Can a diet that's good for the planet reduce your risk of dying from disease?
Can a diet that's good for the planet reduce your risk of dying from disease?
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A diet promoting plant-based protein to help the environment now has a more human argument: It may lower your risk of dying from several major diseases.
We've known this for decades, and modern research is only strengthening this position.
The question is: what will it take for people to change their diet?
I would say Canada needs more education on cooking with plants and more sustainable options in the grocery market.
Edit: also cut subsidies for animal agriculture which will save Canada $2 billion a year and allow us to more closely fulfil the plan to 1.5 degrees warming.
Most studies I've seen on the subject could just as well explain the longer life span of a vegan diet by the fact that vegans are more careful about what they eat and tend to be more health conscious in general. It's extremely hard to actually associate a longer lifespan with just a particular choice of diet because there are a lot more factors than just diet that impacts this.
Not really true. If you exclude those other factors, plant-based diets still come out on top. You should check out studies on the Seventh-Day Adventists like this one, as it's fascinating stuff!
There are simply too many harmful compounds in animal flesh which aren't compatible with health in humans.
But overall, plant-based is just better in every way: cost, land use, water use, climate change, health, longevity, chronic disease risk/prevention, food security, etc., etc., etc.
That is a half truth.
While it’s true that some vegans are health conscious, it is the because it’s the norm that the diet is healthier. A plant based diet still has lower risks even when you eat a lot of the junk food.
Also it is good for your health to limit your cigarette,alcohol, caffeine, sodium and sugar intake, the plant-based diet is shown to reduce your level of cholesterol and risk of heart disease.
Just plant based. The protein part doesn't matter
There are loads of other benefits that come along with eating plants, but regarding protein source:
"Conclusions Higher intake of total protein was associated with a lower risk of all cause mortality, and intake of plant protein was associated with a lower risk of all cause and cardiovascular disease mortality. Replacement of foods high in animal protein with plant protein sources could be associated with longevity." SOURCE
"Conclusions and relevance: High animal protein intake was positively associated with cardiovascular mortality and high plant protein intake was inversely associated with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, especially among individuals with at least 1 lifestyle risk factor. Substitution of plant protein for animal protein, especially that from processed red meat, was associated with lower mortality, suggesting the importance of protein source." SOURCE
My point is that there's no shortage of protein available in plants.
Of course it matters, the protein part is the main thing keeping a lot of people not vegan.
You can get lots of proteins from plants such as:
Tofu and Tempeh, Lentils, Chickpeas, Quinoa, Nuts and Seeds (such as almonds, pistachios, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, and chia seeds), Edamame, Spirulina, Seitan, Black Beans, Peanut Butter.
Yes, but you only need to worry about it if you're a body builder. You can meet your daily minimum needs stupid easy if you just eat a variety of food without any of the items you listed.
Its important to dispell the myth.
Nuts are not high protein. I don't know where this idea comes from. There's protein in nuts, but compared to the amount of calories per gram it's really not that high. Unless you want to gain weight nuts shouldn't be your main source of proteins.
Anyway my point is just that the protein part is important because that's the part that people need to change their diet for. Everything else people wouldn't really have any issues going vegan.
It's hugely dependent on a lot of factors but what I can say for sure that's helped for me personally:
- having more locally sourced options like farmers markets and local butchers
- not having to commute to work every day (the extra time and energy saved means I'm much more willing to cook something healthy)
- a healthier work/life balance
- making more money... Buying local isn't cheap.
I know veggies, even when they're not local, are cheaper than a lot of processed food but not when we're talking convenience and energy spent. Having the energy to prep and cook fresh produce, as well as a local market within walking distance have been the biggest factors for me.
I know I'm a pessimist but I feel like this is another one of those issues where we take the mask off and it's just that monster capitalism underneath.
I would argue that there are thousands of plant-based recipes out there you can learn to cook and you can also substitute your favourites with alternatives that taste just as good! Also meat, dairy and eggs make it way more complicated to keep your kitchen clean and increases the likelihood of cross-contamination.
Here are some substitutes for your common cooking ingredients:
https://www.foodnetwork.ca/article/vegan-baking-substitutes-guide/
Here is a good resource for recipes:
Also here if you’re still interested here is a 30 day challenge to keep you motivated to live healthier and more sustainable.
Let’s increase the life expectancy from 82 years to 88 years for all Canadians by using the lessons learned from Loma Linda as an inspiration.