A plant-based diet is the practice of using plants—the flesh of any animal has been prohibited by the Buddha and by Buddha’s followers, including Buddhists and Hindus—as the sole source of energy for one’s self. The diet emphasizes vegetables, grains, fruit, beans/legumes and nuts/seeds as well as very limited amounts of dairy products to avoid ingesting anything that comes from a living being.
A plant-based diet or veganism is beneficial for health because it doesn’t include animal fats or processed foods loaded with sugars. It also helps clear up skin issues such as acne because there are no animal products in the foods eaten by vegans.
Benefits of a plant-based diet
1. It prevents and helps treat heart disease
A plant-based diet is full of fiber, antioxidants, and healthy fats that can reduce the risk of heart disease. It also reduces cholesterol levels and blood pressure. A plant-based diet also lowers blood sugar levels and can prevent insulin resistance which is a precursor to type 2 diabetes. According to the American Diabetes Association, a plant-based diet can help you lose weight and if combined with exercise, it can help you control your weight as well as your blood sugar levels.
2. It prevents obesity
American obesity rates have doubled over the last 20 years according to a study from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). People who adopt a vegan diet consume less calories due to the healthier items they choose and they tend to have lower body weight. They also have higher levels of good cholesterol, HDL, than those who eat meat.
3. It improves digestive health
Many people argue that a plant-based diet is not complete without dairy products since calcium is needed for healthy teeth and bones. Another important nutrient that comes from dairy products is vitamin D which is needed for strong bones and can prevent osteoporosis. But if you don’t want to eat dairy products, there are many other sources of both calcium and vitamin D from other foods like broccoli, almonds, oranges, spinach and sunflower seeds.
