Plant-Based Diet Starter Kit
The health benefits of a whole food, plant-based diet is based on peer-reviewed, medical research science that shows a low-fat, plant-based diet can prevent, and in many cases reverse chronic western diseases — cancer, heart disease, Type II Diabetes and more and in the process you will experience healthy weight loss. This all can be done by simply changing the foods we choose to eat.
There are numerous benefits of a eating a plant-based diet, here are just a few:
o Healthy Weight Loss
Get to your optimal weight while eating whole foods. No calories counting or portion control just eat what you want because plants are naturally low in fat, no cholesterol or saturated fat. You will experience healthy weight loss at a steady rate.
o Preventing and Reversing Heart Disease
Several studies have shown by eating a whole foods, plant-based diet will prevent and reverse heart disease. This has been shown in a 20-year study by Caldwell B. Esselstyn, Jr., M.D., that a plant-based, oil-free diet can not only prevent and stop the progression of heart disease, but also reverse its effects.
o Lower Blood Pressure
Improved blood flow and circulation occurs almost immediately when switching to a plant-based diet. The blood vessels become healthy again and are repaired from the damage of animal-based foods.
o Lower Cholesterol
Total cholesterol drops because there is no cholesterol and saturated fat in plants like in animal-based foods which cause cholesterol to build up in the blood.
o Avoid and Reverse Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is considered as a lifestyle disease. Studies have shown that a low-fat vegan diet treats type 2 diabetes more effectively than a standard diabetes diet and may be more effective than single-agent therapy with oral diabetes drugs.1
o Improved Digestion and Bowel Movement
Dietary fiber or roughage is found mainly in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes pass through our digestive system basically unchanged because it can’t be digested or absorbed. The fiber helps cleanse or scrub our intestines, keeps the intestines healthy and results in healthy bowel movements. And many more health benefits including; help in the prevention of colorectal cancers, helps to control blood sugar levels, and helps to lower cholesterol levels.
o More Energy
Your energy levels will improve and you will fill more vibrant and have a feeling of well-being.
o Cancer Prevention
All the evidence points to a low-fat, high-fiber diet that includes a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and beans as being the best for cancer prevention. Not surprisingly, vegetarians, whose diets easily meet these requirements, are at the lowest risk for cancer. Vegetarians have about half the cancer risk of meat-eaters.2
o Prevent or Lower Risk of Other Chronic Diseases
Other chronic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease have been improved or the progression has stopped just by eating a plant-based diet.
References:
1. Barnard ND, Cohen J, Jenkins DJ, Turner-McGrievy G, Gloede L, Jaster B, Seidl K, Green AA, Talpers S. A low-fat vegan diet improves glycemic control and cardiovascular risk factors in a randomized clinical trial in individuals with type 2 diabetes.Diabetes Care. 2006 Aug;29(8):1777-83.
2. Phillips RL. Role of lifestyle and dietary habits in risk of cancer among Seventh-day Adventists. Cancer Res. 1975;35(Suppl):3513-22.