More and more people are quitting meat and adopting plant-based diet.
There are different reasons for this change. Some of them want to lose weight, others to lower the risk of heart disease, or just care for the planet and animals.
In this topic we will show you the main benefits of plant-based diet:
1. You can Lose Weight
Did you know that the general obesity is much lower in vegetarians?
According to a study in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Diabetics, meat-eaters have the highest rate of heart disease and the lower intake of magnesium, beta carotene, fiber and plant proteins.
Vegetarian diet is beneficial for weight loss because it is low in fat, but it is rich in fresh vegetables, whole grains and fruits.
2. You Will Reduce the Body Inflammation
Within few hours of consumption, processed food, meat, cheese can cause an inflammation in the body. As a response to animal fat the arteries are paralyzed. Also, the lungs become inflamed. A continuous inflammation can lead to autoimmune diseases, diabetes, heart disease and cancer.
On the other side, due to the fact that plant-based diets are based on plant fiber and antioxidants, they are anti-inflammatory.
3. Your Cholesterol Levels will Fall
Red meat, poultry, diary and other animal products are full with saturated fat, which are main cause of high cholesterol levels. High cholesterol is linked to heart disease and stroke, which are the top killers in the USA. Scientists found that when people quit meat and turn to plant-based diet, their cholesterol levels drop by 35 percent. Fiber from the plants reduces the blood cholesterol.
4. Your will Reduce The Risk of Developing Type 2 Diabetes
Studies have shown that consuming an animal protein is highly linked to long-term risk of getting diabetes. Animal based iron, animal fat and nitrate preservatives from meat can damage pancreatic cells, increase inflammation and the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
5. You will Avoid Toxic Food Contaminants
Animal products are full with pesticides, antibiotics, herbicides and hormones, which can lead to many health issues. A shocking percentage of all the meat in the USA is contaminated with Escherichia Coli, campylobacter, listeria and other dangerous bacteria. Contaminated meat can cause food poisoning which in the worst cases can lead to death. Consuming fresh organic plants can save you from bacteria, parasites and dangerous viruses.
6. You Will Contribute To Better Health Of Our Planet
By adopting a plant-based diet we affect directly on our environment. In the U.S. a 70 percent of the grain is given to animals, which later are slaughtered by the meat industry. In the Amazon, about 80 percent of the deforested land is used as cattle pasture. For a comparison, it takes 12 times much land, 15 times much water and 13 times much fossil fuel to produce just one pound of animal protein than for a one pound of soy protein.
Therefore, if we choose a plant-based diet automatically we save water and we have a direct impact on all natural resources, such as reducing the rainforest destruction, climate change and pollution.