One Senior Place: Taking on a plant-based dietary lifestyle could lead to a healthier you

Q: Should I become a vegetarian?

A: Plant-based eating is a dietary lifestyle that focuses on consuming foods primarily derived from plants — like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds.

Its skyrocketing popularity has to do with its numerous health benefits, for humans and the environment.

Plant-based diets exclude or minimize the eating of animal products, including meat, poultry, seafood, dairy and eggs.

Let's dive right into this leafy topic!

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Eating styles

There are different variations of plant-based eating, ranging from vegetarian to vegan diets.

Vegetarian diets exclude meat but may include dairy and eggs, while vegan diets exclude all animal products.

Some people also follow a "flexitarian" approach, primarily consuming plant-based foods but occasionally including small amounts of animal products.

Health benefits

Study after study confirms that plant-based eating may reduce the risk of chronic diseases, like heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer.

Why? Because plant-based foods are generally low in saturated fat, cholesterol, and calories — and high in fiber, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.

Most plant-based diets are naturally low in salt and are a good fit for people with hypertension.

Plant-based eating approaches can also be tailored for specific health concerns.

For example, a low-carb version for diabetics includes healthy fruit choices that are naturally lower in sugar. But beware: some plant-based food items can also be highly processed and loaded with sugar, fat and sodium.

You'll find a lot of them in the snack food aisle!

Just start!

Ever tasted an Impossible Burger?

Incorporating plant-based meals into your diet can be as simple as swapping animal products for plant-based alternatives, or trying new recipes with plant-based ingredients.

Is your filled plate mostly brown and beige?

Dietitians recommend you “eat the rainbow” on a daily basis to incorporate the many health benefits of colored vegetables and fruits.

The environment

Plant-based foods — such as fruits and vegetables, whole grains, beans, peas, nuts and lentils — generally use far less energy, land and water, and have lower greenhouse gas intensities than animal-based foods.

Climate change, water scarcity and dwindling natural resources have led many to reexamine their relationship with meat and dairy products.

The last word

When adopting a plant-based lifestyle, it is important to ensure that your nutritional needs are being met.

Consulting with a registered dietitian or healthcare professional can help ensure a balanced and nutritious plant-based diet, especially if you are battling a health condition.

There really are no drawbacks to eating a healthy, plant-based diet and limiting animal products.

Your doctor, the planet and most likely your wallet, will thank you!

One Senior Place is a marketplace for resources and provider of information, advice, care and on-site services for seniors and their families. Questions for this column are answered by professionals in nursing, social work, care management and in-home care. Send questions to [email protected], call 321-751-6771 or visit One Senior Place, The Experts in Aging.

Brenda Lyle is a Certified Care Manager and Certified Dementia Practitioner with One Senior Place, Greater Orlando.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Thinking about becoming a vegetarian? Here's what you should know