Tag Archive for: #wonderfullyfit

About the Yogic Plant Based Diet

/in , ,

Those who practice yoga believe that yoga is not only food for the body, but nourishment for the soul. Yogic practitioners view life force or prana as a vital source to sustain life. Prana is the energy that maintains the strength of the body and brings about health and energy.

You consume prana by practicing yogic breathing techniques (pranayam) or through eating and drinking. This means that the type of food that one eats will have a direct reflection on one’s mental, physical, and emotional health.

yoga

The Entire Experience

To practice yoga in its entirety, a plant-based diet is recommended. This type of diet develops sattva, which is the positive quality of love, connection, awareness, and peace with all beings. Sattva supports the concept of ahisma, which means non-harming. Individuals who follow a sattvic diet don’t eat foods that are created by the harming or killing of animals. The diet also promotes foods that are grown naturally. Yoga practitioners view food and eating as the first connection with the outside world. If people don’t eat with love, peace, and connection, this can cause suffering in other parts of life.

There are a number of delicious foods that are part of a yogic plant-based diet, as well as some foods that should be avoided. Some of the natural foods that are allowed include:

  • Fruits, particularly bananas, peaches and berries, as they are naturally sweet
  • Vegetables, with the exception of garlic and onion
  • Aduki, beans, tofu and mung beans
  • Whole grains like rice, oats and wheat
  • Raw nuts and seeds
  • Herbal teas with water and lime or lemon
  • Spices with a sweet taste to them, like cardamom, basil, turmeric, ginger, fennel or cumin
  • Oils that are derived from plants, like olive oil, sesame oil and sunflower oil
  • Raw sugar like molasses and maple
  • Vegetarian foods that are made with love. Thanks should be given for the food before it is eaten.

Foods that those following the yogic plant-based diet should avoid eating include:

  • All types of fish and meat
  • Eggs
  • Junk food
  • Soft drinks
  • Margarine or lard
  • Fried foods
  • White flour
  • White sugar
  • Spicy foods
  • Microwaved foods
  • Genetically engineered foods
  • Alcohol
  • Tobacco
  • Stimulants
  • Foods that are eaten hastily or in a negative setting

The yogic diet was created to improve the function of the body and enhance mental clarity. The diet should be followed in conjunction with asana, which are physical postures, along with meditation and breathing techniques or pranayama.

Yogic Lifestyle for a Green Planet

For most of us, yoga is a form of exercise. However, the truth is yoga is an active lifestyle that goes far beyond an exercise. Yoga not only teaches us some basic and therapeutic asana plans, but also offers us information about a better and healthier lifestyle. Yogic life consists of helping others, developing healthy relationships, balanced diets with plant based foods, pranayama, philosophy, mantra, and various forms of meditation. Each of these processes makes a person’s life more fruitful.

With the many growing environmental problems in this world, we are facing many issues in our day-to-day life; solutions to global warming, air pollution, ozone layer depletion, and water pollutions are still in need. As a result, we find ourselves in an unhealthy and unpleasant environment. In fact, we are creating this unhealthy environment for our future generations.

How Can Yoga Help?

How does yoga help us in creating a green planet? Yoga, in fact, teaches us about healthier food alternatives without polluting the planet. Those who are open to the idea can opt for a diet that is for the most part plant-based. When you eat plant-based food, your body becomes healthier. Also, you will find more ways to grow and plant seedlings for making a greener earth. As a result, the substantial CO2 in our global environment will gradually decrease.

In addition, modern yoga teaches us to opt for organic food options. If each one of us ate an organic diet, the demand of organic produce would be high. This would eventually decrease the use of genetically altered and chemically treated food. Let’s face it, the use of pesticides and chemicals are a big part of contemporary agricultural techniques, and deplete the natural resources of our world. Additionally, some of today’s health problems can be traced back to the consumption of chemically and genetically altered food.

