For Your Health

The standard diet in North America has become very unhealthy, loaded with fat and cholesterol in addition to harmful chemicals. Fast food restaurants constantly bombard consumers with advertisements promoting unhealthy food choices. Coupled with busy work schedules that leave little time for exercise, it’s no wonder so many people struggle with obesity and other health problems. Fortunately, there is a fairly simple solution that not only improves our health but also benefits the environment and the animals: a plant-based diet.

Did you know…?

  • A plant-based diet is naturally low in fat and cholesterol-free.
  • Vegetarians tend to have a lower body mass index (BMI) relative to non-vegetarians.[1]
  • On average, vegetarians have lower cholesterol levels and lower blood pressure than non-vegetarians.[2] [3]
  • Vegetarians tend to have lower rates of Type 2 Diabetes and heart disease than non- vegetarians.[4] [5]
  • Vegetarians live an average of 3 to 6 years longer than non-vegetarians.[6]
  • People who go vegetarian experience higher energy levels, clearer skin, less body odor, and a reduction of halitosis (bad breath).[6]
  • According to the American Dietetic Association, a well-planned vegetarian diet is appropriate for all life cycle stages (including pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood, and adolescence) and can help treat and prevent many chronic diseases.[4]
  • There are lots of vegetarian athletes, including bodybuilders, triathletes, mixed martial artists, Olympians, and basketball players.

Still not convinced?! Check out this list of 57 other ways that choosing a plant-based diet benefits your health.

Learn how to transition to a plant-strong diet at www.ChooseVeg.com

References

1. Davis, B. and Melina, V. (2000). Becoming vegan (p. 208). ↑

2. Norris, J. (2003, March). Making Sense of Nutritional Research. ↑

3. Appleby PN, Davey GK, Key TJ. Hypertension and blood pressure among meat eaters, fish eaters, vegetarians and vegans in EPIC-Oxford. Public Health Nutr 2002 Oct;5(5):645-54. ↑

4. American Dietetic Association. (2003). Position paper on vegetarian diets. J Am Diet Assoc. 103:748-765. ↑

5. Key TJ, Fraser GE, et al. (1999, Sep.). Mortality in vegetarians and nonvegetarians: detailed findings from a collaborative analysis of 5 prospective studies. Am J Clin Nutr, 70:516S-524S. ↑

6. http://www.nursingdegree.net/blog/19/57-health-benefits-of-going-vegan/ ↑