It seems we’re hearing the term plant-based a lot more now, but the truth is that the history of plant-based diets goes back decades.
Research supporting a whole foods plant-based diet has been available since prior to the 1980’s from researchers like Doctor Dean Ornish. However, it was buried and you had to dig for it.
What exactly do I mean when I say Plant-Based? Do you have to be Vegan or Vegetarian to be Plant-Based? Plant-Based is essentially an eating pattern that focuses on foods primarily from plants. This includes not only fruits and vegetables, but also nuts, seeds, oils, whole grains, legume, and beans. It does not mean that you are vegetarian or vegan and never eat meat or dairy. That could be true, but by definition is just means that you are proportionately choosing more of your foods from plant sources, sticking as close to nature as possible, and avoiding animal products.
Now that you know what it is why should it matter to you?
The fact is that there is a lot more research and evidence to back up the claimed health benefits of this dietary pattern than there has ever been before. Previous research is being unearthed and brought to light showing that plant-based diets are cost-effective, low-risk interventions that can reduce the risk of many diet-related diseases. Diseases like heart disease, obesity, diabetes, cancers like colon, breast and prostate, Alzheimer’s, high blood pressure, and arthritis.
I’ll answer the question “Why isn’t everyone eating this way?” in my next article. See you next time on Veganish!