Yoga teaches us lifestyle techniques. This in turn offers us a better and enjoyable life. When your body and mind are free, you tend to think on the positive side. Yoga lifestyle techniques also make you an active person. Instead of driving a car, you opt for a walk or riding a bicycle.

Yoga practices also make a person calm, motivated, and optimistic. Therefore, yoga practice make you successful, healthy, and content with your life. Historically, yoga has aligned itself with non-violence, which teaches us to develop compassion and tolerance for others. Yogic philosophy serves us as a blueprint for building a better, green, peaceful, and happy world.

5 Personal Fitness Tips to Follow After Delivery

/in , ,

Pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding take a drastic toll on your body. After childbirth, a woman’s routine becomes much hectic because of the newborn baby! A mother may at times, feel blessed to have even a few hours of uninterrupted sleep.

Nevertheless, personal training experts say that a proper fitness program and nutritious diet can help you get in shape quickly.

Pregnancy

Be cautioned though. A mother of two and a personal training expert says that transformation does not happen overnight. However, with regular exercises she eventually had a body, which was better than she ever could have at her age! So, if you are planning to undertake some post-pregnancy exercises, now is the chance to get a body that maybe you dreamed of having, all those years!

1. Develop realistic goals

We know the first few months after having a baby are very special. Your baby is dependent on you for everything and you can’t leave their side for long too! However, you have to take out time for yourself. Do not exercise to fatigue. Take it slow but do not ditch exercises completely. Exercise when your baby is asleep and go for walks with your baby.

2. Exercises to do

Start practicing Kegel Exercises whenever you have spare time at hand. Take a deep breath and while exhaling, imagine your vaginal opening getting pulled up toward the inside of your belly button. Relax when inhaling. Repeat this procedure 20 times.

Another exercise to do is Tommy Toner. Inhale while expanding your belly. Pull your belly button toward your spine as you exhale. Again, repeat this 20 times.

3. Use dumbbells

Weight training is one of the most effective ways to have a better-shaped body. Even 2 or 3 sessions in a week, each of 20-30 minutes can bring some noticeable difference.

With weight training, you will have more lean muscles and less of body fats so not only do you lose weight but you also become stronger.

4. Don’t eat snacks or fast foods

With less time at hand and more tasks to do, some women may grab processed snacks and fast food without thinking about the damage they are doing to their fitness program!

If you are busy, have shakes instead. Eat healthy and more natural snacks such as nuts, fruits or a cup of low-fat yogurt. You could go to a nutritionist for some great snack ideas.

5. Hydrate yourself

Drink plenty of water, before, during and after your fitness training exercise. Lactating mother should have at least 8 ounces of water before and after their exercises. If your urine is clear or pale yellow in color, it means you are drinking enough water.

Senior Citizens Should Still Workout

/in , ,

As you grow older, staying fit and healthy is more important than ever before. By following an active lifestyle and working out regularly, you will definitely take care of your health and increase stamina. The suggestions listed here will present some handy fitness strategies for a seniors.

Growing older doesn’t mean you have to stop working out. In fact tons of senior citizens are becoming more active than ever. They might have to start making small changes in the way they go about exercising.

seniors

Always putting safety first and foremost. Senior citizens should workout and can do all the exercises of younger people. This includes, weightlifting, yoga, running, cardio and aerobics.

Seniors have to exercise and build muscle to prevent bone mass loss. The longer the person puts off working out the more chances of developing osteoporosis and other ailments. To prevent loss of strength the individual should do some form of strength training and incorporate some cardio for stamina. Cardio exercise also keeps the heart healthy. Yoga is also a great exercise for seniors. It helps with balance and flexibility.

Joining a senior class at a local gym is a very good for you. Not only will it help the person to get into shape, but help make new friends to workout with. The more people you can find to exercise the more fun the class is going to be. There are more senior classes opening up than ever before. Enjoy this time and workout hard. You’re body will reward you with increased energy and more stamina.

