Four Benefits of Eating a Plant-based Diet

Plant-based diets have been gaining popularity for some time now. They are gaining momentum not only in the food and health industry, but also in the travel industry as well. If you are considering a vegan trip to any beautiful destinations like vegan national parks then you’re familiar with some plant-based diet.

A plant-based diet is an eating pattern that focuses on whole, plant foods (fruits, vegetables and whole grains) that are minimally processed. The most common reasons for choosing a plant-based diet are to improve your health, lose weight or help the environment by leaving a smaller carbon footprint.

The benefits of a plant-based diet can be life changing and include different health benefits: decreased risk of heart disease, cancer, diabetes and obesity; lower cholesterol levels, relief from acid reflux and arthritis, increased energy levels, better digestion, and improved blood pressure and circulation.

Here Are Four Benefits of Eating a Plant-based Diet:

Weight Loss and Weight Maintenance

Eating a plant-based diet is great for weight loss. If you’re overweight, it may be because you’re eating too many calories. A plant-based diet includes plenty of whole grains and other foods that are high in fiber. Fiber fills you up quickly and makes you feel full longer so you eat fewer calories overall. Vegan meals are also naturally low in saturated fat and calories, compared to animal products and meat which are typically high in saturated fat.

Lower Cholesterol

A lot of people who eat a plant-based diet see their cholesterol levels drop quickly and easily. This is because animal products are often high in saturated fats, which can increase LDL cholesterol levels. This type of cholesterol has been shown to increase the risk of heart disease and stroke, so lowering your intake of animal fats is a great way to lower this risk and improve your overall health.

Environmentally Friendly

Animal farming is extremely resource intensive; not only does it require much space for grazing animals or growing feed for factory raised animals but also produces methane gas emissions.

Livestock farming, particularly cattle farming, is one of the most environmentally damaging industries in the world. In fact, factory farms produce more greenhouse gasses than all forms of transportation combined. It also has a significant effect on water pollution and uses up massive amounts of land that could be used to grow crops for human consumption. Not only that, but it is also incredibly cruel to the animals that are raised and killed for food.

While meat production is considered to be a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, raising animals for food produces methane gas emissions, which is 25 times more harmful than carbon dioxide. If we all went vegetarian or vegan, we could significantly reduce the amount of methane gas being produced, and in turn help protect the environment.

It's Cheaper Than Other Diets

Eating a plant-based diet will save you hundreds of dollars every month due to not having to buy meat or animal products that are quite pricey. Also eating at home more often is cheaper than eating out all the time. Additionally, if you have a lot of space in your backyard, you can plant your own fruits and vegetables to save more money.

For those who are looking to better their health by adopting a plant based diet, there are plenty of easy ways to do so and not just on your culinary cruise trip vacation. One way is to swap out your animal products with vegan products such as almond milk instead of dairy milk, tofu and beans in place of meat and many other substitutes. The health benefits of a plant-based diet are numerous, and they only continue to grow as the scientific community uncovers new information.