Health Benefits Of A Plant Based Diet

Living a vegan lifestyle and eating a diet free from animal products can not only be rewarding in terms of ethics, it can also pay off in terms of health¹. Fruit, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and pulses all have huge benefits beyond merely keeping a healthy body weight. An increased intake of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients, including antioxidants, can help prevent a number of conditions.

Significant studies have proven that people eating a plant based diet live a longer life than the average meat-eater². This is not something that the powerful meat industry likes to be heard and they spend a lot of money sponsoring research to try to validate health benefits of animal products.

High cholesterol and high blood pressure have both been found to lead to heart disease. However, on a diet low in fat, sodium and calories, and high in potassium, vegans are significantly less likely to develop either. The antioxidants found in a lot of fruit and vegetables, such as berries, has been found to help prevent cancer³. Animal proteins have been found to agitate tissue inflammation⁴ whereas fruit and vegetables have anti-inflammatory properties. The discomfort that comes with conditions such as arthritis can be greatly improved by eating a plant-based diet rather than a meat-based one⁵.

A vegan diet can not only give you a longer life, it can give you a better quality life.

Sources:

1. Top 10 Health Benefits of Vegetarianism

2. The China Study

3. American Institute for Cancer Research

4. NutritionalFacts.org

5. Forks Over Knives