The Plant-Based Diet
Explained
In most cases, people associate a plant-based diet with that of vegan or vegetarian diet. It may sound true, but one fact is that a plant-based diet, just like the name, relies mostly foods that are directly derived from plants. The category of foods on a plant-based diet include veggies, fruit, nuts, legumes, pulses, meat substitutes like soy products, and grains. Although, people perceive a plant-based diet in different ways. For example, there are people known as flexitarian or semi-vegetarian. This category of people usually add some portions of fish and meat in their diet when in the real sense their diet relies on vegetarian meals.
Pescatarian is included in the group of people who add fish to their diet plan and avoid meat at all costs. Vegetarians can consume eggs and dairy products, but they do not take fish and meat. Another group which do not consume animals or animal products such as gelatin, eggs, and honey are known are vegans. Coming to plant-based diet, this category of people is advantageous because they have a wide range of pulses, fruits, and veggies available to eat This means that it is easy to compile their menu plans for a full day. And since they are entitled to a wide range of food products, it means that they consume all the required nutrients their bodies need, including vitamins and minerals which are vital for the health status of the entire body. Note: As much as plant-related meals sound healthy, they do not imply that they are perfect for consumption.
For example, packaged foods and processed foods that are labeled as plant-based usually contain some refined sugars and preservatives which are not friendly to the body and your overall health and wellbeing.
Understanding a Plant-Based Diet
Just like the word itself, Plant-based means that meals are prepared strictly from plants or plant sources. In simple terms, honey, meat, eggs, or milk are exempt in a plant-based diet. Also, the basic rule of a plant-based diet is to consume meals from natural ingredients. i.e., no processed, refined, or packaged meals.
Is the Plant-Based Diet Good for the Body?
The answer is yes.
Is the Plant-Based Diet Good for the Body?
The answer is yes.
Since the diet plan has a wide range of food products to choose from, it means that the body will be subject to a balanced diet, meaning you will benefit from all the health benefits this brings. Legumes, seeds, nuts, veggies, fruits, and whole grains have great health benefits for the body. Also, they are natural which means only healthy nutrients are consumed. Refined or processed foods which are full of cholesterol and refined sugars which can harm different parts of the body are not included. Also, carbohydrates which turn into sugar commonly found in dairy products and bread are not included as part of this diet. As a result, anyone on a plant-based diet is secured from heart disease, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, and even reduced risk of heart attacks related to common chronic illness.
Every diets health benefits rely on the nutritional content of the meals to be consumed on that diet. So, for a plant-based diet, whole grains are a good source of carbohydrates, seeds and nuts are a good source of good fats and proteins, while veggies and fruits are a good source of vitamins, minerals, and fiber
The Plant-Based Nutrients.
As you embark on a journey to follow a plant-based diet, minerals like calcium, proteins, vitamin B12, omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamin D should be a top priority. This is for obvious reasons, some nutrients are hard to find in plants, meaning a lot of caution should be taken when planning your meals. But then, where do you source such important nutrients? Well, there is no need to worry, as there are fortified plant cereals, milk, and spreads. These are a good supplement for such nutrients. So, when planning, consider adding them somewhere in your meal plans to achieve a balanced diet.
Ultimately, you can always consult a nutritionist where you feel uncertain about which option is right for you.
Tips & Advice on how to hack the Plant-Based Diet
People on a plant-based diet might tell you that meal planning is not an easy task. This is true because a lot of planning and preparation, including caution, must be taken, especially when it comes to balancing meals. However, one hack that works wonders is knowing dietary information and serving sizes. This information is included for recipes included in this book. Explore by researching and reading content related sources of different nutrients, such as omega 3, vitamin B12, and proteins.
As you start off, it can be difficult to keep on the right track. Start with preparing 2 or 3 plant-based recipes each day, then keep improving as days go by. After one month or so, you will notice that your body has adapted to the changes already. One reason why you need to start 2 to 3 meals is to give you a chance to understand where you can make changes in your diet. Ultimately, the meal plan included in this book is for beginners to the plant based diet. It is by no means something which you should follow all the time.
One of the limiting factors of the plant based diet is that it give you the freedom to explore different options and around different food groups. You can get around this, however, by being as creative as possible when it comes to making recipes and planning your meals. Meal prepping is another great way to save time and money on the plant based diet.
Sustainability
According to agriculture and food organizations, a good diet is one which impacts the environment positively and improves food security in order to promote healthy living among generations. A good diet, therefore, is one which promotes the use of readily available natural ingredients as economically and carefully as possible. Affordability, nutritional value, environmental impact, and cultural acceptability are among the key aspects of a sustainable diet.
The great thing about the plant based diet is that it takes into account these factors. Therefore, people following the diet are aware of the minimal impact they are putting on the environment and protecting nature in the process.
Plant-Based Approved Foods
Outlined below is a variety of plant-based food category you can make recipes from and enjoy:
- Legumes: They include all types of beans, pulses, plus lentils, and similar ingredients.
- Tubers: Include all root vegetables such as parsnips, potatoes, beets, sweet potatoes, carrots among others.
- Fruits: All type of fruit including citrus fruits, grapes, bananas, strawberries, apples, among others
- Whole grains: grains, cereals, and other starches in their whole form, such as quinoa, brown rice, millet, whole wheat, oats, barley, etc. Even popcorn is a whole grain.
- Vegetables: plenty of veggies including peppers, corn, avocados, lettuce, spinach, kale, peas, collards, etc.
Plant Benefits
How to Heal Your Body
All diets have both advantages and disadvantages, and a plant-based diet follows the same suit. Recently, there has been criticism over the diet whereby some people view its requirement of a high fat intake as a risk factor for the health of the body. This is because a plant-based diet supports fatty foods, and in a real sense, fats are known to increase cholesterol in the body which later leads to heart-related illnesses.
However, research has shown such allegations to be not entirely truthful because if you follow the outlined rules of a plant-based diet, you are entitled to uncountable benefits, weight loss being among the top advantages of this diet. In most cases, a plant-based diet is known to reduce levels of cholesterol, thus leading to an overall improvement in the well-being of the body. By planning recipes adequately and ensuring all nutritional content is included, you will soon notice you are living a healthy life courtesy of a plant-based diet. In this era, a lot of people are turning their backs on other diets and embracing the plant-based diet because of the countless benefits it has to offer. So, why cant you and I embrace the same so that we can all lead a healthy lifestyle? It is that time for a change. If you conduct research on most food outlets, you will notice that most of the processed foods are from animal derived products.