Plant-curious? Reap the plant-based health benefits

Have you considered the impact that eating animal products has on your health? Eating more plant-based foods; vegetables, fruit, pulses, legumes, whole grains, nuts, seeds and dairy alternatives can have huge implications for your health, positive implications that is.

Going meatless or reducing your meat intake may reduce your risk of chronic preventable conditions like cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity.

Limit Cancer Risk

Hundreds of studies suggest that diets high in fruits and vegetables may reduce cancer risk. Both red and processed meat consumption are associated with colon cancer and it is estimated that changes to diet and physical activity could reduce the incidence of bowel cancer by up to 75 per cent.

Reduce Heart Disease

Recent data from a Harvard University study found that replacing saturated fat-rich foods (for example, meat and full fat dairy) with foods that are rich in polyunsaturated fat (for example, vegetable oils, nuts and seeds) reduces the risk of heart disease by 19%.

Better blood sugar levels

A good way to fight high blood sugar is to eat more fibre. Fibre helps slow down absorption of sugars in the blood stream along with higher intake of potassium rich foods such as wholegrain, legumes, nuts, seeds, fruit and vegetables.

Fight Diabetes

Research suggests that higher consumption of red and processed meat increases the risk of type 2 diabetes.

Curb Obesity

People on low-meat or vege-tarian diets have significantly lower body weights and body mass indices. A recent study from Imperial College London also found that reducing overall meat consumption could prevent long-term weight gain due to the consumption of more fibre, vitamin and mineral rich foods.

Live Longer

Red and processed meat consumption is associated with increases in total mortality, cancer mortality and cardiovascular disease mortality.

Improve Your Diet

Consuming more vegetables results in higher intakes of fiber, protein, folate, zinc, iron and magnesium with lower intakes of saturated fat and total fat.

Other benefits include

Less constipation
Better nights sleep
Less inflammation
More energy
Lower cholesterol

Fundamental to good health & wellbeing

Adopting healthier eating patterns is fundamental to the maintenance of good health and wellbeing. Healthy eating benefits almost every aspect of our lives and while we all enjoy a varied diet, there is always room for improvement.

Fruit and vegetables are an important component of a healthy diet and by reducing or eliminating animal products from your diet the benefits are vast; look better, feel better and reduce risk of disease. Start by taking small steps to make the greatest impact; improve your health one meatless meal at a time.

To learn more about the health benefits of a plant-based diet purchase our ebook – I Eat Plants.