There’s no stopping the growing popularity of plant-based diets and there are reasons for this. Concerns regarding environmental issues, health advantages, animal welfare, and individual preferences are a few of them.

At any age or stage of life, a plant-based diet can promote good health. But you may still have questions about plant-based diets. So, to help you, Ang Chong Yi answers some general questions and doubts you may have about plant-based diets:

Any diet where the main focus is on foods made from plants is considered plant-based. Produce such as fruits, vegetables, wholegrains, pulses, nuts, legumes, seeds, and soy products are examples of this. This does not mean that you are eating an animal-free diet, but it will probably include fewer and smaller servings of goods that come from animals.

A common feature of all plant-based diets is the minimized consumption or exclusion of animal products and the emphasis on plants and foods produced from plants.

Different people have different ideas about what “plant-based” eating involves. This is known as a semi-vegetarian or also known as flexitarian diet. Some people opt to include small amounts of animal items, like meat and fish while focusing mostly on plant foods.

Diets that exclude meat but allow fish are called pescatarian diets. People who avoid eating meat or fish but consume dairy and eggs are called vegetarians, and people who avoid all foods derived from animals, such as dairy, eggs, honey, and gelatine, are called vegans.

There are various reasons why people decide to follow a vegetarian diet. Sometimes, it’s due to worries about the environment or the treatment of animals. However, plant-based diets are more popular because they are healthy. And with good reason, as discussed in Ang Chong Yi — Exploring the Health Advantages of a Plant-Based Diet.

Plant-based diets have been associated over the years with a lower prevalence of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and some malignancies. This is reflected in dietary standards and expert advice, which promote the adoption of diets that are high in fruits and vegetables and low in red meat.

A wide variety of fruits, vegetables, and pulses are consumed in a plant-based diet. This means that you will probably have an easier time reaching your goal of healthy diet. It also includes intakes of fibre, vitamins, and minerals, such as potassium, vitamin C, and folate.

What to eat on a plant-based diet?

Whole, plant-based, minimally processed foods are prioritized in the plant-bases foods, such as:

· Plant proteins such as beans and pulses like tofu, tempeh, soy, and lentils

· Seeds and nuts

· Fruits and vegetables

· Whole grains and pseudo cereals

Plant-based eating has seen significant growth in recent years. Ang Chong Yi says that plant-based diets offer positive long-term health impacts. If you are thinking about shifting to plant-based diets, this is the right time to try it out.