A research conducted by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health lends credibility to previous claims of studies claiming health benefits of consuming vegetarian diets. Needless to say, sweetened foods and beverages consumed on a regular basis can have a negative impact on a person's overall health such as diabetes, weight gain, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, metabolic syndrome etc.
This study claims that plant-based diets can actually mitigate the risk of developing type-2 diabetes by 20%. You can further lower the risk by 34% if you consume high quality plant-based diet. A less healthy version - made of refined grains, potatoes and sugar-sweetened beverages - of this diet will also reduce the risk but by only 16%.
The research also revealed that by simply reducing animal food consumption from five-six servings to four servings a day can also also lower the diabetes risk. If you can eliminate the red and processed meat consumption, it can help prevent type 2 diabetes altogether.
The reason why plant-based diets work their magic on our bodies is because they are rich in antioxidants, fiber, unsaturated fatty acids and essential micronutrients. Plants also lack high saturated content that promotes healthy gut microbiome, thus strengthening the digestive system.
Thanks to the growing awareness, the society is also embracing growing veganism trend. It is now much easier to buy vegan food that not only improves your overall health but also puts much less pressure on the environment. More and more young people are now opting for plant-based diet, creating alertness for health benefits of eating fruits and vegetables and also helping the environment through social media. Celebrities following plant-based diets also encourage their followers to do the same.
