Benefits of Plant-Based Diets

Benefits of Plant Based Diets from Patient Empowerment Network on Vimeo.

The benefits of a plant-based diet are positively correlated with reducing the risk of high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, and some cancers like colon and breast cancer.

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Transcript:

A healthy, plant-based diet aims to maximize consumption of nutrient-dense plant foods while minimizing refined, processed carbohydrates, added fats, oils, and animal foods (including dairy products and eggs). A plant-based diet encourages eating a variety of fruits, vegetables, beans, legumes, whole grains, nuts, and seeds. Contrary to popular belief, a plant-based diet is a rich source of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, as well as health-promoting phytochemicals and antioxidants. However, vitamin B12 is deficient in plant-based foods and can be easily acquired by consuming foods fortified with it such as some plant-based milks or through supplementation.

The benefits of a plant-based diet are positively correlated with reducing the risk of high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity and some cancers like colorectal cancer. The rich source of phytochemicals and antioxidants found in fruits and vegetables in plant-based diets are protective against cancer and are supportive in recovery and management during cancer treatments such as chemotherapy.  

Though some may think that plant-based diets are more expensive than a more conventional diet, the opposite is actually true. Animal proteins and animal-based products like dairy make a bigger impact on a grocery budget, and incorporating more plant-based foods in your diet can provide savings on food costs.

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