People have to realize that walking is one of the best exercises you can do. Walking costs nothing but the time and effort that the person puts forth. It’s one exercise that can help almost all seniors. Anyone can do it, and for the most part there is not much stress on the joints. Walking outside, walking on the treadmill, and walking on trails offer you lots of options. Try to walk a minimum of twenty minutes a day, one hour maximum. The more the individual walks, the more likely they are going to see positive results.

Swimming for senior citizens is very helpful for joints and tendons. Low impact swimming also aids in muscle recovery and healing. Senior classes normally offer swimming and most people love the benefits and feeling after a nice swim. The amount or swimming is totally up to the person. I have seen many seniors swimming laps in the pool, so for a good workout maybe start with one or two laps and work up from there.

As we get older it’s even more important to take care of your body. Yes it is true seniors do get some aches and pains from time to time. That should not stop the person from being active. Keep striving everyday to exercise to fight of disease and to feel great.

Types of Plant-Based Diets and Their Famous Followers

/in , ,

Plant-based diets have received an increasing amount of media attention over the past several years. Yet many may feel confused over what exactly these diets involve.

Here is a list of eight different types of plant-based diets, including some renowned devotees.

Plant-based diets

1. Vegetarianism

Vegetarians may eat dairy products and eggs but not any meat. According to the Vegetarian Society, a vegetarian is “Someone who lives on a diet of grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, vegetables and fruits with, or without, the use of dairy products and eggs. A vegetarian does not eat any meat, poultry, game, fish, shellfish or by-products of slaughter.” Many celebrities call themselves vegetarian, from Paris Hilton to Ariana Huffington.

2. Semi-Vegetarianism (Flexitarianism)

A semi-vegetarian adheres to a plant-based diet but occasionally eats meat. This category includes food writer Mark Bittman.

3. Veganism

Vegans do not eat any animal products (dietary vegans). Some vegans go further and choose not to use any animal products at all, including leather or wool clothing (ethical vegans). Bill Clinton now eats vegan due to health concerns. Other well-known vegans include actresses Natalie Portman and Anne Hathaway as well as talk show host Ellen DeGeneres.

4. Raw Veganism

Raw vegans combine veganism with raw foodism (rawism) by avoiding all animal products and not cooking food above a maximum 118 degrees Fahrenheit. Adherents to this diet believe that greater heat destroys foods’ micronutrients. In addition, some proponents think that cooking foods produces dangerous chemicals. Actress Demi Moore maintains a raw vegan diet.

5. Herbivore

Herbivores are plant-eating animals. In terms of a dietary choice for humans, it generally refers to vegans and vegetarians. Lindsay Nixon, known as the author of the Happy Herbivore books, describes herself as eating a strictly vegan diet.

6. Fruitarianism

Fruitarians eat fruit, nuts and seeds but avoid animal products, vegetables and grains. Michael Arnstein has competed in ultramarathons and Ironman Triathlons as a fruitarian. The most famous fruitarian may have been Steve Jobs.

7. Macrobiotic Diet

Hippocrates originated the term macrobiotics, which he used to describe healthy, long-lived people. Today this diet combines principles of Zen Buddhism with Western-style vegetarianism. Practitioners choose foods to obtain a balance of yin and yang. Whether foods taste sour, sharp, salty, sweet or bitter determines pairings. Whole grains take up about half of a macrobiotic diet, followed by vegetables, beans, fish, seeds and nuts. Followers consume substantial amounts of soup. This low-fat, high fiber diet relies on minimally processed foods, locally sourced if possible. Low-fat meats and fish are allowed, making this not a strictly vegetarian plan. How foods affect well-being takes prominence. Tom Cruise follows a macrobiotic diet.

