If you have been waiting for a reason to switch to a plant-based diet, a recent report has found nine benefits to cutting out meat and upping your daily veggies.
Going to a plant-based diet isn’t uncommon. There are roughly 9.7 million vegans in the United States alone, a number that has increased by 3,000% since 2004, according to a 2020 study from Ipsos Retail Performance.
But the phenomenon isn’t just because people love animals — though, for some, it is the main factor — as numerous health benefits come with the dietary change, according to a report from BlackDoctor.org.
The report examined numerous studies and found nine recurring benefits often found in those that consume plant-based diets:
1) Lowering your blood pressure
2) Prevents type 2 diabetes
3) Keeps your heart healthy
4) Helps you lose weight
5) Lowers your risk of cancer
6) Improves cholesterol
7) Reduces your risk of stroke
8) Promotes brain health
9) Promotes a longer life
In the United States, almost half of all adults suffer from hypertension, or high blood pressure, according to the CDC. The report found that 39 studies showed people who consumed only veggies had lower blood pressure on average than those who followed diets of meat and vegetables.
While eating a burger or steak might be the highlight of your week, if you want to bring down your blood pressure, going to a plant-based diet could help.
Consuming a plant-based diet doesn’t only help with blood pressure, but it has also been found to improve cholesterol and reduce your risk of stroke and cancer.
The American Institute for Cancer Research has stated that a diet full of vegetables, grains, beans, fruit, nuts, seeds, and some animal foods is one of the best ways to lower the risk of developing cancer.
The risk of being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes is also lowered through plant-based diets, as plants are lower in saturated fats than animal foods, according to the American Diabetes Association.
The report from BlackDoctors.org cited a study that found plant-based diets filled with high-quality plant foods reduced the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 34%.
Other benefits include improved brain health, promoting longer life, and helping with weight loss. For example, one study cited in the report found that 65 overweight adults who followed a whole-food, plant-based diet for one year lost an average of 9.25 pounds.
The decision to cut out meat continues to grow amongst Americans looking for alternative diets, as plant-based food sales grew by 27% in 2020. According to The Good Food Institute and Plant-Based Foods Association, the rate was twice that of food sales in general.
Whilst moving to a fully vegan diet remains nothing but a thought for most, 57% of Americans have reported they buy at least some plant-based alternatives to animal products.
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