WELLNESS
PUT YOUR HEALTH FIRST THIS YEAR WITH A PLANT-BASED DIET WRITTEN BY SOPHIE OSWALD
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’m sure you’ve heard that eating plenty of fruits and vegetables is a good way to stay healthy. Plant-based diets have grown in popularity so you may have also heard about the many benefits that come with lowering your intake of meat and dairy. If health is a priority in your new year, you may benefit greatly from incorporating more plant-based meals into your life. But this doesn’t mean you need to be fully vegan or vegetarian to be healthy. The big thing is finding a balance. “The main idea with a plant-based diet is incorporating more whole grains, vegetables, fruits, beans, legumes, nuts, and seeds into your diet and cutting back on processed foods,” explains Katie Blumhorst, RDN, LD, owner of Healthy Kidney Nutrition. “By including more whole foods in your diet you consume more
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JANUARY 2022
fiber and nutrients that your body needs, which has more impact on your health.” Cara Glenn, RD, LD, at The Kansas City Dietitian, says that as a dietitian she believes in the healing power of food. “I do believe that plant-based diets play an important role in the prevention and treatment of many different diseases. The antioxidants and nutrients available in many of these foods have been shown to fight and prevent disease in different systems of our bodies. Including a variety of plant-based foods is important as well because different colors provide our bodies with different nutrients,” she explains. Studies have found that these diets lower blood pressure, improve heart health, help treat underlying chronic conditions, and even increase life expectancy. Switching to a plant-based diet can help with weight loss too. This