8. Nutritarian

Dr. Joel Fuhrman, Eat to Live author, coined the term nutritarian to describe choosing foods based on maximizing the amount of micronutrients per calorie. He advocates for a diet consisting of mostly vegetables, with fruits, beans, seeds, and grains following. Fewer calories should come from poultry, oil, eggs and fat-free dairy. Finally, beef, cheese, processed foods and sweets should be minimized. In public, Dr. Fuhrman seems to avoid advocating for a vegan diet. However, his writings definitely emphasize eating only low-fat, strictly vegan foods. His list of seven worst foods for health includes: butter, cheese, potato chips and French fries, doughnuts, salt, processed meats and barbecued or smoked meat.

Summary

Each of these diets has its subscribers. Their details and philosophies may vary somewhat, but all stress the importance of a plant-based diet.

 A Perfect Way to Remain Fit and Fine

/in , ,

Keeping the body fit and fine, it is must to follow the fitness tips. It helps in keeping the body and makes your figure perfect. Fitness tips also helps in keeping the mind strong and fulfills the desire of achieving the beautiful body.

To be sexy and slim helps in boosting up the confidence of the person and makes their over all persona amazing.

fit

Fitness tips act as the best solution to reduce weight and look perfectly fit and fine. According to the fitness trainer, one should always consume the promoting types of diet and must do regular exercise that avoids facing the distraction problem. One can easily avail the fitness trips from the TV commercials, print ads that make it easier for women and young girls to look slim and fascinating in the front of the people.

Everyone should follow the tips on regular basis to avoid any kind of the diseases. It helps in maintaining the healthy of the body and keeps their mood refreshing always. The fitness tips also make the brain sharp of the person if the person involved in the activity of physical exercises on regular basis. It the best way to make yourself fit and adorable personality.

At time of following the tip to maintain the fitness of body, the most important thing that needs consideration is diet you are taking. Always prefer to take lesser fat and low calorie diet. To remain focused is the most essential tip among all the fitness tips. It helps in achieving the goal in a successful manner and in lesser time.

To follow proper training program is also part of the fitness tips. Training program includes using of heavy type supplements and restrict the eating. Weight training program is the best solution to keep your body at right tone.

The Wonderful Benefits of Simple Exercise For Seniors

/in , ,

Then you should go for it. An active lifestyle is very beneficial. It help boost energy levels and can even help to reverse some of the problems of aging. It can improve your energy and strength. It doesn’t matter what your age, or illness, you will improve flexibility and balance by moving more.

Endorphins produced by being active will decrease depression and help you feel better. Plus it increases your self-confidence. Exercise will increase heart health, blood pressure, and bone density.

exercise

Your whole body will improve with regular exercise. It will reduce the problems of aging and will improve your strength and over-all well being.

It will help you lose weight. Exercise increases metabolism and burns calories to help you reach a healthy weight.

Getting active will improve your sleep patterns, by helping you to fall asleep easier and sleep sounder.

Your brain will have added benefits by helping to preventing memory loss and dementia.

Where to start? Start slow, build up your program a little at a time. Warm up, cool down and have water available all the time.

If something hurts, stop doing it. Exercise was not meant to be painful. Try something else.

One of the best and easiest cardio exercises to start with is walking. Make sure you are in a safe area, without a lot of traffic. Be aware of your surroundings. A very popular place is a local mall. I know some malls even open their doors early to accommodate the early walkers. Plus there is safety in numbers. Or find a walking partner. Set a time to meet that’s good for both of you. It doesn’t seem like a chore when someone else is there to talk to.

After you have gotten in the habit of walking four to five times a week for at least thirty minutes a day, it’s time to add some variety to your workout.

Swimming, hiking, cycling are a few more forms of cardio exercise that can be fun and a change of pace from walking.

Also check with the YMCA. They have many programs available for seniors. One that is available in Florida is Silver Sneakers. It features many different classes for seniors. Zumba, water aerobics, Yoga and Tai Chi are just a few.

Also if you live in a warm climate most senior housing complexes have pools available. Check your television. Some stations have an exercise channel.

Take advantage of what’s around you, and enjoy.

