be very careful, because it’s a restrictive diet,” Erdman said. “On the brighter side, if followed properly, it’s very high in fibre and has no saturated fats or cholesterol. So that’s a beneficial aspect of the Thrive Diet.”

Nevertheless, the book does offer some well-acclaimed recipes, such as the antioxidant-rich chocolate almond smoothie, the nutrient-packed creamy pepper soup, and the refreshing blend of an energy pudding. While these recipes may take a while to get prepared, some adherents of the diet may argue that they are totally worth the wait and effort.

All in all, for those who wish to clean up their diet and significantly reduce their carbon footprint, the Thrive Diet may be a great addition to both their kitchens and their bookshelves. But for those who can’t imagine life without brie cheese, a burger or the occasional bag of Lays, this vegan-based book and the diet it recommends may not be their thing.