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A Path To Good Health: Plant-Based Foods

Plant-based foods are gaining major traction across the globe as people are getting conscious about health. Some of it might be caused by the release of documentaries that highlights eating meat and other animal products, such as Forks Over Knives (2011), Cowspiracy (2014), and What the Health (2017).


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Harshal Sonawane

2 years ago | 4 min read

Over half of the global population suffers from
selenium, iodine, calcium, zinc, and iron malnutrition. Most of the major core
crops of the world, such as maize, pearl millet, sweet potato, beans, cassava, wheat, or rice, are usually deficient in some of these mineral elements. Therefore, the growing number of bioavailable micronutrients in edible crop tissues has become a favorite strategy in modern agriculture, enabling the access of more nutritious foods utilizing fewer resources. Plant-based food and proteins are a hot topic when discussing nutrition globally. Why is it so? According to researchers, it is due to the growing awareness among people regarding the health and environmental benefits associated with eating in this manner.

What Is Plant-Based Food?

Plant-based food refers to various dietary patterns comprising smaller quantities of animal products and more plant products. Though with time, the meaning of the phrase has changed, and the term is now used to describe vegetarian diets that contain eggs or dairy but no meat,  diets that include only plant-based food,
as well as diets that comprises limited quantities of animal-based foods, and original vegan . As the term suggests, the diet focuses on food derived from plants. This includes fruits and vegetables and beans, legumes, whole
grains, oils, seeds, and nuts. The diet refers to maintaining a proper balance
with selecting most food items from plant sources. Plant-based foods are more
sustainable than those rich in animal products as they are less taxing on the
environment and use lesser natural resources. The diet offers all the vital
minerals, vitamins, carbohydrates, fats, and protein for optimum health and is
usually higher in phytonutrients and fiber. Much research has shown that
plant-based eating habits such as a vegetarian diet and the Mediterranean diet
offer more nutrition Mediterranean diets.

The Mediterranean diet is based on plant-based foods, including yogurt, cheese,
eggs, poultry, and fish once a week, with the least amounts of sweets and
meats. Adopting this diet has lowered the chance of diabetes, heart
disease, depression, , certain cancers, and a reduced risk of frailty
in older adults alongside better physical and mental function. metabolic syndrome do not include any meat, poultry, or seafood. The diet has
proven to maintain health, with a lesser threat of developing diabetes, coronary
heart disease, enhanced longevity, and high blood pressure.

How To Adopt With A Plant-Based Diet?

The central focus is to make plant-based foods
to make a core element of the meal. As per the definition, these foods
highlight beans, vegetables, and fruits and limit foods like , dairy, and meats. The diet can vary as per the preference of the consumer. As stated by researchers, the diet is known to offer numerous health benefits. With growing mindfulness among people regarding the benefits associated with these foods, people across the globe are willing to adopt a plant-based diet. Adopting such diets includes eating volumes of vegetables as a primary stage. One can include plenty of vegetables in the meals by adding some guacamole, salsa, or hummus for taste. To get used to this lifestyle, one needs to cut down on the proportions of meat included in the meals. It is important to maintain good stability by selecting good fats such as avocados, seeds, nuts, nut butter, olives, and olive oil.

Plant-based foods include maximum items derived from plants. Cooking a vegetarian meal once a week with the use of vegetables, whole grains, and beans is considered a good start to adopting a healthy lifestyle. Furthermore, it is good to include whole grains such as barley, buckwheat, quinoa, or oatmeal with nuts or seeds. Vegetables such as kale, spinach, collards, Swiss chard, and other greens can be included in a daily meal to achieve a daily dose of greens. One can even make a salad with these green alongside an assortment of other vegetables to add flavor to the meal. For dessert, fruit can be a good option as it satisfies your craving and cuts sugar from the diet.

Market Trends

Plant-based foods are gaining major traction across the globe as people are getting conscious about health. Some of it might be caused by the release of documentaries that highlights eating meat and other animal products, such as Forks Over Knives (2011), Cowspiracy (2014), and What the Health (2017). With all the growing trends of veganism and vegetarianism across the globe, the market has been facing growth in expansions, mergers, acquisitions, and product launches in recent years. For instance, CGS International, Inc., in January 2022, announced plans to grow its footprint into the organic plant-based food market. The company CEO, Ramon Mabanta, said that this step would be a great match with the company's operating platform. He further added that this expansion intends to build a clear vision for the future and plan to lead the industry in the coming years.

With the start of the new year, leading players worldwide are making heavy investments to expand their global market reach. A Multinational joint venture Plant Plus Foods, in January 2022, has closed the CA$125 million deal, i.e., about USD100 million deal with Sol Cuisine, a Canadian vegan food manufacturer, right after two months of buying the producer of Hilary's allergen-friendly plant-based products, Drink Eat Well LLC. These deals are likely to catalyze Plant Plus Foods' goals to acquire a "strong foothold" in the American region.

Conclusion

Plant-based food is a type of eating that honors plant foods and eliminates unhealthy items such as refined grains and sugars. The diet is well-known to offer plenty of health benefits, including lowering the risk of cognitive decline, diabetes, obesity, certain cancers, and heart disease. But it is also sustainable as it reduces and uses fewer fertilizers, water, and land for agriculture. Substituting to a more plant-based diet is a brilliant option for the planet. Irrespective of the kind of plant-based diet one chooses, adopting this way of eating will boost one's health.





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