Why A Plant-Based Diet Matters

/in , ,

There is not much mystery about a ‘plant-based diet’ but it may be interesting to ponder for a little on the vastness of what it holds for you.

plant-based

Whole Foods

Firstly, a plant-based diet recognizes the value of natural, whole foods, not nutrients or calories, as the fundamental unit of nutrition. This is due to the synergistic combination of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and phytochemicals that can only take place with whole foods. Thus it makes good food sense to have moderate amounts of different whole foods in your diet all the time.

This continual switching around of one type of vegetable, whole grain or fruit for another till you have all the different types of phytochemicals well inside your body is very important for ultimate health. Besides, different parts of your body require different plant chemicals to function; thus, a healthy mix of nutrients is essential to good health.

Colors of Natural Foods

Further, a plant-based diet is also about eating the colors. Combining different colors and types of fruits and vegetables is both healthy and appetizing. In fact, colors give clues to the nutrients they contain.

For example, red indicates vitamin A (beta carotene) and vitamin C. Closely following, is yellow, which is a sign of potassium and fiber; while green means it is packed with iron or folic acid. Further, blue and purple colors show the presence of anthocyanins that fight free radicals; and white shines with vitamins and minerals.

Healing Power of Foods

Notably, the healing power of whole foods in a plant-based diet is at your disposal if you care to use it. However, this sort of healing is seldom instantaneous; Nature must be allowed to take its course and there are no health miracles overnight.

Meanwhile, the processed foods in your diet can cancel out all the good work of natural foods in the blink of an eye. What you do and do not eat are all important if you wish to see definite results.

Green Blood of Plants

In a way, a plant-based diet is letting in the sun in your life when you eat leafy greens with a high amount of chlorophyll. In fact, your own red blood thrives on the green blood of plants. So, the more greens you have inside your body, the more oxygen to produce red blood cells for you. Just as the trees depend on the leaves for food, you can make it through life with leafy greens.

Food Preparation

Lastly, a plant-based diet takes into consideration the way foods are prepared or eaten; so you should feed on fresh foods or freshly cooked food. There was a case in which re-heated leftovers were served to a woman in confinement. From that time onward, her health went downhill and she lost all her energy, not being able to hold down any full-time job.

Thus, Wordsworth had been right all along – that there is a close bond between man and nature. And a plant-based diet is the nearest thing though it may not be exactly what the dear poet had in mind. Edible poetry, anyone?

Half Marathon Training Tips And Guide

/in , ,

Training Schedules

It is highly recommended to follow a structured plan when half marathon training. This is an endurance sport and normal fitness training will not be enough. Going out for regular runs and training jogs will help get you prepared, but to do it right, it is best to follow a properly designed schedule. A half marathon training schedule will incorporate the key components of getting ready for race day, including building up the distances you are able to run.

marathon

They also ensure there is enough rest between runs as well as developing strength and the ability to run up hills. Finally, they assist with tapering, a process which reduces the length of runs in the days before the race so your body is at peak fitness for the event. Even veteran runners use training schedules when preparing for a run. So, whatever you level of fitness, goals or abilities, get a schedule.

Pre-training

Before you start half marathon training you should be physically able to jog for 30 minutes without stopping. How far or how fast you jog is not important. Your body just needs to be sufficiently conditioned to move at a jogging pace for that length of time. If you cannot do this and start training anyway, you will increase your risk of picking up an injury. If you cannot run for 30 minutes, you will need to build up to that before embarking on a training schedule. Do this by going out 3 or 4 times a week for a jog-walk, building up the length of time you jog, as opposed to walking, each time. The repetitive nature of this exercise will help you build up to the point where you can run the full 30 minutes. At this point you will be ready to start training for a half marathon.

