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A plant based diet is one that focuses on only or mostly foods from plant sources. This way of eating may have benefits for both a person’s health and the planet.
In this article, we look at what a plant based diet is, the health benefits, and what nutritional considerations a person should make before switching.
![a man eating a meal as part of his Plant based diet](http://i0.wp.com/cdn-prod.medicalnewstoday.com/content/images/articles/326/326176/a-man-eating-a-meal-as-part-of-his-plant-based-diet.jpg?w=1155&h=1541)
A plant based diet is a diet that involves consuming mostly or only on foods that come from plants. People understand and use the term plant based diet in different ways.
Some people interpret it as a vegan diet, which involves avoiding all animal products.
For others, a plant based diet means that plant foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and legumes, are the main focus of their diet, but they may, occasionally, consume meat, fish, or dairy products.
A plant based diet also focuses on healthful whole foods, rather than processed foods.
Following a plant based diet offers many possible health benefits, including:
Better weight management
Plant based diets are high in fiber, complex carbohydrates, and water content from fruit and vegetables. This may help to keep people feeling
A 2018 study found that a plant based diet was effective for treating obesity. In the study, researchers assigned 75 people who were overweight or had obesity to either a vegan diet or a continuation of their regular diet, which contained meat.
After 4 months, only the vegan group showed a significant weight loss of 6.5 kilograms (14.33 pounds). The plant based vegan group also lost more fat mass and saw improvements in insulin sensitivity, whereas those who consumed a regular diet with meat did not.
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Lower risk of heart disease and other conditions
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According to the
Diabetes prevention and treatment
Plant based diets may help people prevent or manage diabetes by improving insulin sensitivity and reducing insulin resistance.
Of the 60,000 people studied in 2009, only 2.9% of people on a vegan diet had type 2 diabetes, compared to 7.6% of those eating a nonvegetarian diet.
People eating vegetarian diets that included dairy and eggs also had a lower risk of type 2 diabetes than meat eaters.
Researchers have also looked at whether following a plant based diet can help treat diabetes. The authors of a
The authors suggested that doctors might consider recommending plant based diets to people with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes. While veganism showed the most benefits, the researchers stated that all plant based diets would lead to improvements.
People wanting to try a plant based diet should try one that they think they can follow long term.
Nutrition resources
For more science-backed resources on nutrition, visit our dedicated hub.
People should focus on eating the following food groups when transitioning to a plant based diet:
Fruits
A plant based diet includes all fruits, such as:
Vegetables
A healthful plant based diet contains plenty of vegetables. Including a variety of colorful vegetables provides a wide range of vitamins and minerals.
Examples include:
Root vegetables are a good source of carbohydrates and vitamins. They include:
- sweet potato
- potatoes
- butternut squash
- beets
Legumes
Legumes are an excellent source of fiber and plant based protein. People can include a wide variety in their diet, including:
Seeds
Seeds are a great snack or an easy way to add extra nutrients into a salad or on top of a soup.
Sesame seeds contain
Nuts
Nuts are a good source of plant based protein and vitamins, such as selenium and vitamin E.
Healthful fats
It is vital to consume polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats, as well as omega-3 fatty acids. Plant based sources include:
Whole grains
Whole grains are an excellent source of fiber and help maintain stable blood sugar. They also contain essential minerals, such as magnesium, copper, and selenium.
Examples of whole grains include:
- brown rice
- oats
- spelt
- buckwheat
- quinoa
- wholegrain bread
- rye
- barley
Plant based milk
If people want to reduce their dairy intake, there is a wide range of plant based milk available in grocery stores and online. These include:
Just make sure to choose unsweetened plant milk options.
Just reducing or eliminating animal products does not automatically mean a plant based diet is healthful. It is also vital to reduce or avoid unhealthful foods, such as:
- processed foods
- sugary foods, such as cakes, biscuits, and pastries
- refined white carbohydrates
- processed vegan and vegetarian alternatives that may contain a lot of salt or sugar
- excess salt
- fatty, greasy, or deep fried foods
The following recipes can help a person get started with a plant based diet:
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Dessert
Snacks
Before starting a plant based diet, people should ensure they take steps to get enough of the following nutrients:
Vitamin B-12
Vitamin B-12 is an essential nutrient for blood and cell health. B-12 deficiency can lead to anemia and nerve damage. B-12 is present in many animal products but not in many plant based foods.
People who eat a vegan or even a vegetarian diet could consider taking a B-12 supplement or consume products fortified with B-12. Foods include some cereals, plant based milk, and nutritional yeast.
Iron
People following a plant based diet may have to ensure they get enough iron in their diet, as it has
Plant based foods that are a good source of iron include:
Make sure to combine citrus and other vitamin C sources with plant based sources of iron to increase absorption.
Protein
Some people may have concerns about getting enough protein from a plant based diet. However, there is a wide variety of plant based sources of protein, including:
Consuming proteins from a variety of food sources can help provide all the necessary amino acids for good health. For example, people could add a handful of seeds or a spoonful of hummus to tofu or beans.
Omega-3 fatty acids
Omega-3 fatty acids are essential as they help reduce inflammation, memory loss, and other chronic conditions, such as heart disease. The two primary omega-3 fatty acids are EPA and DHA.
Fish, seafood, and animal products, such as eggs are among the primary sources EPA and DHA.
While several plant based foods, such as walnuts, hempseed, and flaxseed, contain omega-3 ALA,
Vegetarians exhibit lower levels of DHA and EPA in blood and tissue, which may increase inflammation, memory difficulties, brain fog, and other effects. People following a plant based diet might want to consider taking an omega-3 supplement.
Some dietitians advise vegetarians to reduce the amount of pro-inflammatory linoleic acid they consume. Soybean, corn, sunflower, and safflower oils contain linoleic acid.
Eating a diet higher in plant foods and lower in animal products can have many health benefits, including weight loss or maintenance and a lower risk of heart disease and diabetes.
If people want to make the switch to a plant based diet, they can start by gradually reducing their meat and dairy intake.
Eating an entirely plant based meal once a week, or swapping out one animal product for a plant based one, can be an excellent place to start.
People may also wish to speak to a doctor or dietitian before making significant changes in their diet.