People who follow plant-based diets typically focus on whole grains, beans and fresh produce while limiting processed food consumption. If new to this style of eating, begin gradually by incorporating one or two plant-based meals a week into their routine.
Rising awareness of climate change and meat’s effect on the environment has inspired many to investigate plant-based options; some may choose to forgo animal products altogether.
1. Better Health
Plant-based diets emphasize eating food from all parts of a plant such as beans, fruits, seeds and nuts without necessarily eliminating meat or fish from your diet.
Studies have demonstrated the correlation between plant-based diets and lower rates of heart disease, cancer and other chronic illnesses and lower levels of fats such as saturated and trans fats – all beneficial to heart health.
Diets high in plant-based nutrients typically lower sodium intake and increase fiber intake, but people following such diets must ensure they get sufficient protein, calcium, vitamin D, B12 and omega-3 fatty acid intake as part of a plant-based diet to remain in good health. Fortified foods or supplements should be available if necessary to meet this need. The study demonstrated how diets associated with better health outcomes could also positively impact planet health by decreasing greenhouse gas emissions, cropland use and irrigation water utilization rates as well as nitrogen pollution from fertilizers – improving both personal health while improving global wellbeing simultaneously.
2. Reduced Carbon Footprint
Plant-based diets not only promote longer and healthier lives while decreasing chronic disease risks, they can also help minimize environmental degradation. A diet rich in whole foods such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes seeds grains tea coffee and vegetable oils helps minimize greenhouse gas emissions soil erosion water waste
A plant-based diet can also help mitigate damage caused by deforestation, biodiversity loss and overusing freshwater resources, while simultaneously decreasing air pollution through nitrification. One study revealed that participants following healthy plant-based dietary patterns experienced lower cardiovascular disease risks than omnivorous eaters while needing less cropland, irrigation water and nitrogenous fertilizer than their omnivorous counterparts. A diet rich in meat and processed food products was associated with greater risks and required more cropland, irrigation water and fertilizer inputs than their counterparts whereas diet high in meat/processed food were linked with greater risks as well as needing more cropland/irrigation water/nitrous fertilizer inputs from farmers/gardeners/gardeners/gardeners/gardeners/gardeners/gardeners/nitrifiers etc than their counterparts.
3. Better for the Environment
Plant-based diets refer to various dietary patterns, from veganism, which excludes all animal products, to vegetarianism which includes eggs and dairy as well as pescatarianism which also incorporates fish. Furthermore, the term is sometimes used to refer to diets which emphasize fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes while being low in meat products.
Eating plant-based foods helps us reduce our environmental footprint. Producing meat-based food requires more energy, land and water resources to produce than growing plants.
Example: Producing one quarter-pound hamburger requires the use of 460 gallons of water – most of which is wasted on animal feed instead of drinking or bathing needs – thus wastefully using precious resources. Switching to a plant-based diet could reduce environmental damage such as deforestation, loss of biodiversity, and overconsumption of freshwater resources.
4. Better for Animals
Plant-based diets have become increasingly popular since studies linking meat consumption with health issues such as diabetes and heart disease. Furthermore, animal agriculture is unsustainable compared to grain protein production: animal proteins require 100 times more water and emit 80% more greenhouse gases per pound than grain protein products.
2022’s Lancet Planetary Health study demonstrated how plant-based diets were associated with improved human and environmental health. Healthy plant-based diets produced lower greenhouse gas emissions, consumed less nitrogenous fertilizer and irrigation water use and required less land for agriculture.
A plant-based diet is a diet consisting of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds as the source of nutrition, while excluding processed foods with added sugars or unhealthy fats. For it to count as such a diet plan, at least 70% of your food should come from plants.
5. Better for the Planet
Even if we aren’t ready to transition entirely to plant-based diets, eating dairy, eggs, fish and/or meat from these sources provides all the nutrition we require while also helping reduce animal farming which contributes to deforestation, biodiversity loss and overusing freshwater resources.
Opting for plant-based foods helps conserve our water supplies and lower greenhouse gas emissions; animal protein requires 100 times more water per pound produced than plant-based proteins do to produce. A diet rich in plants may also protect animals from abuse and cruelty.