What Is A Plant-Based Diet?

Following a plant-based diet entails consuming minimally processed whole-foods, maximizing your fruit and vegetable intake, and eliminating or limiting meat, eggs, and dairy intake. In other words, “Eat food. Mostly plants. Not too much.” - popularly stated by Michael Pollan. Saying this, it’s important to note that plant-based eating does not equate to veganism as many confuse the two. However, more than half of Americans have an interest in enhancing their understanding of the diet fad, and its following is rising. 

Today, 43 million Americans consume plant-based alternatives on a regular, and approximately 1 in 3 eat plant-based protein daily. This includes soy, tofu, nuts, beans, and legumes. Furthermore, eating plants provides massive health benefits, including reducing inflammation factors linked to several cancers, heart disease, cognitive decline, and more. However, the largest benefit consumers seek from plant-eating is weight loss. How much does plant-based eating assist in this?

The science is blatant. A plant-based diet is rich in micronutrients - which can be found in the aforementioned protein alternatives, in addition to various berries, dark chocolates, green and black teas, and more. Consuming more meat is associated with an increased risk of diabetes, proving to have a negative influence on weight and blood pressure. With a diet high in fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy, these issues can be alleviated.

Following this, plant-based diets are among the most environmental across all diet plans, providing median environmental impact. In fact, eating plants reduces greenhouse gas emissions, land use, water use, and more. To read more on the plant-based diet, read more below.