More and more people are switching to a plant-based lifestyle thanks to its environmental and health benefits along with the growing awareness of animal rights. In the U.S 39% of Americans are actively trying to eat more plant-based foods. Transitioning to a whole foods, plant-based lifestyle can help you to feel fantastic and even give you a competitive edge.
However, with the growing demand for plant-based food options, companies have created more and more plant-based substitutes. Nowadays, there is an abundance of vegan junk food that’s packed with sugar and processed foods. Although it’s great that companies and people are more interested in becoming more plant-based, many of these plant-based alternatives are bad for your health. By introducing more variety into your diet in the form of fruits and vegetables, you can make following a plant-based lifestyle healthy, enjoyable and sustainable.
If you’re in the first stages of following a plant-based diet, it can be hard to know what you should and shouldn’t try. With a ton of unhealthy options out there, you can easily be led astray despite trying to make positive changes. Processed foods, junk foods, and refined oils can easily make their way into your diet. By focusing on incorporating a wide variety of fresh fruit and vegetables to your diet, you can give your body the fuel it needs to flourish.
Generally, a plant-based diet emphasizes real foods from plants including:
- Whole grains: brown rice, oats, and barley
- Vegetables: kale, squash, cauliflower, and tomatoes
- Nuts and seeds
- Legumes: chickpeas, beans, and lentils
- Unrefined plant-based oils
- Plant-based protein like tempeh and tofu
Many studies have shown that plant-based diets are beneficial to weight management. A review of 12 studies with more than 1,100 people found that those on a plant-based diet lost more weight on average than those on a non-vegetarian diet. It’s also been found to be beneficial to heart health. One large study in 200,000 people found that those following a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, legumes, whole-grains, and nuts had a significantly lower risk of developing heart disease than those who didn’t.
Just because a meat substitute is vegan doesn’t mean it’s the healthiest option. Supermarket shelves are currently booming with fake meats. The plant-based meat market is very lucrative with vegan burger brand Beyond Meat raising $240 million when it debuted to the U.S market earlier in 2019. A new report from The George Institute for Global Health, VicHealth and the Heart Foundation revealed that meat-free bacon had the highest average amount of salt, containing over a third of your daily recommended amount of salt.
This shows that just by choosing any plant-based alternative it doesn’t mean it’s the best option for your health. As with every diet, it’s important to know what to eat in order to get the most out of it and be the healthiest version of yourself.
Overall though it’s great that more and more people are choosing to become plant-based regardless.
There are a number of reasons why people choose a plant-based lifestyle including:
- Love of animals
- The environment
- Your health
- A competitive edge
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Well-planned plant-based diets that follow healthy guidelines, contain all the nutrients you need allow you to thrive and feel amazing, and help animals.