Plant-based Diet is..Really..Healthy

Vegeterian and vegan diet is on the rise. Over the past few years, there's been a surge in plant-based diet and vegan restaurants than ever before. Vegan and vegetarian diet is not just a trend, as many presumed. It goes beyond the fight against factory farm animals and animal cruelty, although this is also important. A plant-based diet is actually great for your health - physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. 

So let's take a look at some of the health benefits of plant-based diet that might even convince you to adopt a vegan, vegetarian diet.

A HEALTHY HEART

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Heart disease is a leading cause of death in the U.S. primarily because of cholesterol and high blood pressure. Plant-based foods are notoriously low on saturated fats that increase cholesterol and sodium that raises the blood pressure. Vegetables can also improve our blood vessels and reduces vessel irritation. 

LOWER BLOOD PRESSURE

Fruits and vegetables make our arteries more flexible and relaxed. They help reduce cholesterol levels that block the blood flow throughout our body, especially to our heart, all resulting to lower blood pressure. On contrary, animal fats are heavy on saturated fats that thicken our blood, resulting to high blood pressure.

LOW CHOLESTEROL
Animal fats promote high cholesterol levels, plain and simple. The more we take in animal meat, the more we have cholesterol floating around in our blood. Cholesterol is one of the main causes of heart diseases that block the blood flow to our heart. When we reduce or refrain from consuming animal meat, we significantly reduce our risk for having high cholesterol levels. Not only this, plant-based foods have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that keep our blood vessels healthy, smooth and relaxed.

DIABETES MANAGEMENT

Plant-based foods don't have saturated fats found in animal meat. They're low in caloric content and lack processed sugar that are big contributors to high blood sugar levels in our blood. 

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WEIGHT LOSS

Fruits and vegetables are generally low in calories that help promote weight loss and prevent obesity. 

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STROKE PREVENTION

Stroke works just like heart attack, except it affects our brain. We suffer from stroke when there’s blockage in the blood flow to the brain or when one of our arteries ruptures that impede blood supply to our brain. High blood pressure causes artery rupture, so the positive effect of plant-based food in lowering our blood pressure is a big prevention from stroke. 

As mentioned earlier, animal fats that we get from meat consumption thicken our blood vessels, cause inflammation and irritation, and increase our cholesterol levels that can all block the normal blood flow to our brain. 

  

ACTIVE BRAIN 

Plant-based foods improve blood vessels function and reduce inflammation, which helps reduce our risk for developing Alzheimer's disease. Studies show strong correlation between diet high in beta carotene, vegetables, and Vitamin C and E and low incidence of Alzheimer's.

IMPROVED LUNG FUNCTION

Fruits and vegetables are rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce inflammation in the airways that usually occur in common lung problems, such as asthma and COPD. 

HEALTHIER BONES 

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There’s an old saying that milk brings calcium, which improves our overall bone health. While calcium is needed for our bone growth and strength, dairy products like milk are not always the best solution. Cow milk can actually increase our risk for osteoporosis. Dairy products have high acidity that gets our body to remove calcium and other minerals from our bones as it tries to taper the acidity. 

Plant-based foods that are rich in calcium and other minerals, such as green leafy vegetables, seafood, legumes and fruits, offer a more alkaline level that works better for our bones. Plant-based foods also reduce inflammation in bone joints that are helpful in managing arthritis.  

STRONGER IMMUNE SYSTEM 

Plant-based diet offer antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits that help boost our immune system. Not to mention that the animal meat we consume come from factory farms that inject antibiotics in animals for their growth and health in stressful, filthy and miserable factory farm conditions. By consuming meat, we also directly take in these antibiotics that greatly cause us to be more antibiotic resistant in the midst of infection.  

CONSTIPATION RELIEF

Animal meat and products don’t have fiber, but fruits and vegetables do! Fruits and vegetables are naturally high in fiber that is good for healthy digestion and thus relieving constipation.  

CANCER PREVENTION 

Cancer is becoming more prevalent now than ever. It’s a tough and complicated health problem to beat. The good news is, adopting a plant-based diet can help prevent and eradicate cancer! Cancer cells thrive in meat, dairy, eggs, oils and processed sugars, which we get from animal meat consumption. 

 

High saturated fats and high calorie foods promote cancer cell growth. Dairy products even have a hormone called IGF-1 that is known to be a cancer hormone. IGF-1 boosts estrogen levels in women, putting them at higher risk for breast and ovarian cancers. It also boosts testosterone levels in men that increase their risk for prostate and testicular cancers. 

Photo credit: King's College London

 Eggs are very high in animal protein that is acidic that can promote cancer cell division and multiplication.

On the bright side, plant-based foods and fruits are heavily loaded with fiber and phytochemicals that promote normal cells. Fruits and veggies are also rich in antioxidants that help regulate free radicals that lead to cancer cells. 

LAST BUT NOT THE LEAST... 

Plant-based diet makes us feel good. It allows us to be more compassionate, connected with your food and our nature. We’re more in touched with who we are and the value of everything around us – our personal health, animals, and the environment – which makes us happier individuals.

 

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