Nutrition

The key to eating right while half marathon training is balance – eating a balanced diet. Following the latest fad diet will not help anywhere near as much as simply eating fresh, unprocessed food with a large emphasis on carbohydrates. That means over 50 percent of your diet should be fruit, vegetables and whole grains – pasta, bread, cereals etc. Other foods can of course be eaten, but, like with any dietary recommendation, they should be eaten in moderation. Balance is the key. Make sure you eat about an hour before you go out for a training run, and also go to the toilet before you set off. All sorts of parts of your body will start working better as a result of training, including your digestive system. Finally, many runners take sports gels when on a long distance run, including race days. If and when to use them is a personal choice. For a half marathon race, the guide would be to take one at 5 miles and another at 9 miles, making sure you drink water with each gel. If you are considering using them on race day it cannot be stressed enough that you should use them in training first to see how your body reacts to the gels alongside your regular diet. So, 8-mile-plus training days are the right days to try out training gels.

Water and Hydration

Staying hydrated during half marathon training and during race day is not only critical to performance, it is also critical for safety. Exactly how much you should be drinking is different for everyone. There are some general rules you can follow, however. You should drink water throughout the day, instead of loading up just before going out for a run. That means keeping a bottle of water with you as often as you can. And while all types of drink will keep you hydrated, water is easily the best. You do not have to give up your cup of coffee or occasional soft drink, but make sure water is the drink you take the most. A lot of factors come into consideration when deciding if you need to drink during a training run, such as weather conditions and the length of the run. As a general rule, if you are going to be training for more than 30 minutes it is best to take water with you. Having a drink at the end of the session will normally be sufficient if the run is less than 30 minutes long. Drinking alcohol the evening before a training run will have an effect on your performance, so the best recommendation is to reduce the amount of alcohol you drink while in training. Finally, deciding on whether to drink water or a sports drink comes down to personal choice. Both have their advocates so try different options while training to get what is best for you.

Rest and Recovery

Resting is as important as half marathon training itself. Your body needs to time to recover after a training run to avoid injuries and help you build up fitness. Half marathon training schedules have rest days included at regular and key times to ensure there is no burn out. That is not enough, however. Getting the right amount of sleep every night during training is also critical. The body repairs itself during sleep and it is important that that process is not interrupted. Putting a figure on how much sleep you should get is difficult as everyone is different. As a general guide, while training, go to bed 30 minutes earlier than you would normally do. You will feel fresher the following day making training easier and you will reap the benefit on race day.

Injuries

Injuries can, unfortunately, happen during half marathon training. The most common injuries occur in the feet, ankles, shins and knees. If you do get an injury, do not run through it. This will only exacerbate the problem. Use ice on the affected area as often as possible and rest. That is the best prescription, even if it means missing days on your training schedule. There are a few things you can do to minimize the risk of injury. First, do not push yourself too far. For example, do not embark on a training schedule if you cannot already run non-stop for 30 minutes. Also, do not start running distances beyond your reach; or run too fast for your level of fitness. The advice is to stay realistic and keep within your limits. Another thing you can do to avoid injury is to stretch after each training run. Stretching should last for 5 to 10 minutes and each muscle in your legs should be individually stretched, with particular focus on hamstrings, calves and quads. Other things you can do to avoid injury is to stay hydrated and make sure you are using appropriate equipment, particularly footwear. Wearing ill-fitting shoes will put on you a fast-track to injury so take care when choosing.

Summary

A lot of this is down to common sense – eat a balanced diet, train according to a schedule, stay hydrated etc. But it can be difficult to keep up the standards because of the busy lives we all lead. On the positive side, half marathon training is a way to get focused as there is an end goal you are working towards – race day. It is the ideal time to exercise more, eat and sleep better, and get fit. And have fun.

How Senior Citizens Can Stay In Shape

/in , ,

As we grow older, our bodies undergo many changes. And not all of those changes are good ones. Our bones go weak, our muscles sag and our strength walks out on us. It’s something that we cannot avoid but there is a way to slow down the aging process and that is with exercise. Almost 85 percent of senior citizens fail to exercise regularly even though they know the importance of it.

