A whole-food, plant-based lifestyle is one of the most effective measures you can take to enhance your health, increase your energy, and fend off chronic diseases.
WHAT EXACTLY IS A WHOLE-FOOD, PLANT-BASED LIFESTYLE?
The tenets of a whole-food, plant-based lifestyle are as follows:
Whole foods are organic, minimally processed foods. That refers to components that are whole, unprocessed, or hardly refined.
Plant-based food is made entirely of plant materials and does not contain any animal products like meat, milk, eggs, or honey.
There are similarities and distinctions among the whole-food, plant-based, and vegan diets. A whole-food, plant-based diet favors whole or minimally processed foods that make it simple to meet your nutritional needs. A vegan diet may contain highly processed imitation meats and cheeses.
A whole-food, plant-based lifestyle allows you to enjoy the following five major food groups:
Legumes which include all types of beans as well as lentils, pulses, etc.
Whole grains which include unprocessed grains, cereals, and other starches including quinoa, brown rice, whole wheat, oats, popcorn, etc.
Vegetables such as peppers, corn, lettuce, spinach, kale, peas, collard greens, etc.
Tubers such as yams, cassava, sweet potatoes, and other starchy root crops.
Fruits which include any kind of citrus fruits, apples, bananas, grapes, and strawberries.
You can also eat a variety of other foods, such as whole-grain breads and flours, tofu, tempeh, nuts, seeds, avocados, and plant-based milks. However, because they contain more calories and may cause weight gain, it is advised to take these foods in moderation.
Listed below are just a few of the advantages of a whole-foods, plant-based lifestyle:
Disease prevention. Eating a plant-based diet full of whole foods can help prevent, stop, and in some cases even reverse chronic diseases like heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Studies have shown that people who eat mostly plant-based tend to live longer than people who eat mostly meat.
Thanks to the fibers in the vegetables, whole grains, beans, legumes, and fruits you eat, eating a whole-food, plant-based diet will help you feel fuller sooner and for longer after meals.
When consuming fresh fruits and vegetables, people frequently report feeling happier and more energized. A whole-food, plant-based diet has been linked to happier moods and increased productivity, according to new studies. This frequently occurs because complete, plant-based diets are considerably simpler for our systems to digest and provide us more energy throughout the day.
It's also well known that a whole-food, plant-based diet reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes by 34% and helps control blood sugar three times more effectively than a conventional diabetes diet.
Improved mental clarity. Improved cognitive function and protection from dementia and Alzheimer's disease are two benefits of a whole-foods, plant-based diet. Many people report gains in their memory and concentration skills.
It would make sense to focus on enhancing our gut health. "It's not what we eat, it's what we digest." The gut flora that are linked to a healthy metabolism, reduced body fat, improved blood sugar regulation, and good cardiovascular health can be supported by eating a whole-food, plant-based diet and avoiding processed foods, according to numerous studies.
A whole-foods, plant-based diet can lower our total cholesterol, LDL, and HDL by 15%–30%, according to research that has been published in nutrition reviews.
If our blood pressure is reduced, there may be a 14% decrease in strokes, a 9% decrease in heart attacks, and a 7% decrease in total mortality.
I should also bring up sleep, as 50% of adults occasionally have sleeplessness. The body can produce more melatonin with a whole-food, plant-based lifestyle, which is frequently rich in isoflavone and tryptophan. Melatonin is the hormone that controls sleep-wake cycles and improves your quality of sleep.
Due to fruits and vegetables' high levels of antioxidants, micronutrients, and low glycemic index, which can help reduce inflammation and support cleaner skin, we might also see an improvement in our complexion.
Your general sexual health is influenced by your diet as well. A whole-food, plant-based diet enhances blood flow and vascular function, which helps support a healthy sexual life.
Due to the significant quantities of fiber in whole foods and plant-based diets, which make us feel pleased and fuller for longer, it is also fairly normal to lose weight with these lifestyle choices.
In conclusion:
“The science is out”, and the results are clearly showing the many benefits that a whole-food, plant-based lifestyle can have on our overall well-being. Every day we get a fresh Strat, a new day to live the lives that we were meant to live. Nothing is forever. We all come and go, and if we are lucky, we get to age and grow old. How we look and feel while we are aging is where a whole-food, plant-based lifestyle comes in and does it’s magic.