There is widespread agreement among health experts today that a plant-based diet promotes health and well-being. Eating meals that center on whole grains, fruits, and vegetables is the best way to achieve or maintain a healthy weight, and it also seems to protect people from a wide range of health problems. Not only are plants good for the individual, but a plant-forward diet is also good for the planet. The following are some of the top benefits of a plant-based diet.
A Plant-Based Diet Is Easy To Afford
Switching from a meat-heavy to a plant-forward diet can save you a lot of money, especially if you grow your own crops with a good fertilizer, like silicon from Agron. Plants like spinach, broccoli, tomatoes, potatoes, carrots, squash, and cabbage are often easy to grow and provide a lot of food for a minimum investment. But even at the grocery store, grains, legumes, and fresh fruits and vegetables are much less expensive than similar quantities of beef, pork, or chicken.
A Plant-Based Diet Is Good For The Environment
When farmers or ranchers raise animals for food, they need water and land to grow animal feed crops. Drinkable water is becoming an increasingly scarce resource, and it is much more efficient to use water only for crops that feed people. In addition, animal agriculture has an impact on climate change by producing greenhouse gases. For example, forests that store CO2 are cleared to make room for animal pastures and feed crops, and the production of fertilizers for animal feed involves burning fossil fuels. In addition, the animals themselves produce methane, also a greenhouse gas, when they digest their food.
A Plant-Based Diet Helps You Maintain A Healthy Weight
Obesity is so prevalent in the U.S. that it is now referred to as an epidemic, and the modern American diet, heavy in simple carbs and saturated fat, bears a large part of the blame. Not only are most plants free of saturated fat, but they are also full of fiber and complex carbohydrates, which break down slowly. If you eat a high-fiber meal, you’ll feel full, and you’ll more easily resist the temptation to overeat. Research has demonstrated that switching to a diet that is lower in meat is likely to prevent weight gain over time. One study found that overweight women who adopted a low-fat vegan diet lost weight at the rate of one pound per week. Two years later, the participants were still maintaining their weight loss.
A Plant-Based Diet Lowers Your Risk Of Disease
A plant-based diet can help you live both longer and better by reducing your risk of developing the kinds of health problems that compromise your quality of life. For example, research shows that a diet low in animal products can reduce the risk of heart disease by 40%. A diet rich in plant fiber also helps people control their blood sugar and lower their risk of developing Type-2 diabetes. A plant-based diet is also associated with a lower risk of cancer, stroke, and many other diseases.
To reap the greatest benefits from a plant-forward diet, stick to whole foods as much as possible. For example, opt for whole wheat bread and brown rice instead of white bread and white rice. By making relatively small changes in your diet, you can improve your health and do something good for the planet.
