Why plant-based is better for your health!

When I first decided to go vegetarian, it was for several reasons- I was looking to combat climate change, save animals, and reach my goal weight! I had never thought about the health benefits not eating meat would have on my body, but it wasn’t until I took an Intro to Nutrition class that I really became aware of the nutritional advantages. Of course when you don’t eat meat, you instinctively consume less cholesterol and saturated fat and in turn consume more vitamins, potassium, and other beneficial elements which make people less susceptible to many diseases. Harvard Medical School says, “In one of the largest studies — a combined analysis of data from five prospective studies involving more than 76,000 participants published several years ago — vegetarians were, on average, 25% less likely to die of heart disease”. Not eating meat can seriously reduce risk for heart disease, certain types of cancer, and type 2 diabetes!

While being vegetarian can help reduce risk for chronic diseases, I still have to make an active effort every day to remain healthy and get my daily nutrients. Not eating meat gives you an easy excuse to always eat things like pizza and cheese fries, because hey! It’s vegetarian, right? Making an active effort to get protein, fats, and whole grains is vital if you want to stop eating meat otherwise it can end up being detrimental to your health. Some foods I eat regularly that are great for your health are almonds, oats, tofu, bananas, beans, and kale! It is important to consider that every meal should have a main source of protein even without meat. If I eat a meal that doesn’t have an element of sufficient protein, then I will make a shake with fruit, almond milk, and vegan protein which is both healthy and delicious. If you are or are considering becoming vegetarian and want to learn recipes that fulfill your body’s needs and your taste bud’s wants, stay tuned for the recipe portion of my blog, coming soon!

Source: https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/becoming-a-vegetarian