10 Benefits of a Plant Based Diet

More people every year are adopting a plant based diet. Research has found that up to 2% of UK adults, 3.4% of US adults and 10% of German adults are on a plant based diet. There are numerous benefits for a plant based diet that includes physical, mental and environmental factors.

Plant Based Diet Health Benefits

But what are the benefits of a plant-based diet? Here are ten of them.

Benefit One: Disease Reversal & Prevention

One of the top benefits is that a plant-based diet can help reverse several diseases. For instance, chronic diseases like heart disease [1], cancer [2], diabetes, autoimmune diseases [3], obesity, acne, digestive disorders and inflammation can all potentially be reversed.

Benefit Two: Reduce Exposure to Toxic Chemicals

Animal products can contain numerous antibiotics, pesticides and industrial pollutants. Eating a plant-based diet can avoid these. Eating organic fruit and vegetables will have fewer pesticides added to them.

If you can’t get hold of everything organic, there are certain foods that you should avoid and others that are better.

Benefit Three: Can Lower Cholesterol

A plant-based diet is known for lowering cholesterol [4], improving blood pressure and helping to maintain healthy body weight. These are key factors for extending lifespans.

Benefit Four: Lower Heart Attack Rate

Research has found that a low-fat, plant-based diet can help people reduce the chances of heart attack by approximately 85% [5].

Benefit Five: Lower Cancer Rate

It isn’t just reversal that is important with these diseases. A plant-based diet can help reduce the potential of developing cancer [6].

Benefit Six: Increases Lifespan

Compared to the traditional Western diet, a plant-based diet can help you live longer.

Benefit Seven: Additional Minerals

A plant-based diet provides your body with essential antioxidants, nutrients, vitamins, minerals and energy.

Benefit Eight: Reduce Animal Farming

By eating a plant-based diet, you’re reducing the need for animal farming. A plant-based diet also removes milk and eggs from the diet.

Benefit Nine: Reduce Deforestation

It would take just one year if Costa Rica were to clear enough rainforest to allow for enough beef production for everyone in the country to eat beef at the consumption of the USA rate.

The rainforests of Costa Rica are some of the most biodiverse worldwide [7]. Some estimates state there are more than 500,000 species in their rainforests.

Benefit Ten: Reduced Chances of Dementia

Dementia is a growing concern across the world. In the US, the average cost for dementia per sufferer is $46,800 [8]. However, research has found that switching to a more plant-based diet and eating more fruit and vegetables can reduce cognitive impairment and dementia [9].

Move to a More Plant-Based Diet

There are so many benefits to eating a plant-based diet. Above are the top reasons why you should consider making that change.

Ricci made the change to a plant-based diet to help treat her rheumatoid arthritis. After a short time, Ricci was able to see her rheumatoid arthritis reverse. She had several months completely pain-free.

Those looking to move to a plant-based diet can do so with the help of the Paddison Program.

Planet Based Diet References

[1] Satija A, Hu FB. Plant-based diets and cardiovascular health. Trends Cardiovasc Med. 2018 Oct;28(7):437-441. doi: 10.1016/j.tcm.2018.02.004. Epub 2018 Feb 13. PMID: 29496410; PMCID: PMC6089671.

[2] Loeb S, Fu BC, Bauer SR, Pernar CH, Chan JM, Van Blarigan EL, Giovannucci EL, Kenfield SA, Mucci LA. Association of plant-based diet index with prostate cancer risk. Am J Clin Nutr. 2022 Mar 4;115(3):662-670. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/nqab365. PMID: 34791008.

[3] Alwarith J, Kahleova H, Rembert E, Yonas W, Dort S, Calcagno M, Burgess N, Crosby L, Barnard ND. Nutrition Interventions in Rheumatoid Arthritis: The Potential Use of Plant-Based Diets. A Review. Front Nutr. 2019 Sep 10;6:141. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2019.00141. PMID: 31552259; PMCID: PMC6746966.

[4] Gardner CD, Coulston A, Chatterjee L, Rigby A, Spiller G, Farquhar JW. The effect of a plant-based diet on plasma lipids in hypercholesterolemic adults: a randomized trial. Ann Intern Med. 2005 May 3;142(9):725-33. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-142-9-200505030-00007. PMID: 15867404.

[5] Gan, Z.H.; Cheong, H.C.; Tu, Y.-K.; Kuo, P.-H. Association between Plant-Based Dietary Patterns and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Prospective Cohort Studies. Nutrients 2021, 13, 3952. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13113952

References

[6] Molina-Montes E, Salamanca-Fernández E, Garcia-Villanova B, Sánchez MJ. The Impact of Plant-Based Dietary Patterns on Cancer-Related Outcomes: A Rapid Review and Meta-Analysis. Nutrients. 2020;12(7):2010. Published 2020 Jul 6. doi:10.3390/nu12072010

[7] Mendenhall CD, Shields-Estrada A, Krishnaswami AJ, Daily GC. Quantifying and sustaining biodiversity in tropical agricultural landscapes. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2016;113(51):14544-14551. doi:10.1073/pnas.1604981113

[8] Cantarero-Prieto D, Leon PL, Blazquez-Fernandez C, Juan PS, Cobo CS. The economic cost of dementia: A systematic review. Dementia (London). 2020 Nov;19(8):2637-2657. doi: 10.1177/1471301219837776. Epub 2019 Mar 25. PMID: 30909718.

[9] Jiang Xian, Huang Jiang, Song Daqiang, Deng Ru, Wei Jicheng, Zhang Zhuo, Increased Consumption of Fruit and Vegetables Is Related to a Reduced Risk of Cognitive Impairment and Dementia: Meta-Analysis, Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience Vol. 9, 2017