Eating a plant-based diet isn’t just beneficial to your health; it’s also one of the best things you can do for our planet.
Plants require 50% less carbon dioxide, use 13x less water and save 18x more land compared to meat – making them an important part of the solution for climate change.
1. Lowers Risk of Cancer
Eating a plant-based diet can reduce your risk for various cancers, such as colorectal and prostate. Furthermore, it helps you maintain a healthy weight.
A plant-based diet emphasizes foods from plants, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes. These are high in fiber which helps lower your cholesterol and maintain stable blood sugar levels.
2. Lowers Risk of Heart Disease
The good news is that a plant-based diet can significantly reduce your risk of heart disease. A diet high in red meat, cheese and eggs may increase this likelihood, while one that emphasizes fresh produce like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes and nuts significantly lowers it.
Eating a healthier plant-based diet can lower your risk of heart disease by decreasing saturated fat and cholesterol in your bloodstream. Furthermore, this type of eating improves gut health and helps reduce inflammation as well.
3. Lowers Risk of Type 2 Diabetes
There is ample evidence that diets high in plant-based foods and low in meat or other animal products may reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.
A plant-based eating pattern emphasizes legumes, whole grains, vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds while avoiding most or all animal products. Studies have demonstrated that higher adherence to such eating patterns is linked with a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
4. Lowers Risk of Obesity
Eating more plants and less of the unhealthy foods high in saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, and added sugar can help you naturally shed pounds without exercising or counting calories. It may even happen without any effort on your part!
A plant-based diet includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes and nuts. These are packed with fiber, antioxidants and micronutrients that promote good health.
5. Lowers Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease
A plant-based diet rich in vegetables and berries may help reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. These foods contain numerous beneficial vitamins and minerals, such as choline – found mainly in animal fats but essential for cognitive function – that have been proven to reduce this risk.
Research has demonstrated that people in midlife who follow a healthful diet (high in plant-based foods and low in saturated fats) have an significantly lower risk of dementia later on in life than those whose meals consist mainly of meat or dairy products.
6. Lowers Risk of Dementia
Researchers recently conducted an analysis of data from 16948 individuals who had been followed over time and found that those who consumed a healthy plant-based diet in midlife had a lower risk for developing dementia later on, compared to those who consumed unhealthy foods.
Researchers found that those who followed a Mediterranean diet, rich in seafood, whole grains and vegetables, had a significantly lower risk of dementia compared to those who didn’t. Eating this way also reduced heart failure risk and diminished cardiac remodeling that could contribute to cognitive decline.
7. Lowers Risk of Stroke
Eating more fruits, vegetables and whole grains has been linked to a lower risk of stroke. Studies have demonstrated that those who consume more produce like fruits, vegetables and whole grains tend to experience this life-threatening illness less frequently.
This study revealed that people who followed a plant-based diet had a lower risk of both ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes. However, they did not conclude that vegetarians in general were at lower risks.
8. Lowers Risk of Blood Pressure
A plant-based diet can significantly reduce your risk of high blood pressure, which affects nearly half of adults in America. High blood pressure puts you at greater risk for heart disease, stroke and kidney failure.
Additionally, a plant-based diet can potentially reduce the number of medications you need to take for high blood pressure and other conditions. To make it successful, ensure you’re consuming whole foods high in nutrients such as fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, nuts, seeds and more – all great sources!
9. Lowers Risk of Obesity
A plant-based diet is an excellent way to enhance your wellbeing, helping you combat obesity, heart disease and stroke.
Plant-based diets also have numerous other advantages, such as improved quality of life and reduced environmental footprint. Most importantly, a plant-based diet is easy to follow and will leave you feeling great.
10. Lowers Risk of Cancer
One of the most effective ways to reduce your cancer risk is through a plant-based diet. These meals are high in fiber and provide essential nutrients such as phytochemicals and antioxidants which help fight oxidative stress and inflammation.
Studies have demonstrated that plant-based diets can significantly lower your risk for breast cancer, prostate cancer and colorectal cancer. Furthermore, they may help you prevent chronic diseases like heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
