March 7th is Plant Power Day! Plant Power Day is a day to raise awareness and encourage a plant-based diet. Plant-based diets can have a variety of benefits, such as health benefits and environmental benefits. Eating plant-based is a great way to make a positive impact on yourself and the environment!

Author: Madison Frederick

What is a plant-based diet?

A plant-based diet is a diet that usually does not include animal products.. This means eating no meat, dairy, or eggs. A plant-based diet is most often based on eating mostly whole foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. 

Plant-based or vegan? 

There can be a lot of confusion when it comes to discussing the difference between a vegan diet and a plant-based diet. A plant-based diet involves eating mainly whole foods as I mentioned earlier. In a vegan diet, you do not have to eat mainly whole foods, just no animal products! Oftentimes, these two terms can be used interchangeably, BUT on some occasions, there may be something plant-based that may not be considered vegan. 

These terms are most frequently seen used interchangeably when it comes to food labels and packaging. A lot of packaged food products are labeled as “plant-based” yet are, by definition, vegan! This can go the other way around as well. This can lead to confusion for consumers, though, as not everything labeled as plant-based is actually vegan. One example of this that is seen quite commonly is the use of honey. Many people do consider honey to be plant-based, while a large majority of people do not define honey as vegan. Plant-based diets and vegan diets have so much in common, but they also have their differences too!  

What are the benefits of a plant-based diet?

Eating plant-based has both amazing environmental and health benefits! Consuming a plant-based diet has been accredited for a multitude of physical and mental health benefits. Plant-based diets have been linked to improving energy levels, lowering cholesterol, lowering the risk of heart disease, lowering the risk of type 2 diabetes, and even more! The health benefits of eating plant-based are truly incredible. 

Plant-based diets can also help to ensure you are eating the proper amount of fruits and vegetables. A plant-based diet is a great way to help your body feel its best. Your mental health can also be impacted by eating plant-based! Studies have shown that focusing on eating a whole food plant-based diet can help improve your overall mood and decrease depression symptoms. Studies have also shown that eating plant-based can assist in boosting your cognitive and mental abilities. Eating in a way that makes you and your body feel good is one of the most important things you can do for yourself! 

Our environment also benefits so greatly from people consuming a plant-based diet. Plant-based diets help in fighting climate change and pollution. A very large majority of the pollution in our world today comes from the animal agriculture industry. This kind of pollution is something that is causing major issues on our planet. We can see these issues every single day through climate change, coral reefs dying, and many other ways. Eating plant-based is a great way to contribute to helping our Earth on a daily basis. While there are endless other benefits to consuming a plant-based diet, these are just some of the most prevalent ones. Plant-based eating is good for your body, brain, and the planet! 

How can I eat plant-based?

If you decide to try a plant-based diet for Plant Power Day, the Vkind.com website and app are amazing sources for finding all things plant-based and vegan! Vkind.com finds plant-based establishments in your area and everywhere and puts them all in one place. There is also a wide variety of delicious plant-based recipes on the website if you feel like preparing your own meals! With all of the resources available, utilizing Vkind.com and our Vkind app makes it easy to eat plant-based! 

Sources:

Davison, Courtney. “Plant-Based Diet vs. Vegan Diet: What’s the Difference?” Forks Over Knives, 12 Jan. 2023, https://www.forksoverknives.com/wellness/plant-based-diet-vs-vegan-diet-whats-the-difference/#:~:text=What%20Is%20the%20Difference%20Between,totally%20eliminates%20all%20animal%20products. 

Lynch, Heidi, et al. “Plant-Based Diets: Considerations for Environmental Impact, Protein Quality, and Exercise Performance.” Nutrients, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 1 Dec. 2018, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6316289/. 

Ostfeld, Robert J. “Definition of a Plant-Based Diet and Overview of This Special Issue.” Journal of Geriatric Cardiology: JGC, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 14 May 2017, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28630607/.