For years, registered dietitians and food scientists have seen the benefits of eating plants and cutting back on meat. And people appear to be catching on.
Going plant-based is not so much a diet as it is a general approach to eating. There is no need to count calories or worry about overreaching those macronutrient targets every day. Essentially, it's all about eating more plant-based foods (and less animal-based foods while you're at it).
A plant-based diet may help prevent type 2 diabetes
It is well known that there is a correlation between diet and type 2 diabetes. Weight is a big risk factor when more fatty tissue makes the cells more insulin-resistant, according to Mayo Clinic. So what kind of diet is better suited to prevent type 2 diabetes?
Studies show that a plant-based plant has advantages. A June 2016 study in PLoS Medicine showed that consuming a plant-based diet packed with high-quality plant foods decreased the chance of having type 2 diabetes by 34%. Plants may be lower in saturated fats than animal foods, which increases cholesterol levels and increase the chance of having type 2 diabetes, reports the American Diabetes Association.
A plant-based diet may keep your heart healthy
A study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association in August 2019 showed that consuming a plant-based diet would decrease the chance of contracting a cardiovascular disease by 16% and dying of this illness by about 31 percent.
But it's not all about restricting meat-you've got to be sure all the plant-based ingredients you're enjoying are healthy too. This means filling whole grains, legumes, fruit, vegetables, and healthy oils (such as olive oil) rather than dangerous plant foods, such as processed grains and sugary drinks, which may raise the risk of heart attacks.
Following a plant-based diet will help you live longer
Both of the other possible advantages mentioned here fell under one big one: live longer. The Journal of the American Heart Association research showed that a plant-based diet decreases the risk of all causes of death by 25%. Beyond that, the level of defense improves if you adhere to healthier plant-based diets. A study released in The Journal of Nutrition in April 2018 showed that consuming nutritious plant foods vs unhealthful foods raises the protection layer by an additional 5%.
Plant-based diets come in lots of shapes and sizes, and you should choose the version that works best for you. Over time, eating a plant-based diet will become second nature.
