Changing your diet is not easiest thing to do because it consists of changing your lifestyle. While difficult, this is one of the most important decisions you can make in regards to your health. At Tri Valley Health & Aesthetics, we believe the best change possible for your diet is to switch to whole food and plant-based recipes.
WHAT IS A WHOLE FOOD, PLANT-BASED DIET?
A whole food, plant-based diet focuses on whole, minimally-refined or unrefined plants. This diet is centered on vegetables, fruits, tubers, whole grains and legumes and minimizes (or excludes) meat, dairy products, eggs and highly-refined foods. This way of eating has actually been around for thousands of years, merging a healthy lifestyle with tasty food.
THE BENEFITS OF FOLLOWING A PLANT-BASED DIET
Eating plant-based eliminates a long list of health problems, including heart disease, Type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure. Following a whole food diet also helps individuals lose weight and can prevent some cancers.
A diet that focuses on meat, especially red meat, is associated with increased rates of cancer and heart disease. A diet that focuses on plants and whole foods provides your body with more fiber, vitamins, minerals and healthy fats. Rather than going to a specific food for a single nutrient, a whole food diet emphasizes getting multiple nutrients from every food you eat.
WHOLE FOOD AND PLANT-BASED RECIPES
When some hear ‘plant-based diet,’ they may think the options for recipes are immediately limited. One of the most common misconceptions and reasons for failure in this diet is the belief that you are only eating leafy vegetables like lettuce or kale. However, this is not true! Eating only leafy vegetables limits the amount of calories you intake and leads to cravings, binging and decreased energy.
You can create just as many yummy recipes on a whole food, plant-based diet as on other diets. By simply substituting the ingredients in some of your favorite recipes with whole foods, you can create some delicious and healthy meals. The whole foods you will consume and use to create plant-based recipes include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, tubers and starchy vegetables. Rather than basing our meals on meat, plant-based recipes focus on foods like potatoes, corn, brown rice and black beans—just to name a few.
EASE INTO THE LIFESTYLE WITH PLANT-BASED NUTRITION PLANNING
If you are interested in starting a new, plant-based lifestyle but don’t know how, Tri Valley Health & Aesthetics offers plant-based nutrition planning. Contact us online or call 925.484.5483 today!
