Fad diets have taken over the world and while it may have become slightly difficult to figure out which diet you should opt for, the plant-based diet should seriously be one of your best bets. Although plant-based diets have been around for quite some time, it is only in 2019 that they've gained so much traction. Now, first things first, plant-based diets are not the same as vegan diets. While vegan diets restrict all meat-based products, plant-based diets only encourage you to add more plants to your diet.
“A plant-based diet means eating primarily whole plant foods rich in vitamins, minerals, fibre, antioxidants, and healthy fats,” says Alexis Joseph, a registered dietitian. This means that the majority of your diet should consist of fruits, veggies, whole grains, beans, legumes, nuts, and seeds. “I consider myself plant-based because most of the foods I eat are plant-based,” says Joseph. “That said, I also eat yogurt, cheese, eggs, and fish when I feel like it, and that’s okay!”
“Regularly consuming foods high in plant protein versus animal protein can help prevent and reverse a slew of chronic conditions, including diabetes and heart disease,” says Joseph. She also added that plants can work wonders in boosting healthy cholesterol levels, maintaining blood pressure and blood sugar levels in the body. Apart from this, a plant-based diet can give you wonderful results if you're looking to lose weight. And what's best is that it'll even reduce your carbon footprint which will work well for the environment too.
“I always recommend starting small,” says Joseph. “Overturning your entire diet in a day is overwhelming and lessens the likelihood of you sticking with it. Instead of jumping to extremes, pick two small changes to implement each week.”
