How Does Your Body Benefit From Plant-Based Nutrition?

How Does Your Body Benefit From Plant-Based Nutrition?

Word Count: 1562

Time to Read: 8 minutes


Want to try a vegan diet?

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Are you considering following a plant-based diet?

Plant-based nutrition means basing your diet on a rich foundation of plants and not consuming dairy, meat, or other animal-based foods.

A lot of people assume that veganism is difficult to follow or even bad for one’s health. But a plant-based diet can be your secret to harnessing your body’s full potential.

In fact, research is showing that plant-based nutrition has the power to dramatically lower your risk of fatal diseases, including cardiac arrest and high blood pressure.

What’s more, eating a diet that’s founded on plants can be great for the environment!

Read on to learn more about how else you can benefit from a vegan diet today.

1. Reduce Your Risk of Disease

This is one of the biggest tangible benefits of following a vegan or plant-based diet. Consuming foods that originate in the plant kingdom can significantly lower your risk for diseases in the future.

And we’re not just talking about winter colds and cases of flu (although plants can help with those, too).

Plant-based nutrition can keep you safe from debilitating diseases like diabetes, for example. It can also reduce your odds of heart disease, high blood pressure, and even cancer!

If you or a loved one suffers from one of these chronic illnesses, following a plant-based diet may even counteract their symptoms. Learn more about how plant-based nutrition can target longterm diseases like angina here.

One of the largest reasons that plant-based nutrition lowers risk of chronic illness is the fact that it tends to be low in saturated fats. These lipids and other chemicals are often linked to heart disease or failure.

Animal-based diets can also be low in key nutrients and minerals designed to combat chronic disease.

2. Keep Your Tummy Happy

A plant-based diet is exactly what it sounds like: a diet that involves consuming natural, plant-sourced foods.

Veganism, in particular, avoids any consumption of dairy, an animal product that takes up a hefty portion of Western diets.

Common dairy foods like milk and cheese can be delicious. However, they often don’t agree with people’s digestive systems.

In fact, a large portion of the world’s population is lactose intolerant, meaning that they struggle to comfortably process lactose, a key component of dairy products. Many Americans may be allergic to dairy but simply do not know it.

A lot of people who turn to plant-based nutrition find that their digestive system and overall gut health dramatically improves. This is largely because veganism cuts out dairy products.

However, veganism can also promote the right stomach bacteria you need for a balanced digestive system. Animal products like milk can upset your stomach’s usual flora and impact the way you digest foods and process nutrients.

Plant-based diets are frequently high in nutrients and fiber designed to create optimum bacteria levels in your gut. As a result, vegans tend to have fewer stomach issues.

3. Achieve Your Weight Loss Goals

If you have been struggling to lose weight for quite some time, plant-based nutrition may be your answer.

A lot of people attempt to lose weight by restricting their caloric intake and/or implementing an exercise regime. Others may look to weight loss pills or commercial diets.

Diet and physical activity certainly play a role in maintaining a healthy weight. However, it can be difficult to follow a set diet plan or effectively cut calories over a long period of time.

In fact, cutting calories as a means to lose weight has a 95% failure rate!

The beauty of plant-based diets is the fact that they can help you maintain a healthy weight without calorie counting, extreme exercise, or other diet plans.

Plant-based nutrients, proteins, and fats can actually feel more satisfying–and you don’t have to worry about restricting them. They also can give you longer-lasting periods of energy, helping you power through workouts.

4. Enjoy Glowing Skin

Everyone longs for radiant skin. Instead of putting all of your paychecks toward fancy creams and toners, start following a plant-based diet.

Plant-based diets are generally packed full of fruits and vegetables. A great majority of fruits and veggies are made up of nutrients and high water content, both of which can promote skin health.

Most fruits and vegetables contain high concentrations of Vitamins C and E, for example, both helpful in the production of collagen. Many fruits, such as berries, contain high amounts of antioxidants, also key in skin health.

Plant-based diets may even help you stay away from skin cancer!

5. Avoid Processed Foods

Processed foods often contain high concentrations of sugars and chemicals that are proven to elevate risks for illness, heart disease, and obesity. These foods can also spike blood sugar levels, which can be dangerous for individuals with diabetes.

Unfortunately, most supermarkets are full of glossy colorful boxes and bags of processed foods. Most processed items are grab-and-go, meaning that they’re easy to prepare, often in a microwave.