And the reason for that is almost the same as the one younger people have. That being exercise is too tiring, too hard or it takes too long for the results to show. It’s also a problem for older people being at the gym because of the younger people around them. And honestly, we all have our insecurities and when we’re older, being around a lot of younger people doesn’t help out. So, if you’re part of this age group and you want to stay fit, you can start working out at home instead.

seniors

The first thing older people need to consider is what exercises they should do. The number one exercise for seniors are cardio exercises. Cardio exercises can help keep the heart healthy. Walking, swimming and bike riding are the recommended exercises for seniors. If you don’t have a pool at home, 2 out of 3 isn’t bad. You can get a treadmill and a stationary bike to get the exercise you need. The next best exercise is strength training with the help of some dumbbells. As we grow older, our muscles grow weaker and they actually shrink. Doing strength exercises can help with preventing this because muscles that are frequently used decline slower. It is critical that before you do any of these exercises that consult your doctor so they could give you a recommendation.

If you’re ready to start working out at home, the next thing to do is to get the equipment you need. Before you get them though, you have to look out for some things. Since seniors are not as strong, the equipment needs to have soft steps or cushions for some equipment such as a treadmill. For dumbbells, you can get those that are made of rubber so it would be safer in case it’s dropped.

Before you start, make sure that you have someone to workout with, if necessary. This person not only ensures that you’re safe, they can also encourage you. It’s just like being in the gym with a trainer except you don’t have to deal with that many people and with that noise which irritates some older people easily making their exercises more uncomfortable. Don’t forget to do some stretching as well as this helps with your flexibility which is also important to keep your joints healthy.

Exercise is good for everyone, young or old. We just have to remember that old saying, no pain, no gain. Go ahead and make a fresh start tomorrow. Don’t be aged, be ageless.

5 Great Benefits to Get From a Plant Based Diet

/in , ,

A plant based diet includes a high percentage of food sourced from plants rather than animals. This can mean eating nuts, whole grains, lentils, peas, beans, fruits, and vegetables. But, this style of diet does not need to be strictly vegetarian.

Here are five of the health benefits that come from eating lots of plant foods:

plant based diet

Blood pressure

A plant-based diet offers a perfect source of potassium-rich foods which can help to naturally lower blood pressure. Fruits and vegetables, as well as most seeds, nuts, legumes, and whole grain include a sufficient amount of vitamin B6 and potassium for healthy blood pressure. Animal foods like meat include minimal potassium and can lead to higher cholesterol and blood pressure.

Cholesterol

A significant benefit of adopting a plant-based diet is the ability to lower cholesterol. Plants are cholesterol-free, even the more saturated types like cacao and coconut. For this reason, eating a diet that mostly consists of plant-based foods can offer a simple solution to lowering cholesterol. Great food choices to lower rates of heart disease and cholesterol include seeds, nuts, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables.

Blood Sugar

A highly effective method to control high blood sugar is to increase the fiber in the diet. A fiber-rich diet is perfect to help with slowing the absorption of sugar in the bloodstream. An added benefit is the ability to control hunger throughout the course of the day. Also, fiber can help with balancing the level of cortisol in the blood stream, which is responsible for the feelings of stress. Many of the animal foods can have a significant hand in increasing the blood sugar level.

Cancer

A plant-based diet that includes low-fat, whole food is one of the most efficient choices for helping to cut the risk of cancer. Certain cancers like breast and colon are at great risk for those that eat a diet mainly consisting of animal foods.

Weight Loss

A diet consisting of plant-based and whole foods, with minimal processed sugars and low in fat, is certain to help with cutting weight. A further benefit comes from a diet that is high in clean and raw whole foods. Weight loss is naturally able to occur when the daily diet includes a higher percentage of vitamins, minerals, and fiber compared to proteins and animal fats. A well-planned plant-based diet has the potential to cut 4-6 pounds within a two-week period. This should also ensure you aren’t left feeling hungry.