Table of contents:
- You will be deficient in important macronutrients
- Your inflammation level will decrease
- You will become less energetic
- You will be left without important vitamins and minerals
- You will lose weight
- You will suffer from bloating more often
- Your cholesterol level will drop dramatically
2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44
A purely plant-based diet has its pros and cons.
For years, it was believed that eating five servings of vegetables and fruits a day was essential for a healthy diet. This is approximately 400 grams. And that no one eats the required amount.
But in 2017, a study emerged that suggested doubling the daily intake of fruits and vegetables. According to London scientists, this would prevent up to 7.8 million premature deaths worldwide every year.
The study's lead author, Dagfinn Aune, notes that fruits and vegetables lower cholesterol and blood pressure, and improve the health of blood vessels and the immune system.
In his opinion, this effect is justified by the content of a complex system of nutrients in them. And antioxidants may reduce DNA damage, which could lead to a lower risk of cancer.
If ten servings of fruits and vegetables a day is significantly better than five, you might consider switching to a purely plant-based diet. Let's see how this will affect the body.
You will be deficient in important macronutrients
Fruits and vegetables will provide you with fiber and carbohydrates, but you won't get the right amount of fat and protein from them. And they are vital for the body. Fats for brain health, sufficient energy and metabolism, proteins for strong muscles and a strong immune system.
"If you eat only fruits and vegetables, you will lose muscle mass and strength," says nutritionist Amy Shapiro. "A plant-based diet can provide protein, but it needs to include grains."
Your inflammation level will decrease
Inflammation occurs when the body tries to defend itself against viruses and bacteria or repair damaged tissue. But some foods - including meat, cheese, and processed foods - increase inflammation.
This negatively affects the body: chronic inflammation is associated with the development of atherosclerosis, an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, diabetes and autoimmune diseases.
A plant-based diet, on the other hand, reduces inflammation due to the high fiber and antioxidant content in the diet. It also has significantly fewer triggers of inflammation, including saturated fat and endotoxins (these substances are released when bacterial cells break down).
According to scientists, in people who have switched to a plant-based diet, the level of C-reactive protein, an indicator of inflammation, drops sharply.
You will become less energetic
The average man with a moderately active lifestyle needs 2,400-2,800 calories a day, and a woman 1,800-2,200. But if you don't eat grains, seeds, nuts and vegetable oils, it is extremely difficult to get that many calories. To make it easier for you to imagine, 2,200 calories are about 100 cups of chopped cabbage or 23 apples.
Of course, there are more nutritious vegetables like avocados. But even if you diversify plant foods as much as possible, you still have to eat a lot. However, you will not get the kind of carbohydrates that give you energy and help you focus.
You will be left without important vitamins and minerals
"A diet where fruits and vegetables are the only source of energy will be deficient in key nutrients," says nutritionist Stephanie Di Figlia-Peck. While many popular diets, including the Mediterranean, are rich in fruits and vegetables, they also include other types of foods in a balanced way.
An exclusively plant-based diet will not provide the body with vitamins B12 and D, and will provide little iron. Although spinach and other dark leafy greens are rich in iron, they also contain phytates that block the absorption of this trace mineral.
You will lose weight
Thanks to their high fiber and water content, plant foods make you feel fuller faster. This helps you eat less and potentially leads to weight loss. Even when we see a full plate of food, we want to put down the spoon faster. It seems to the brain that we have already eaten a lot, which means we should be full.
In addition, with such a diet, you will go to the toilet more often, and this also gives a feeling of lightness.
You will suffer from bloating more often
Some find it difficult to digest sugars and other carbohydrates from vegetables and fruits, which can lead to bloating. But it strongly depends on the characteristics of your body and intestinal microflora.
Your cholesterol level will drop dramatically
According to research, when switching to a plant-based diet, it drops by 35%. In many cases, the decrease is the same as with medication. And this is a very significant result for those who want to lower their cholesterol without medication.
The fact is that fruits and vegetables are high in fiber. They're also free of fat and processed sugar, which are the ingredients to avoid if you want to lower your cholesterol.
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