Eating a plant-based diet is one of the fastest moving diet trends. It is gaining even more traction moving into 2020!
You may be asking yourself, "why should I eat a plant-based diet?" Read on to discover why this age-old idea is producing a revolutionized change in eating habits.
Eating plants can prevent or reverse most western diseases
Some of these common diseases are:
- heart disease
- type 2 diabetes
- high blood pressure
- stroke
- and also, impotence.
• Artery Protection
When the goal is to eat plants, you're also cutting out processed foods, animal proteins and dairy. This means that you will reduce intake of saturated fat and cholesterol. Both of which increase artery-damaging LDL cholesterol levels in the bloodstream.
Removing them from your diet also protects the endothelial cells that line the walls of your arteries. This helps keep them from releasing compounds that make arteries tighten.
• Revitalized Blood Vessels
Eating loads of leafy greens like kale, spinach, and collards helps your body produce new copies of the cells that line artery walls. Healthy arteries, in turn, produce loads of nitric oxide, a beneficial compound that keeps your blood vessels relaxed.
I've recently posted an article series that elaborates more on the benefits of leafy greens. You can read about this here: Get Your Leafy Greens On (Part 1) and Part 2.
• A better "good bug" mix in your intestines
Cutting out red meat, eggs, dairy, and other animal proteins reduce the effects of "bad" bacteria in your digestive system. This bacteria churns out a compound called TMAO, which creates inflammation that clogs your arteries.
• Better Blood Fats and Blood Sugar
A high fiber, low-fat, plant-focused eating plan can lower levels of heart-threatening triglycerides (a blood fat). You'll benefit from lower homocysteine (another compound that can raise heart attack risk).
It also helps your body absorb blood sugar more easily.
(source)
• Anti-Inflammatory Benefits
Food matters – what we eat on a regular basis can substantially raise or lower the level of chronic inflammation in our body. This very well may be the reason why certain dietary patterns are associated with health while others are associated with higher rates of illness.
Fruits, vegetables and whole wheat are believed to reduce levels of chronic inflammation.
Read my article "Anti-Inflammatory Benefits of a Plant-Based Diet," to discover more.
Plant-Based dieting helps you maintain or lose weight
If you eat a plant-based diet that does not include added fat and oils or refined carbohydrates and processed food, you'll naturally tend to lose weight.
You will experience true hunger because your body will be getting all the nutrients and fiber it needs. It won't keep asking you to eat more because they're missing. Dr. Fuhrman calls this "toxic hunger." A plant-based diet naturally makes you feel full.
While browsing recipes on Plant-Based Cooking, you will find a Seal called "Plantricious." This seal signifies recipes that are qualified Plant-based. Read my article, The Trusted Plantricious Certified Seal to learn more!
Eating Plant-Based is better for the Planet
Eating a plant-based diet changes the impact of food production on climate change by reducing agricultural greenhouse gas emissions. (1)
Grain-based livestock production–which involves clearing land and raising grain for animal feed, particularly in the world’s tropical regions–contributes 75% to the overall emissions from agriculture.
In addition, one pound of beef requires 5,000 gallons of water. (2) Whereas, one loaf of bread that weighs one pound requires 250 gallons of water to produce the wheat utilized in that loaf of bread. (3)
It contributes to less animal suffering and cruelty
The factory farming system of modern agriculture strives to maximize output while minimizing costs. This leads to a cruel system whereby animals suffer. By eating a plant-based diet with very little or no meat, you will reduce the amount of suffering.
A Plant-based diet can help you live a long and healthy life
Since eating a plant-based diet is associated with decreased risk of numerous chronic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome, circulatory disease and hypertension, studies are showing that eating this way will contribute to a longer, healthier life. (4)
In addition, people living in the "Blue" zones have measurably longer lives than those in other demographic areas of the world.
And what do they eat the majority of the time? You guessed it - a plant-based diet of mostly fruits and vegetables, whole grain and beans. They also are constantly moving, make family a top priority, stay socially active and smoke very little.(5)
Conclusion
Eating a plant-based diet enriches your life healthy-wise, but also the planet and society. The benefits of migrating more towards plant-based meals can greatly improve some of the most common health risks affecting the Western world today.
If you're considering adding or switching to a plant-based diet, you've come to the right place! You can find a lot of information regarding the benefits of plant-based eating, but also recipes to get you started.
On the top menu, you will find the "Start Here" section. I encourage you to read more and see how the resources here on Plant-Based Cooking can help you transition into this lifestyle. And, a healthy, rewarding lifestyle it is.
Start small and give yourself traction, easing your way to a healthier you!
References:
(1) www.techtimes.com/articles/20076/20141113/plant-based-diets-reduce-impacts-climate-change.htm
(2) ajcn.nutrition.org/content/78/3/660S.full
(3) bioscience.oxfordjournals.org/content/54/10/909.full
(4 )www.livescience.com/37102-vegetarians-live-longer.html
(5) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Zone
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Originally posted August 15, 2010
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