Plant-Based Diet
Eating a plant-based diet means you will be eating more whole foods and plants (vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds, and whole grains). One of the best things about eating a plant-based diet is that you can determine how strict you want your diet to be. Just because you eat plant based, doesn’t mean that your diet consists only of plants. For instance, for some people, a plant-based diet means excluding all animal products from their diet, while others it means that the bulk of your diet is from plant sources, but they also include small amounts from animal sources. If you live in College Station, Texas are considering eating a plant-based diet, here are some of the benefits you can expect.
Improved Nutrition
As you know, many plants are healthy, but the majority of people don’t eat the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables. Eating a more plant-based diet will likely increase your intake of healthy foods, ultimately improving your nutrition. Fruits and vegetables are packed with vitamins, minerals, natural antioxidants, and fiber. Fiber is the most common nutrient that is missing from people's diets, but it has a significant amount of health benefits. It is good for your blood sugar, your heart, and your digestive system.
Heart Health
Eating a plant-based diet may help reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease and can improve other risk factors for heart disease, such as lowering your cholesterol and blood pressure and improving the control of your blood sugar. Plant based diets can also help to reduce inflammation, which may also raise your risk of heart disease because inflammation promotes plaque buildup in your arteries.
Reduced Risk of Diabetes
Studies have shown that those who eat a strict meat-based diet have a significantly higher risk of diabetes. Eating a healthy plant-based diet, one that consists of plant-based foods has higher insulin sensitivity, helps to maintain a healthy blood sugar level.
If you are considering switching to a plant-based diet, it’s best to start slow. Talk to your chiropractor in College Station about recommendations for a diet that is best suited for your health needs and then gradually incorporate the changes. For instance, increase your daily intake of vegetables by one additional fruit and vegetable a day for a week and then continue to increase the number each week.
