News ‘5 wonders of a plant-based diet’

From reducing your carbon footprint and arthritic pain to potentially reversing established coronary artery disease — ‘going veg’ can be life-changing.

Amongst all the fad, crash diets that come and go — there’s one described in this recent SBS Food article that has consistently stood the test of time, proving a hit with nutritionists, animal advocates and environmentalists the world over. Enter…

A whole food, plant-based diet.

But what exactly is that? My beloved Dr Greger over at NutritionFacts.org (who will answer any questions you have about a plant-based diet — and then some) describes the ideal foods to eat to enjoy our longest, healthiest lives:

As far as I can discern, the best available balance of evidence suggests that the healthiest way to eat is a diet centered around whole plant foods, including an array of whole grains, beans, fruit, nuts, and as many vegetables as we can stuff in our face.

I’ve always felt better eating plant-based, and try to stick to whole foods — though readily ‘confess’ to also enjoying a slice of Belgian dark chocolate cake once or twice a week.

But beyond feeling good — it’s becoming increasingly obvious that the benefits of a plant-based diet go beyond ourselves.

Going back to this article from SBS Food — 5 wonders of a plant-based diet — it describes how:

Plant-based diets…not only have the potential to dramatically improve human and planetary health, but could have significant benefits for the health of the economy too.

All of which reminded me of an article from The Guardian, which delves into the most comprehensive scientific analysis to date of the damage farming does to the environment. Basically, it boils down to this:

Avoiding meat and dairy products is the single biggest way to reduce your environmental impact on the planet.

Pretty amazing stuff! It makes me think of that old theatre circle saying about being a ‘triple threat’: but instead of acting, singing and dancing — a plant-based diet is equally good at being great for our bodies, kind to animals and lighter on the planet