For years, licensed dietitians and food scientists alike have talked about the importance of eating more vegetables and less meat. And it appears that the dieticians were right about switching to healthy and plant-based diets!
Going plant-based is more of a way of life than a diet. There's no need to track calories or worry about hitting daily macronutrient targets. In essence, it boils down to eating more plant-based meals (while eating less animal-based foods). It also offers several environmental and health benefits. Let's take a closer look at 6 benefits of plant-based diets:
- Reduces blood pressure
High blood pressure, often known as hypertension, raises the chance of developing health problems such as heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. Following a plant-based diet can help lower blood pressure, lowering your chance of developing certain diseases.
- Protects the heart from diseases
Meat includes saturated fat, which can lead to cardiac problems if consumed in excess. So, by eating less meat and more plant-based meals, you're actually helping your heart. A plant-based diet may lower one's chance of getting cardiovascular disease. But it's not just about cutting back on meat; you also need to make sure the plant-based foods you're eating are nutritious. That includes eating whole grains, legumes, fruits, vegetables, and healthy oils (like olive oil) instead of unhealthy plant foods like processed grains and sugary drinks, which can raise your risk of heart disease.
- Assists with weight reduction
When you switch from a meat-heavy to a plant-based diet, your risk of obesity gets reduced. In summary, plant-eaters are less likely to gain weight, even if that isn't necessarily the primary objective. The goal is to nourish the body and cells in order to enhance health outcomes, although weight reduction might be a side effect of substituting and limiting specific meals. Whole grains and vegetables have a low glycemic index, which means they're absorbed more slowly, and fruit includes antioxidants and fiber, which helps you feel fuller for longer. If you want to lose weight, it's critical to focus on nutritious, high-quality plant-based meals.
- 4. Reduces risk of cancer
A diet high in vegetables, fruit, grains, beans, nuts, seeds, and certain animal foods is the greatest way to receive cancer-fighting nutrients including fiber, vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals. Plants produce an abundance of phytochemicals, which aid to protect cells and are anti-inflammatory.
- Lowers inflammation
Inflammation is the process through which your body's white blood cells and the substances they produce defend you from infection by external invaders such as bacteria and viruses. Chronic inflammation can linger for months or years and might occur as a result of an overreaction to an external stimulus. A diet high in added sugars and bad fats has all been demonstrated to cause inflammation in the body; yet, minerals present in fruits and vegetables have been shown to lower inflammation.
- Alleviates animal suffering
The most notable measure a person can take to lessen their carbon footprint is to switch to a plant-based diet. A global transition to a plant-based diet might reduce food-related mortality and greenhouse gas emissions. By eating plant-based meals, each individual may minimize the number of greenhouse emissions that his or her diet might be contributing. Plant-based diets assist to alleviate animal suffering while also improving and protecting our own health.
We just need to eat more plant-based meals to be healthy. They are quite vital for the long-term health of our bodies!