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Benefits of a plant-based diet

Read on to discover the scientifically-backed benefits of a plant-based diet, and then get ready to live your best life yet.

Within a plant-based diet, there are varying degrees, from a vegan approach (which excludes all animal products, including eggs and dairy) to a vegetarian one (which generally excludes meat, poultry, and fish products but includes eggs and dairy). Everyone should follow the diet they think is best, but here are some benefits of a plant-based diet:

1. Prevent chronic diseases
Turns out, an apple a day really does keep the doctor away. A diet high in fruits and veggies can help to prevent chronic diseases. Why? A plant-based diet is naturally low in saturated fat and higher in fibre than ones that include animal products and processed foods. This means they can help you to lose weight, improve blood sugar levels, and lower blood pressure. Sounds good already right?

2. Increase your mood
So while we all know noshing on berries and broccoli is good for your physical health in the long run, it’s also good for your mental well-being. A recent 2016 study from the American Journal of Public Health found that increasing your consumption of fruits and veggies over a two year period was “equal in size to the psychological gain of moving from unemployment to employment.” One possible reason? A plant-based diet provides necessary antioxidants that fight inflammation and phytochemicals that help to regulate chemicals in the brain that control mood. Talk about the cherry on top.

3. Protect your heart
Studies have found that vegetarianism can reduce your risk of heart disease by up to one-third. In fact, a diet full of greens can actually “turn off” certain genes that make you more susceptible to heart disease, studies have found. Sounds unbelievable, but such is the power of plants.

4. Long life full of energy
Those who follow a plant-based diet may indeed live longer lives. Studies show that vegetarian diets are associated with a lower risk of death, and a Mediterranean-style diet has been shown to be associated with longer telomere length, which translates into better health and longevity. This could be because a high dietary intake of polyphenols, which are found in fresh produce, is associated with longevity.

5. Not just good for you…
Going vegan also benefits the environment. The production of animal products requires an enormous amount of resources, such as water, energy, land and feed. Not only does it cause pollution, red meat production has major impacts on almost every aspect of the environment. The greenhouse gas production is probably one of the most serious. Experts estimate that about 18 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions are caused by animal agriculture.

So, are you thinking of going vegan? We believe that vegan ice cream is a good way to start!