What is a plant-based diet?

 

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Though it has become a buzzy term in the wellness world over the past few years, the plant-based diet is far more than a trend, with many dietitians and doctors having promoted plant-based eating for a long time.

 

To set the record straight on plant-based diets, we take you through everything you need to know about plant-powered eating.

 

 

What is a plant-based diet?

A plant-based diet is any diet that centres around foods derived from plant sources, like vegetables, fruits, grains, pulses, legumes, nuts, seeds, and meat substitutes such as tofu, tempeh, and seitan.

 

Plant-based diets are often associated with veganism, however, a plant-based diet is one that is focused on plants, but may include a small amount of animal products.

 

 

Why choose plant-based?

Plant-based diets offer an array of positive benefits to your health and the environment. Plants have numerous health benefits, providing us with antioxidants, dietary fibre, and essential vitamins and minerals. A plant-based eating style has been linked to lower cholesterol levels, lower body mass index (BMI), and a reduced risk of diseases such as type two diabetes, several cancers, and cardiovascular diseases.

 

A plant-based diet can also reduce your impact on the environment and significantly lower your contribution to climate change. Reducing your consumption of meat and other animal products reduces your greenhouse gas emissions, as well as resource utilisation such as water and energy.

 

 

How to get your protein from plants…

It’s completely possible to get your protein intake from plant-based sources. The best dietary plant-based protein sources are tempeh, lentils, tofu, beans, chickpeas, and quinoa.

 

 

What’s the best way to start eating plant-based?

If your diet is currently high in animal products, it can be helpful to start slowly, by replacing one meal a day with a plant-based variety. This allows your body to adjust to new foods, as well as to a potential change in your fibre intake. Alternatively, you can go all in and swap every meal for a plant-based alternative. Soulara’s weekly plant-based meal delivery service makes it easy to incorporate plant-based foods into your diet, regardless of your lifestyle.

 

Receive $40 off your first two Soulara orders ($20 off each order)*. Use offer code AVEDA40 at soulara.com.au

*This promo is valid for a total of $40 off across your first two orders. Delivery fee applies. Upon using this promo, you will be signed up to an ongoing weekly meal delivery subscription; you can pause or cancel your subscription, or skip a week at any time before your weekly cut off. Not to be used in conjunction with any other offer. This promotion is valid until June, 2022.