There are many debates about the best diet for you, but health and wellness experts mostly agree that diets that focus on fresh, whole ingredients and reduce processed foods are better for overall health. One of the best ways to improve your health, boost your energy, and prevent chronic diseases is by shifting towards a plant-based diet.
For heart health, your diet should prioritize quality plant foods, and you can benefit from reducing animal foods without cutting them out entirely. A plant-based diet generally emphasizes eating real, whole foods that come from plants.
It’s important to note that getting enough protein and essential vitamins and minerals can be more challenging without meat or animal products. It requires planning to ensure adequate intake of protein, calcium, iron, and vitamin B-12, which are typically obtained from animal products in an omnivorous diet.
A whole-food, plant-based diet follows principles that allow you to meet your nutritional needs by focusing on natural, minimally processed plant foods. This type of diet is about using animal products sparingly and does not require a complete elimination, unlike vegan or vegetarian diets. The goal is to minimize animal foods.
Some foods contain ingredients that can cause or worsen inflammation, such as sugary or processed foods. On the other hand, fresh, whole foods are less likely to have this effect. An anti-inflammatory diet focuses on fresh fruits and vegetables, as many plant-based foods are rich in antioxidants and have anti-inflammatory properties.
