Boost your nutrition and your health with a plant-based lifestyle!
There’s a lot of great evidence that following a plant-based diet can improve many facets of your health. One of the biggest concerns that aspiring vegans have is the worry of not feeling full and satisfied. We assure you that carefully crafted plant-based recipes will provide you with both of those things, and more! From heart health to brain health, here are some reasons eating a diet heavy in plant-derived foods can make you healthier. We’ve also included plant-based recipes for you to try out, too!
1. Aiding Heart Health
Plant-based eating emphasizes foods like whole grains, legumes, fruit, and vegetables which support heart health by delivering high amounts of fiber, essential vitamins, and minerals that boost cardiovascular health. This diet is also lower in saturated fats, therefore reducing your risk for heart-related diseases.
Try our Spicy Leek and White Bean Stew!
2. Stabilizing Blood Sugar
Eating a high-fiber, plant-based diet means you may gain more control of your blood glucose levels. Keeping away from simple sugars found in sweets and pastries is key, especially when you’re reaching for complex carbohydrates like whole grains and fruit instead. These choices will help to keep your blood sugar from spiking. Meanwhile, make sure you are getting enough healthy fats and proteins from nuts and legumes for even more stabilization.
Grab one of these yummy Fruit and Oat Cookies.
3. Lowering Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a type of fat in your blood that’s produced naturally by your body to carry triglycerides. Healthy fats from ingredients like nuts, legumes, vegetable oils, and avocados support the production of HDL cholesterol or “good” cholesterol. Eating these foods instead of foods high in saturated fat (found in meat and dairy products) improves your cholesterol. Once again, fiber from fruit, vegetables, and whole grains acts like a superstar here as well by lowering LDL (or “bad”) cholesterol.
These Plant-Based Bell Pepper Nacho Boats with Avocado Sauce and Cashew Queso will make your mouth water!
4. Lowering Triglycerides
Triglycerides are fats from the food we eat that are carried in the blood. When we get those fats from healthy sources such as nuts and vegetables has shown to significantly reduce triglyceride levels. It’s also important to avoid simpler carbs from processed pastries and plain sugar. Instead, reach for whole grains, fibrous vegetables, and fruit to help reduce your triglycerides.
Need a snack? Try making our flavorful Herb-Roasted Nuts.
5. Regulating Digestion
Plant-based foods are amazing prebiotics for your gut. Prebiotics encourage your good bacteria to multiply, therefore increasing your gut health and overall health in general. It’s best to get your prebiotics from fibrous and starchy foods such as fruit and vegetables, pulses, whole grains, nuts, and seeds. Meat and animal-derived products may increase undesirable bacteria in the gut, which results in a waste product called TMAO. TMAO has been associated with increased risk for cardiovascular disease, so it’s best to try to limit foods like high-fat red meat and dairy to avoid this compound.
Our Summer Fruit Quinoa Salad is loaded with refreshing flavor!
6. Boosting Skin and Hair Health
Fruits and vegetables are major components of plant-based diets, which are high in important vitamins and minerals. Certain vitamins and minerals are essential for boosting your hair, skin, and nail health. Fruits, nuts, and veggies high in vitamin A, C, and E as well as biotin and selenium are excellent for hair and skin health.
This Sweet Potato Quinoa Salad with Walnuts and Raisins will satisfy your hunger and tastebuds!
7. Antioxidants for Immunity
Antioxidants are great for (you guessed it) getting rid of oxidants. Oxidants are reactive molecules that are produced inside your body and the environment, and they can damage your cells and cause diseases and inflammation. Eating a plant-based diet high in antioxidant foods like fruits and vegetables can help your body break down those toxic oxidants to keep you from getting sick.
This Broccoli and Mushroom Stir-Fry is loaded with savory flavors.
8. Magnifying Brain Function
Research shows that plant-based eating can lead to a clearer mind, improved mental capacity, and improved mental performance over time. Plant-based foods high in vitamin E (such as leafy greens, nuts, and seeds) especially support brain health and may help prevent brain disorders later in life like Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Craving southwest flavors? Our new Black Bean and Tofu Enchiladas with Creamy Cilantro Lime Sauce can help!
9. Delivering Mood Boosters
Following a plant-based lifestyle may help prevent brain diseases and ward off depression and anxiety. Studies show those on a plant-based diet saw a 35% decrease in depression compared to those on a Western diet. This is due to the increased amount of essential vitamins, minerals, and nutrients (like fiber) in plant-based diet compared to a diet high in simple carbs and high-fat animal products.
Our Mediterranean Quinoa Bowls with Spiced Tofu make the perfect plant-based lunch!
10. Preventing Chronic Diseases
Plant-based eating may help prevent chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, and Alzheimer’s as well as provide you with a longer and healthier life. By warding off the aforementioned health issues as well a reducing inflammation that leads to all kinds of diseases, this lifestyle could help keep you happy and disease-free for the long run.
Our comforting Instant Pot Vegan “Pot Roast” with Mushrooms makes the perfect, filling dinner option!
There are many good reasons to choose a plant-based diet. From cardiovascular health, blood sugar regulation, better appearance, increased brain health, and prevention of chronic diseases, this lifestyle can greatly improve your health and wellness for life. Plus, you will get to indulge in plenty of delicious foods!
