Health Benefits of Plant-Based Lifestyles

So, why go plant-based? Because of all the benefits! Not only does it have some 
amazing environmental benefits when you begin reducing your animal consumption and 
shop from local farmers, but you get an excellent amount of health benefits as well.


It Encourages Whole, Clean Foods

Simply put, going on a plant-based diet is going to encourage you to eat much healthier 
in general. Not only do you reduce meat and dairy consumption, but you will eat a lot 
more unprocessed, whole foods. It’s hard not to see the health benefits in this alone. 
While it is okay to eat processed foods in limited amounts, when the majority of your 
food is packaged or frozen, you are getting any number of preservatives and artificial 
ingredients in your body.


You Will Feel Better

Many people have also mentioned how much better they feel when they go plant-based. 
When you have more whole, clean foods from plants, you start getting more energy, 
you feel lighter, and suddenly your digestion is more regular. With plant-based diets, 
you have more fiber which can keep your digestion system running smoothly, plus in 
general you feel better with more real food.


You May Lose Weight

While it is not meant as a weight loss diet, it is not uncommon for people to start losing 
weight more easily. When you begin to reduce your red meat and fish, dairy, and 
cheese, you naturally consume less calories in general. You may also find that with 
more veggies and other plant-based foods, you stay fuller for longer, reducing 
unnecessary snacking and keeping you from overeating during each meal.


It Boosts Vitamins and Nutrients

Just think of all the nutrients you will get by eating more fruits and veggies, whole 
grains, and all the other plant-based foods. While foods that come from animals also 
contain a lot of nutrients, plant-based options tend to be more nutrient-dense, without 
the additives, hormones, and preservatives. You will get more than your 5 
recommended servings a day, and it is easy to get enough iron and protein even if you 
decide to go completely meatless.


Lower Cholesterol and Blood Pressure

If you have a problem with your blood pressure or cholesterol, going plant-based can be 
really beneficial for you. What you will notice is that a lot of the foods recommended for 
these types of health issues end up being plant-based. Your doctor will likely ask you to 
incorporate more fruits and veggies, whole grains, and healthy fats into your diet, 
reducing red meat, cheese, and dairy. It’s really easy to do just by switching to a plant-
based diet now. 


You Learn What a Balanced Meal Looks Like

You will also learn more about how to balance your meals, since you pay more attention 
to what you are eating to fuel your body. No matter what diet people are following, 
balance is essential. It is important that you get most, if not all, of your nutrients from 
food, and this is hard to do when you don’t eat well balanced meals.


What Does a Balanced Meal Look Like?

This might look a little different for everyone, but at the very least, try to have a protein, 
a carb, and healthy fat with each meal. This ensures you are getting all the vitamins and 
minerals you need. Some people replace the carbs with vegetables, while others try to 
have more fiber or whole grains in their meals, as opposed to the traditional balance. 


Examples of Balanced Meals:

With a plant-based diet, some balanced meals might look like:

Buddha bowls – A buddha bowl is a vegetarian bowl that typically uses multiple food 
items of smaller quantities or portions. Think about a Chipotle burrito bowl, but with all 
vegetarian options. Many buddha bowls contain all the nutrients you need, like 
chickpeas, brown rice or quinoa, avocado or olive oil for your healthy fats, nuts and 
seeds, and your choice of veggies. You can even add tofu for some extra protein.

Avocado toast – If you are still eating eggs as part of your plant-based diet, consider 
avocado toast with eggs. The toast becomes your carb, the eggs your protein, and the 
avocado your healthy fat.

Meatless burger – Another option is to make a meatless burger of your choice, 
whether it is a Beyond burger, black bean burger, or veggie burger. The burger itself 
often includes the protein you need, then you can use the bun as your carb, and 
veggies on the burger for fiber, with any choice of healthy fats. On the side, enjoy a side 
salad or sweet potato fries, which can also become another carb and healthy veggie.

Salad – What could be easier than a salad? It is very easy to get all the nutrients you 
need with something as simple and delicious as a salad. Tons of veggies, your choice 
of plant-based protein, dressing or olive oil for your healthy fats, and toppings as your 
carbs.


Remember that your plant-based diet is going to improve your health one small step at 
a time. This is a growing theme you will be reminded of over and over again.


