Plant Based Diet?
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MarcA1218
Posts: 570 Member
So, I am thinking of going on a more plant based diet. If you know about this please add the pros and cons below. Also, if you want to join me on this journey also add your weight and goals too we can try it out together!
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Replies
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moosmum1972 wrote: »
Oh yes I will continue using this app and watch my calorie intake as well.6 -
I'm a vegan for ethical reasons, but I have a hard time answering this question for someone who doesn't eat this way for ethical reasons. The case for plant based diet as a way to lose weight is, in my opinion, not really all that strong. That's not to say you can't lose weight on a plant based diet, you absolutely can, but it's not the only option and i'd generally be concerned with long term adherence (which would also be a concern for any restrictive way of eating).
I suppose the best answer I can give is to say give it a try, and see how you get on with it. It is veganuary, so you wouldn't be the only person trying out a plant based way of eating in January.
VeganHealth.org is a good resource for staying healthy as a long term plant based eater.8 -
Maybe something got edited out, but I don't see the OP mentioning Netflix or doing this for weight loss???
OP, the pros and cons would really depend on what you are hoping to accomplish by making this change, and if you mean "eat more plants and less meat" or "vegetarian" or "vegan".
I am just trying to get more fiber, fruits, and veggies in my diet for general health. It's a challenge for me because I grew up basically having a glass of OJ, a banana, and then some microwaved veggies with dinner and that was it, so there's a steep learning curve for me lol. Also trying to get more plant protein, like from soy beans and lentils. Good luck!14 -
I changed to a whole food plant base diet and my weight is going down and my lab results are getting better. That the proof I need. It's about health for me.23
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Netflix = Big Vegetable.6
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moosmum1972 wrote: »Maybe something got edited out, but I don't see the OP mentioning Netflix or doing this for weight loss???
OP, the pros and cons would really depend on what you are hoping to accomplish by making this change, and if you mean "eat more plants and less meat" or "vegetarian" or "vegan".
I am just trying to get more fiber, fruits, and veggies in my diet for general health. It's a challenge for me because I grew up basically having a glass of OJ, a banana, and then some microwaved veggies with dinner and that was it, so there's a steep learning curve for me lol. Also trying to get more plant protein, like from soy beans and lentils. Good luck!
On another post he mentions a couple of mockumentaries he watched that scared him
Ah okay. Well then, OP don't change your diet based on a movie, they are specifically designed to press your buttons an pull your heartstrings. Having said that, I think many people would improve their health by getting more plants in their diet. Just don't do it out of misplaced fear11 -
I would get your hands on the book “How Not to Die”. Written by and MD who uses evidence based research in his recommendations. A great read on Plant based eating. Good Luck!22
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It’s hard not to eat too many carbs but as I have learned it really doesn’t matter. I’m fat because some junk foods are vegan like fries. Read the Starch Solution, it will show you why “omg where do you get your protein” is so dumb to say to vegans. Good for you for trying to help the environment and the world by eating less meat.16
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I think I'm eating "plant based"
At each meal I make sure 70-80%of my plate is veggies and 30-20% carb (although veggies have carbs) or protein. My go-to veggies are: steamed broccoli, veggie soups I make, smoothies with fruit and kale/spinach (easy to find recipes on google). I also do stir fry veggies, roasted veggies, dehydrated crackers I make out of veggies! You name it! I like making cauliflower rice! Tons of great options. And what I like is that I can eat tons of veggies at every meal bc they're low calorie (esp if you're not cooking the veggies in a lot of oil) I like to sit down to a big plate of food and know I'm not going to go over my calorie limit for the day
I'm working on making fermented veggies now
Anywho
Good luck!!!!11 -
I'd say I'm 80% plant based, though I don't like to label my diet. I still eat fish and eggs occasionally and a small amount of processed foods. My diary is open anyway. The foods I eat isn't just for weight loss (that's down to the amount of calories) I just want good nourishing foods with some treats (what I call treats others may not) and food I love to eat. For example I love salads and have one most days, some people turn their nose up at salads saying they're boring, that's down to what you put in it.3
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I just started a Vegan group. I invite all of you to stop by. The more the merrier!
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/125060-vegan-share4 -
I would get your hands on the book “How Not to Die”. Written by and MD who uses evidence based research in his recommendations. A great read on Plant based eating. Good Luck!
Yes! I own this book. It has over 2500 citations backing the claims. The man devoted his life to showing everyone that plant based eating is truly what's best for your health. He became inspired after his grandmother was sent home by her doctor to die because there was "nothing more they could do." She became a patient of Dr. Pritikin and lived 31 more years. All because of plant based eating.
