Plant Forward Diets And The Benefits

Plant forward diets focus on eating more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and legumes while eating less animal-based foods such as meat, dairy, and eggs. 

Eating plant forward can be beneficial for overall health, while also allowing for flexibility in your diet. It can help reduce the risk of developing heart disease and type-2 diabetes and having a stroke; the risk of these diseases increases as we age. 

Focusing on nutrient-dense foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds and legumes can ensure adequate fiber, protein, carbohydrates, and fats which have different functions in our body. 

• Fiber can help lower LDL cholesterol, stabilize blood sugar, help keep us full, and help with constipation. 

• Protein is important for building and repairing tissues in our body, and help keeps us full. 

• Carbohydrates are our body’s primary source of energy and is important to help our brain, cells, and tissues work properly. 

• Finally, fat, is very important for cell growth, regulating hormones, and helps with brain function. 

All these important nutrients can be found by focusing on eating plant forward and can even help the environment! It can help lower greenhouse emissions, land, and water consumption compared to diets that focus on meat. 

How To Eat Plant Forward

Changing eating habits can be challenging and overwhelming, which is why we are here to help. Small, simple swaps can lead to sustainable changes. You can start by doing “Meatless Monday” and use plant-based options to swap out meat. One day at a time, one small change at a time, eating a plant forward diet can help the environment, and your health. 

By Alex Baio, RD