What is a plant-based diet and why should you try it

 A plant-based diet is a food philosophy that emphasizes eating more fruits, vegetables and whole grains. There are many reasons to go vegan including: better health, environmental benefits, greater compassion for animals. But one of the most popular reasons people go plant-based is because it's just plain delicious! We've compiled some tips for how to make your own plant-based meals look and taste as appealing as anything you'd find at your local restaurant or supermarket.

What is a plant-based diet?

A plant-based diet is a diet that includes foods derived from plants, including vegetables, grains, nuts and seeds, legumes and fruits. The diet excludes animal flesh and animal products such as dairy or eggs.

The term "plant-based" refers to the fact that this type of eating pattern emphasizes plants over meat sources such as poultry and fish. In addition to being beneficial for your health, vegan diets may help reduce your risk of developing chronic diseases (for example diabetes) by limiting saturated fats in your diet.

Why should you try it?

If you’re like most people, your diet isn’t in the best shape. You probably eat out a lot and don’t shop at farmers markets or local grocery stores, which means your food is marked up by a few extra steps in transportation and distribution. A plant-based diet eliminates all of this waste while also providing more fresh produce.

It can be tempting to think that meat is essential for good health—after all, our doctors have been telling us so for years—but what do they know? These doctors haven’t studied nutrition! They might even have financial ties to companies who sell animal products! Luckily for you and me both: science has proven beyond any doubt that plants are healthier than animals (which should really come as no surprise). So if you want to make sure that what's on your plate won't kill you slowly over time or cause harm elsewhere on Earth...try eating some plants instead.

If saving money isn't enough motivation for switching over to plant-based foods, then consider this: it will help out the environment too!

It can be good for your health.

A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes is not only good for your health; it can also increase your lifespan. A study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that the risk of all-cause mortality decreased by approximately 7% for every additional serving of fruits or vegetables consumed per day.

A plant-based diet may also reduce high blood pressure (hypertension) and lower your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. Research shows that plant-based diets are associated with both higher HDL cholesterol levels (the "good" cholesterol) and lower triglyceride levels — two factors that contribute to heart disease risk reduction and lower mortality rates from cardiovascular disease than those associated with omnivorous or animal-based diets. Additionally, some studies have shown that individuals who eat a vegan diet tend to weigh less than those who don't — an important consideration given how obesity is linked to many chronic diseases such as breast cancer among women over 50 years old; colon cancer among men over 50 years old;; type 2 diabetes mellitus which can lead to kidney failure later on life; stroke which causes brain damage if left untreated long enough etc..

It's great for the planet.

A plant-based diet also means you have a smaller carbon footprint, reducing your impact on the environment and climate. By choosing to eat plants instead of animals you save fossil fuels that would otherwise be used to grow feed for farmed animals and transport their bodies around the world.

In addition, if we all choose plant-based foods over meat, dairy and eggs we’ll reduce our water footprint by more than half. The UN has stated that food production is responsible for 80% of freshwater use globally (and 70% in developed countries). This figure refers to irrigation: watering crops so they can grow into edible foodstuffs like fruit and vegetables.

You don't have to give up meat completely

You can still eat meat. You just have to eat it in moderation.

You can still eat fish. You just have to eat it in moderation.

You can still eat eggs, but only one a day and make sure that it's cage-free, organic and not from a factory farm (which are horrible places for animals).

You can also enjoy dairy products like milk, cheese and yogurt by choosing brands that don't use artificial growth hormones or antibiotics on the cows they source from (these chemicals are terrible for your health anyway).

And if you really love honey—maybe because you have a sweet tooth or maybe because you're feeling stressed out—then go ahead and grab yourself some local honey!

All you need to do is get creative with your food choices and be willing to experiment.

You don’t need a crazy amount of money or food to make this diet work. All you need is some creativity, an open mind and willingness to experiment with new ingredients. Even if you don’t have any experience cooking vegetarian or vegan foods, just remember that it’s not about what you can and cannot eat – it's about the ingredients. If there are certain things that are unfamiliar to you, then go ahead and experiment! You never know what kind of delicious meals will come out of these experiments!

If all else fails, there are many websites online where people share their recipes for plant-based diets so maybe try searching for one on Google :)

Conclusion

In the end, it's all about experimenting with different types of food and finding what works for you. If you're looking for something new to try, why not give a plant-based diet a shot? You can even do this without giving up meat completely. There are plenty of options out there for plant-based eaters who still want to enjoy their favorite meals without sacrificing any of their favorite foods.