What is a plant-based diet?

In the quest to find healthy foods, you’ve probably come across the term “plant-based diet.”

What is a plant-based diet? To learn more, read the full article:

A plant-based diet generally means that your foods come primarily from plants like fruits and vegetables, beans, seeds, oils, whole grains, nuts and legumes.

While the term plant-based diet may seem like a recent fad, a lot of research has been done on the nutritional benefits of eating more plants and whole foods.

Diets like the Mediterranean Diet have been shown in numerous studies and clinical trials to reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes, certain cancers like colon and prostate, and metabolic syndrome. The Mediterranean diet revolves around mostly plant-based foods but also includes fish, eggs, poultry and dairy products a few times a week with limited red meats and sweets.

For those who want to cut out animal products completely, vegetarian diets also show some health benefits, including a lower risk of high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, diabetes and more.

Be aware that vegetarian diets come in many different forms including:
• Semi-Vegetarian – includes eggs, dairy and a limited amount of meat, poultry and seafood
• Vegan – includes absolutely no animal products
• Vegetarian – includes eggs and dairy, but no meat, fish, poultry or seafood
• Pescatarian – includes dairy, eggs, fish and seafood, but no meat or poultry.

It’s clear that eating more vegetables and fruit and reducing red meat is good for you. But, like everything else, there are some risks in going full vegetarian. More stringent vegan plans, when done incorrectly, can actually cause a higher risk of stroke, hair loss and depression.

To learn if a plant-based diet is right for you, talk with your INTEGRIS Health provider about the choices available and what needs you may have.

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