What is a “plant based diet”? Is it the same as a vegan or a vegetarian? Or does this diet only need you to try to include more vegetables in your meals? Most people have these questions on their minds. The preference for eating more plant-based meals has become increasingly popular.
People now consider adopting a plant based diet as their lifestyle choice in an effort to improve their health and support animal welfare. Over the years, studies have revealed benefits of eating more plants and less meat. Celebrities, organisations, and Netflix movies have all preached to us in recent years about how switching to a plant based diet is the single best thing you can do for your health.
Plant based diet vs veganism
Plant based diet and veganism are two terms that are frequently used interchangeably. Some individuals think that these terms signify the same thing. However, in practice, there is a slight distinction between these two.
Veganism is a stricter variation of vegetarianism.Vegans go one step further and avoid any goods made or derived from animals, including dairy, eggs, and honey, while vegetarians refrain from only meat. The vast majority of vegans lead morally and environmentally responsible lives. Vegans abstain from using any kind of animal-based goods, and this rule does not just apply to eating. They purposefully stay away from animal-based products like cosmetics tested on animals and clothing made of furry creatures.
Plant-based diet, on the other hand, is highly literal and implies that the diet is based on plants. It is probably obvious that it is less rigorous than veganism given that the only requirement for it is eating plant-based meals. People who adhere to this diet are not necessarily required to refrain from using products or services that exploit animals. Such a person can choose to wear leather or use personal care products that have undergone animal experimentation.
Benefits of plant based diet
Health benefits
It is now well acknowledged that consuming less or no meat can have positive effects on our health. Studies show that a plant-based diet boosts our immune system by increasing the levels of vitamins and minerals in our system. Dietary experts increasingly agree that meat substitutes, such as nuts, seeds, legumes, beans, and tofu can offer beneficial sources of the protein and other nutrients often found in meats. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), eating less meat or avoiding it altogether lowers your chance of developing heart disease, stroke, obesity, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and a number of different types of cancer.
Environmental benefits
Consuming meat increases emissions of greenhouse gasses such as methane, CO2 and nitrous oxide. These gases can exacerbate climate change. Our attempts to create more sustainable economies can be greatly helped by going vegan or consuming less animal products. ‘Our World in Data’ from the World Economic Forum shows that producing 100 grams of beef often results in the emission of 25 kilos of CO2 equivalent.
Other significant emitters are lamb and farmed shrimp. On the other hand, proteins derived from plants are at the other end of the spectrum. The researchers claim that only 0.4 kilos of carbon dioxide equivalents are emitted during the production of 100 grams of protein from peas. Therefore, adopting a plant-based diet may help us save the planet.
Some people can’t live without meat because they crave the taste and flavour of it. Fortunately, there are plant-based substitutes that resemble meat that are available on the market. Making the switch to a plant-based diet can therefore be beneficial for one’s health and the environment.