However, even if they make eating more convenient, these foods may not be supporting a healthy diet. Even purported ‘healthy’ or ‘natural’ frozen foods may be crammed full of chemicals that can compromise your body’s happiness.

The beautiful thing about plant-based nutrition is that it is exactly that: based in the plant world. Plants are not processed foods, and they come chock full of purely natural nutrients your body craves for optimum function.

The more you prioritize plants in your nutrition goals, the more likely you are to avoid processed foods. Avoiding processed foods can, in the long run, lower your risks of chronic illnesses, help you maintain a healthy weight, and give you honest energy to get through the day.

6. Reduce Your Risk of Foodborne Illnesses

Did you know that over 48 million people get sick from foodborne illnesses in the U.S. every year?

Of that number, about 3,000 people die from contracting a foodborne illness.

Foodborne illnesses are a direct result of poor hygiene and food preparation practices. A lot of people can acquire them at restaurants but it is also possible to catch one at home.

While foodborne illnesses can be transmitted through plants of all kinds, a large majority are the result of improper meat or animal product handling. Salmonella, for example, is a common foodborne illness that can result from poorly prepared animal meats.

When you follow a plant-based diet, you’ll likely reduce your risk of acquiring an illness transmitted through food items. This is mainly because vegans don’t consume animal products.

As a vegan, you can eat more or less confidently at restaurants, and feel secure in your at-home food preparations.

7. Boost Brain Function

If you’re keen to give your brain some juice, your answer lies in plant nutrition. Your brain needs a variety of nutrients and vitamins in order to function well on the daily.

At the top of this list are omega-3 fatty acids, Vitamin C, antioxidants, and minerals like zinc, iron, and magnesium.

You guessed it! A plant-based diet is made up of foods that are packed full of all of these items and more.

For example, broccoli alone has a ton of Vitamin K–one serving of broccoli alone can give you 100% of your recommended daily value! Vitamin K can improve memory function and support production of fats that line brain cells.

Broccoli also has a lot of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents that can prevent brain damage in the future.

Other foods known to contribute to brain health include oranges, pumpkin seeds, blueberries, nuts, and even coffee–all of which fall under a plant-based diet.

8. Keep Your Taste Buds Happy

A lot of foodies believe that veganism simply isn’t delicious, particularly without the savory flavors of animal meat and dairy products. After all, if it’s a “healthy” diet, aren’t all healthy diets supposed to taste bland and uninspiring?

A plant-based diet is designed to make your body happy on multiple levels. But the good news is that it can actually please your taste buds in ways you could never have imagined!

Most foods in a plant-based diet are naturally flavorful, particularly if you integrate fresh, organic fruits and vegetables into your meals.

What’s more, it’s possible to eat vegan sushi, hamburgers, and tacos–all without missing the “real” deal!

If you’re skeptical, check out our amazing recipe selection at Vegan.io. You won’t want to miss this opportunity to please your taste buds!

Enjoy the Benefits of Plant-Based Nutrition

Consuming a plant-based diet can profoundly impact your mental and physical well-being. Not only is plant-based nutrition kind to animals, but it is also incredibly kind to your body!

Plant-based nutrition can elevate brain function, helping you hone your working memory and protect your brain against damage. It can also assist in maintaining a healthy weight and achieving weight loss goals.

Most plant-based diets can help you steer clear of processed foods and fats that can lead to heart disease and cancer. They can also promote healthy skin and gut function.

Last but not least, plant-based meals are simply delicious.

Vegan.io makes it easy for you to jump into the world of veganism with grace and confidence. Browse our extensive vegan recipe collection to see what tasty dishes await you in your future of plant-based nutrition!

Or learn more about how our Vegan.io meal plans work.

About the author

Julia Ott
Hi! I'm Julia and I'm a vegan recipe inventor, furniture collector and mum to a little boy. I've been a vegetarian for 25 years, and a vegan for 4. I spend all of my spare time visiting farmers markets, searching for antiques at flea markets and cooking up a vegan storm in the kitchen! I co-founded Vegan.io to make the world a better place.

Want to try a vegan diet?

We created a meal planner app to help you! Get your fresh customized meal plan full of delicious, quick, budget friendly, healthy recipes.

GET YOUR MEAL PLAN!