I’ve been vegan for about six years, and in that time I’ve noticed a lot of people are trying out the diet. Some stick with it, while others drop off after a few months or years. But if you’ve never tried it before, or if you’re just curious about how healthy and sustainable this way of eating is, here’s why I think plant-based diets are the future:
Plant-based diets are healthy.
Plant-based diets are healthier for you and the planet.
- Plant-based diets are healthier for you. A 2014 meta-analysis of 69 studies found that vegans had lower blood pressure, cholesterol levels and body mass indices than non-vegetarians.[1]
- Plant-based diets are healthier for the planet. Animal agriculture is responsible for 51% of global greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) according to a report by Worldwatch Institute[2].
Plant-based diets are more environmentally friendly than other diets.
The production of animal products requires a lot of land and water. For example, it takes about 2,500 gallons of water to produce one pound of beef. A plant-based diet can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by decreasing the amount of land needed to grow crops for food, which in turn results in less deforestation and fewer greenhouse gases being released into the atmosphere.
Plant-based diets also have benefits for your health as well as the environment: they tend to be low in saturated fat (which has been linked with heart disease) while providing plenty of fiber and nutrients like Vitamins A (beta-carotene), C and E; iron; folate; potassium; magnesium; zinc – all things that are vital for good health!
Plant-based diets will lower your risk of certain diseases.
Plant-based diets are rich in fiber, antioxidants and phytochemicals. Fibers help lower cholesterol levels, while antioxidants reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Phytochemicals also protect against cancer by fighting free radicals that can damage cells.
Plant-based diets may help you live longer.
A plant-based diet may be the key to living longer. A study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that people who ate a vegetarian or vegan diet were less likely to die from heart disease, cancer, or other causes than those who didn’t.
Plant-based diets are also healthier than other diets. A review published in The British Medical Journal found that vegetarians had lower rates of obesity and type 2 diabetes compared with nonvegetarians; vegan diets were associated with even greater weight loss and reduced risk factors for heart disease, stroke, and hypertension (high blood pressure).
Plant-based diets are more environmentally friendly than other diets because they require fewer resources like land use, water usage, fuel consumption during transportation–and produce less waste per calorie consumed than animal products do!
There’s not much downside to a plant-based diet.
There’s not much downside to a plant-based diet.
- Plant-based diets are healthier than other diets. The evidence supporting this has been piling up for decades, but it’s still not widely known or accepted by the public at large. In fact, many people think that eating meat is necessary for getting enough protein, iron and other nutrients–and those who don’t eat meat often wonder if they’re at risk for nutrient deficiencies (they aren’t). But there are plenty of other reasons why you should consider making your next meal veggie-centric: For example, studies have shown that eating more fruits and vegetables reduces your risk of heart disease and stroke by anywhere from 25% to 50%.
The future of food is plant-based
Plant-based diets are the future of food. There are many reasons why this is true, but here are a few:
- They’re healthier. Vegetarian and vegan diets have been linked to lower rates of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and certain cancers. In fact, according to a recent study published in the JAMA Internal Medicine journal, vegetarians may live up to seven years longer than meat eaters do!
- They’re environmentally friendly (and better for your health). Meat production uses up far more resources like water and fossil fuels than plant-based foods do – so if you want to help save our planet while also feeling great about yourself every day then going veg could be just what you need!
- The future is here now: We’ve seen an explosion in popularity over recent years; vegan restaurants are popping up all over town; celebrities like Beyonce Knowles have gone fully vegan; even President Obama wrote an article titled “Why I’m A Proud Vegetarian” back in 2011 when he was still president elect.”
I think that plant-based diets are the future of food. The evidence is clear that they’re healthier, more environmentally friendly and may even help us live longer. There’s not much downside to eating plants instead of meat and dairy products. If you want to try out a plant-based diet yourself but don’t know where to start, check out our article “How To Go Vegan” which will give you some tips on how easy (or not!) it can be!
