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What does eating a plant-based diet to do?
Most people know that eating animal products—meat, eggs and dairy—isn’t great for their health. After all, most of these foods are high in saturated fat and cholesterol, which can cause heart disease, cancer and other illnesses.
However, what many people don’t know is that avoiding animal products entirely is one of the best things you can do to improve your health. This way of eating has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease and improve symptoms of autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and multiple sclerosis, as well as lower the risk of cancer and slow down aging.
What makes a diet plant-based?
A diet can be considered plant-based if it's primarily composed of foods that come from plants, like vegetables, fruits, beans and legumes, whole grains and nuts. A person following a plant-based diet would also avoid meat and dairy products. Plant-based diets are shown to have many benefits when compared to typical Western diets. Plant foods tend to provide high amounts of fiber and nutrients such as folate, vitamin C, potassium and magnesium.
The benefits of plants
Plants are an important part of a healthy, balanced diet. Plants provide fiber and other nutrients that our bodies need to function properly. Studies have shown that people who eat lots of plants are less likely to develop chronic diseases like heart disease and diabetes. Eating more plants can also help reduce the risk of obesity, cancer, stroke, high blood pressure, arthritis, and depression.
Plant-based foods tend to be low in calories, but rich in vitamins and minerals. A study from Kaiser Permanente found that following a plant-based diet may lower cholesterol levels by as much as 37%.
The American Diabetes Association recommends eating at least nine servings of fruits and vegetables per day. The Adventist Health Study showed that vegetarians were 12% less likely to die prematurely than meat-eaters.
It's important not to rely on processed foods or junk food made with white flour, sugar, and oil when going plant-based because they lack essential nutrients. When you make smart food choices it will lead you towards a healthier life!
Following a plant-based diet can be very easy
Many people believe that a plant-based diet is difficult and time consuming, but it's actually fairly easy. You can make delicious dishes with just a few ingredients in less than 30 minutes. For example, you could make a simple sauce from tomatoes, onions and carrots to use as a base on pasta or rice. Add some beans or legumes like chickpeas and lentils to thicken the sauce and add protein.Or create an Indian dish by sautéing onion and garlic, adding ginger and cumin, then adding potatoes and cauliflower. Top it off with fresh spinach or other greens of your choice before serving.
Tips for getting started with eating more plants
1. Start with one or two days per week and see how that goes. This will help you get a sense of the food you like, what challenges come up when you eat less meat, and what it's like to eat this way in social settings.
2. Find recipes online or in cookbooks that look good to you and try them out.
3. Learn about other people who have successfully transitioned to a plant-based diet by following their blogs or watching their videos on YouTube.
4. Get rid of all processed foods from your kitchen so that you're only cooking with whole foods. Eat more vegetables because they are lower in calories and pack a bigger nutritional punch than fruits. Add protein sources such as beans, lentils, tempeh, tofu, nuts and seeds to your diet.
In conclusion , I hope this post has helped give some insight into the many benefits of a vegan lifestyle. Eating plants doesn't just benefit your body but also saves animals, protects our environment and promotes peace!
If you or someone you know is looking for a healthier lifestyle please feel free to reach out to me to schedule a free consultation to get started. Remember for each referral you receive a free 1-1 personal training session. So bring a friend and save.