A plant-based diet helps maintain a healthy weight- Staying at a healthy weight is one of the most important things you can do to reduce your risk for cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer. This is because excess weight causes inflammation and hormonal imbalance. The Diabetes Care study found substantial body mass index (BMI) differences between non-meat eaters and meat eaters, with non-meat eaters also sustaining weight loss longer than meat eaters. Almost 80–90% of type 2 diabetes patients are overweight or obese and are at higher risk for 12 different types of cancer.
Eating a plant-based diet improves the health of your gut- Plants are high in fiber. Fiber is present in all unprocessed plant foods and makes up the structure of the plant. Increased fiber helps you absorb the nutrients from food that support your immune system and reduce inflammation. Fiber can lower cholesterol and stabilize blood sugar and it’s great for good bowel management. Numerous studies have shown that diets containing a variety of whole plant-based foods contribute a broad range of prebiotics that nourish the beneficial bacteria in our gut. In fact, research shows that diversity of plant-based foods in your diet is associated with a diverse and resilient gut microbiome. This diversity can contribute to an improved immune system, clearer skin, better hormone balance, increased metabolic function and positive mental health outcomes.
A plant-based diet supports your immune system- Plants have essential nutrients that you cannot get from other foods. The vitamins and minerals, phytochemicals and antioxidants in plants help keep your cells healthy and your body in balance so that your immune system can function at its best.
A plant-based diet also has been shown to reduce your risk for heart disease, stroke and diabetes-Reducing meat intake and diets that are high in saturated fat and cholesterol reduce the risk of cardiac events, heart damage, or coronary artery disease. A meta-analysis explored data from 39 studies and concluded that people who followed a vegetarian diet had lower blood pressure on average than those who followed omnivorous diets, meaning those including plants and meat. Those who eat a plant-based diet lower their risk for type 2 diabetes compared to their meat-eating counterparts. Adhering to such a healthy and nutritious diet helps to improve blood glucose levels. This is because the diet (which is rich in fiber plant compounds) slows down the absorption of sugars in the bloodstream. As a result, blood sugar is maintained at normal levels.
Increasing whole plant food intake can keep your brain strong- Lastly, a review of nine studies found that eating an extra 100 grams of fruits and vegetables per day (about one-half cup) led to a 13 percent reduction in the risk of cognitive impairment and dementia.
Comentários