Are you thinking of trying a plant-based diet? If you are, you’re not alone. More and more people are ditching meat and dairy in favor of a more environmentally friendly, animal-free diet.
If you’re on the fence about whether or not to make the switch, here are 15 compelling reasons to consider a plant-based diet:
1. You’ll Save Water
It takes a lot of water to produce meat and dairy. In fact, it takes about 1,800 gallons of water to produce just one pound of beef! Compare that to the mere 132 gallons of water needed to produce a pound of tofu, and it’s easy to see why a plant-based diet is more water-efficient.
2. You’ll Save Land
It’s not just water that’s used to produce meat and dairy. It takes a lot of land, too. In fact, animal agriculture is the leading cause of deforestation. According to the World Wildlife Fund, animal agriculture is responsible for up to 91% of Amazon rainforest destruction.
3. You’ll Reduce Your Carbon Footprint
Animal agriculture is also a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, it’s responsible for 14.5% of all human-caused greenhouse gas emissions, according to the United Nations. If you want to do your part to reduce your carbon footprint, ditch meat and dairy and go plant-based.
4. You’ll Help conserve Wildlife
Animal agriculture is not only responsible for deforestation, but it’s also responsible for species loss. According to the World Wildlife Fund, animal agriculture is a leading cause of biodiversity loss.
5. You’ll Save Animals
If you’re an animal lover, then a plant-based diet is a no-brainer. Every year, billions of animals are raised and killed for food. If you want to do your part to reduce animal suffering, ditch meat and dairy and go plant-based.
6. You’ll Improve Your Health
A plant-based diet has been shown to improve health in a number of ways. It can help lower blood pressure, reduce cholesterol levels, and improve blood sugar control. A plant-based diet has also been shown to lower the risk of heart disease, stroke, cancer, and other chronic diseases.
7. You’ll Lose Weight
If you’re looking to lose weight, a plant-based diet can help. A study in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that people who followed a plant-based diet lost more weight than those who didn’t.
8. You’ll Boost Your Energy
A plant-based diet can also help boost your energy levels. A study in the Journal of Nutrition found that people who followed a plant-based diet had more energy than those who didn’t.
9. You’ll Reduce inflammation
A plant-based diet can help reduce inflammation throughout the body. A study in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics found that people who followed a plant-based diet had lower levels of inflammation than those who didn’t.
10. You’ll Lower Your Risk of Diabetes
A plant-based diet can also help lower your risk of type 2 diabetes. A study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that people who followed a plant-based diet had a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes than those who didn’t.
11. You’ll Detox Your Body
A plant-based diet can help detox your body by removing toxins and chemicals that have built up over time. A study in the Journal of Internal Medicine found that people who followed a plant-based diet had lower levels of toxins in their bodies than those who didn’t.
12. You’ll Be Less Stressed
A plant-based diet can also help reduce stress levels. A study in the Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology found that people who followed a plant-based diet had lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol than those who didn’t.
13. You’ll Sleep Better
A plant-based diet can also help you sleep better. A study in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine found that people who followed a plant-based diet slept better than those who didn’t.
14. You’ll Have Better Digestion
A plant-based diet can also help improve digestion. A study in the Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology found that people who followed a plant-based diet had better digestion than those who didn’t.
15. You’ll Be More Environmentally Friendly
A plant-based diet is not only good for your health, but it’s also good for the environment. A study in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health found that people who followed a plant-based diet had a lower carbon footprint than those who didn’t.
So, what are you waiting for? There are plenty of compelling reasons to consider a plant-based diet. If you’re looking to improve your health, lose weight, boost your energy, or just be more environmentally friendly, a plant-based diet is a great option.
