Why You'll Want to Eat Your Veggies
These are just a few benefits of following a plant-based diet.
Can eating a plant-based diet keep you healthier?
Diets made up mostly of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans and nuts offer a number of advantages. They have relatively low levels of saturated fat and cholesterol and include many foods rich in fiber and other powerful disease-fighting vitamins and minerals.
Here are 3 good reasons to follow a vegetarian diet:
Heart Disease
Fewer vegetarians die from heart disease than non-vegetarians.
Plant foods tend to be extremely low in artery-clogging saturated fat, the worst culprit in heart disease. Whole grains, fruits and vegetables are rich in vitamins, such as C and E, which may provide a heart- protective bonus.
Hypertension
Vegetarians tend to have a lower incidence of hypertension (high blood pressure) than non-vegetarians.
Lower blood pressure in vegetarians appears to be independent of body weight, sodium intake, exercise habits and dietary fat intake. A higher intake of whole grains, nuts/seeds, fruits and vegetables seems to play a role.
Diabetes
High-fiber, plant-based diets have been shown to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.
A plant-based diet, rich in beans and slowly digested grains, seems to improve blood sugar control. Studies have shown that eating more red and processed meats may increase the risk of type 2 diabetes without factoring in body weight. You don’t have to strictly follow a vegetarian or vegan diet to reap the benefits of a plant-based diet. Cutting back on animal foods and increasing the amount of vegetables and plant-based foods you eat is a solid step in the right direction. You may even lose a few pounds and gain a healthier lease on life in the process.
NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi | April 2023
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