a plant-based diet is a diet that consists of only plants. this means no animal products, such as meat or dairy. a plant-based diet is also often referred to as a vegan diet. vegans do not eat any animal products at all while vegetarians do not consume red meat and poultry but may still eat fish and other seafood along with eggs, milk, cheese, and yogurt. while most people assume that eating meat is the only way to get protein, there are plenty of plant foods that contain protein too. whole grains such as oats and brown rice are good sources of plant-based protein; vegetables like broccoli have significant amounts too; legumes like beans provide about 10 grams per cup cooked; nuts are another great source (the ones I recommend are almonds and walnuts. and then there's soy: tofu contains about 8 grams per cup cooked.
a plant-based diet can help you live longer.
when you eat a plant-based diet, you're helping to prevent the leading causes of death in the united states. a plant-based diet has been linked with lower rates of heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. the american cancer society recommends eating at least five servings of fruits and vegetables every day to reduce your risk for chronic diseases like cancer—and it's easier than ever to incorporate more plants into your daily routine thanks to all the delicious recipes available online!
it lowers your risk of heart disease.
you'll lower your risk of heart disease by eating a plant-based diet. plant-based diets have been shown to reduce cholesterol levels, which can help protect against heart disease. in addition to reducing cholesterol, plant-based diets also reduce inflammation and oxidation in the body, both of which are associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular disease. eating more omega-3 fats from nuts and seeds may also help prevent an irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, and blood clots.
you can reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes.
a plant-based diet can help you lower your blood sugar levels. in one study, people with type 2 diabetes who followed a plant-based diet had significantly lower fasting glucose (blood sugar) levels than those who did not follow the diet.
a plant-based diet also lowers cholesterol and bad (LDL) cholesterol levels. a study found that people with high cholesterol who ate meat decreased their LDL by 7 percent after two weeks on a vegan diet.
plant-based diets reduce body weight and reduce your risk of being overweight or obese, which is associated with diabetes and heart disease as well as several cancers.
because they're low in fat, plant foods are digested more quickly than animal foods; this reduces the amount of time insulin has to work in the bloodstream to clear sugar from it before moving it into cells where it's stored for energy production or later use by other tissues in our bodies—this is called insulin sensitivity
it improves kidney function.
several other nutrients can help to protect the kidneys. for example, beans and lentils are high in fiber, which helps to prevent kidney stones by absorbing excess calcium from the body. and because these foods have a low glycaemic index (GI), they can help reduce blood pressure and therefore reduce strain on your kidneys.
reduces inflammation.
inflammation is a biological process that causes swelling, redness, and pain. it can be caused by many things, including injury or infection. it's also a normal response to certain foods—for example if you eat something spicy and your tongue swells up! inflammation is part of the body's healing process and helps fight infections by sending blood and immune cells to infected areas.
but chronic inflammation can cause serious problems in your body over time. some experts have linked excess inflammation with conditions like heart disease, alzheimer’s disease, and some types of cancer. so reducing inflammatory foods in your diet may help prevent these diseases!
you can lose weight.
if you’re interested in losing weight, a plant-based diet can help.
plant-based diets are high in fiber, which helps you feel fuller longer and can improve digestion. plant-based diets also tend to be lower in fat than other types of diets. research has shown that vegetarian and vegan diets may lead to greater weight loss than other types of eating plans. additionally, plant-based diets often include more foods with a low glycemic load compared with the western diet.
a plant-based diet may be lacking some important nutrients if your focus is purely on weight loss. however, if you switch from an unhealthy western diet towards a healthier version of said diet—such as going from processed snacks and sweets to whole foods—your overall nutrient intake will increase substantially even if your calories stay similar!
plant-based diets are almost always healthier than meat-based diets
- healthier
plant-based diets are almost always healthier than meat-based diets. plant-based diets tend to be lower in fat and have more fiber, vitamins, and minerals. they also contain no cholesterol or saturated fat. meat consumption has been linked to several health problems including heart disease, diabetes, cancer, obesity, and stroke.
- less expensive
adding plants to your diet requires no extra money or effort because you’re already eating them! it's simple math: if you spend less on plant foods for yourself/your family then you're saving money!
- more environmentally friendly
according to the food and agriculture organization (FAO) of the united nations says that about 14% of total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions come from agriculture – mainly deforestation for animals grazing land conversion into agricultural fields fossil fuels used during transportation from farm to market, etc. if everyone went vegan overnight it would reduce those emissions by 50%. in terms of GHGs per calorie consumed veganism comes out on top too beating out vegetarianism so why not give it a try? you might find your conscience getting lighter with every bite too :)
---
overall, it’s clear that a plant-based diet is one of the healthiest options for your body. it can help you live longer, reduce your risk of heart disease, diabetes, and kidney disease as well as lose weight!
ready to start your self-care journey take the quiz and follow us on social media @shopblendedd for more self-care tips, products and more!