Here are my pros and cons on plant based eating:
Pros: Zero digestive issues, more energy, more mental clarity and focus, better immune function, my running performance enhanced, my tendonitis pain went away, cheaper.
Cons: other people who have a negative association to the term vegan, people on this forum who want to argue with you for no apparent reason.
Buy some cookbooks and try the recipes. I own The Plantpower Way, Forks Over Knives, and Thug Kitchen.
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Worth reading on How Not to Die: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/how-not-to-die-review#section18
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moosmum1972 wrote: »moosmum1972 wrote: »
Oh yes I will continue using this app and watch my calorie intake as well.
You need to do more research than watching fear mongers on Netflix
A TV show isn’t my driving force. Although that show and Rotten were interesting shows, I friends on both a vegetarian & vegan diet and I am thinking of doing this because of my weight and my health. I have been reading up on it and and speaking with people who have also made the change. I was looking for feedback on the pros and cons of a plant based diet not the video. Just want to make sure I make the right decision.3 -
A TV show isn’t my driving force. Although that show and Rotten were interesting shows, I friends on both a vegetarian & vegan diet and I am thinking of doing this because of my weight and my health. I have been reading up on it and and speaking with people who have also made the change. I was looking for feedback on the pros and cons of a plant based diet not the video. Just want to make sure I make the right decision.
Obviously you're going to get a lot of nutrition from eating a plant based diet if you make it varied and include all the food groups, but you can also get that from eating meat, dairy etc. Think about why you want to go plant based, what you're going to eat on this diet and what you want to acheive. If it's just to lose weight then maybe rethink it. Weight loss is simply eating less calories than you burn. If there's more reasons like ethical or health then I'd do the research on what kind of foods you need to eat to get the nutrition you want while still losing weight and also foods you love to eat, because if you don't love the food you're eating then this eating plan won't last long.4 -
My pros and cons about 100% plant-based eating:
Pros
(1) Some people feel that it's an ethical imperative for them, and thus feel better doing it (and otherwise living a vegan lifestyle, since it's not just food).
(2) Some may improve their diets by doing it (although it depends on your diet before and what you eat after giving up animal products, as it's very easy to have a 100% plant-based diet that is less healthful than a good omnivore diet -- IMO the latter would of course include many vegetables, probably even be mostly vegetable, by volume anyway).
(3) I personally think there are positives for the planet, etc., from people eating more plant-based and fewer animal products, although again there are a lot of variables.
Cons
(1) For some people it will be hard to sustain or feel restrictive or find it harder to feel satisfied (this is going to vary by person).
(2) Some may not put in the work to do it correctly (or not supplement things like B12 that really need to be supplemented -- I'd recommend algae-based DHA too).
(3) Some apparently don't feel as well eating 100% plant based, this may be due to individual differences, and I'm sure can be managed through dietary experimentation for MOST people if they feel an ethical obligation.
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Aside from all of these, I think any choices would be better based on truthful, accurate information, and if I were considering something I would want it to be based on a reasonable consideration of the evidence, and not being scared by misleading propaganda. Thus, if someone is reacting to movies containing misleading health claims (which is essentially what OP said in another thread), I would think that others would consider that a bad thing, and not a sustainable basis for a long-term diet, even if you also think (for ethical reasons or personal experience or what not) that it might be a good choice, or even that it clearly is. Thus, while I would never argue with someone's choice to give up meat and other animal products, I might disagree with claims made about why to do it (if I eat fish I cannot be healthy or consuming eggs is a huge risk or whatever).
That aside, I certainly think that if someone is eating a poor diet with few vegetables, it will generally be an improvement to eat more vegetables (and otherwise look at ways to improve the diet). But if someone has a poor diet with few vegetables, going 100% plant-based is typically not going to be an easy option or easy to do correctly. Some advice (from Dr. Greger, even): identify some meals you like and that are healthy that are plant-based or could easily become so, and work them in. Keep identifying more and add them. Through this method improve the overall diet. One thing I've done for a long time and like is simply focusing on getting vegetables at all meals, ideally the majority of the volume.7 -
I just recently made the change to plant based eating myself (I was vegetarian and made the switch to vegan). I do it for ethical reasons but the health benefits are great too. So far, I feel great and have lost weight. I talked to my doctor about it and he said we can get all the nutrients we need from plants except B12 (which comes from dairy) so I take a supplement. Good luck to you! Feel free to connect with me on here.2
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