Why go plant-based? For Human Health

In recent years, our collective understanding about the nutritional quality of vegan and vegetarian diets has improved dramatically. This has been a critical factor in helping more people transition to plant-based diets. This makes sense: making any change in something as personal and important as our dietary choices can be nerve-wracking, and we always want to make sure that we are leading the healthiest lives that we can.

Thankfully, the leading health organizations from a diverse range of nations have demonstrated that plant-based diets are totally nutritionally adequate for people at all stages of life, and may even offer health benefits over an omnivorous diet. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics articulated these potential benefits, stating “vegetarians and vegans are at reduced risk of certain health conditions, ischemic heart disease, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, certain types of cancer, and obesity.”

The overall nutritional status of a plant-based lifestyle is captured concisely in their summary of the research, which leaves little to the imagination. They state, “appropriately planned vegetarian diets are healthful, nutritionally adequate, and may provide health benefits for the prevention and treatment of certain diseases. These diets are appropriate for all stages of the life cycle, including pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood, adolescence, older adulthood, and for athletes.”