By increasing plant based foods in your diet, known nutritionally as “The Alkaline Diet”. By introducing plant based foods as the main component of your eating habits, you will decrease your risk of disease. Many Health Organizations are now in agreeance of “How you will benefit from increasing plant based foods in your diet”. The latest scientific evidence has discovered that a plant-based diet rich in vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats, healthy proteins lower the risk of weight gain and chronic disease.

Understanding a Plant-based diet is about including fresher, vegetables, fruit, seeds & nuts into your daily diet. Not to replace animal protein with manufactured plant-based protein. It is only by increasing your intake of Vegetables, Fruit, Seeds & Nuts that you will reap the Health Benefits.

 

Health Benefits of Minimizing Animal Protein &Increasing Plant-Based Foods

Increasing the consumption of plant-based foods, is beneficial for helping both children and adults, it will increase their nutrient intake, while lowering excess or “empty calorie” intake. It’s been shown that plant-based diets (similar to vegetarian diets in many ways) offer protection against coronary heart diseases, metabolic syndrome risk factors, some cancers, obesity, hypertension, type-2 diabetes, and cardiovascular mortality.

Eating more plant -based foods, such as veggies and fresh fruit, in place of foods for example:  Processed meats and packaged products has been found to be one of the most valuable ways of treating obesity and reversing the growing obesity and cancer epidemic. Considering two out of every three Australian adults, and one out every three children are now overweight or obese — these are excellent reasons to eat more plant-based foods. It is also an excellent way of lowering your carbon footprint, spending less on groceries overall, supporting organic agriculture, reducing your risk for most chronic diseases, and much more.

 

The Question I am often Asked?

I am often asked by clients as to whether is necessary to become a vegetarian in order to improve their health? No, not necessarily so! It may not be necessary to become a vegetarian to improve your health, but you do need to eat a substantial quantity of vegetables per day and fresh fruit, in order for your health and nutritional intake to improve.

Any positive changes that you make to improving your diet such as eliminating processed, takeaway and other fast-food choices is a great start to bring about positive changes to your health.

 

“What are the Best Foods to Support your Body for Optimal Health”? Is the Question!

That will provide you with essential vitamins, minerals, to provide energy and to support your body with its everyday functions and activities.

The Best Foods to provide your body with all of these needs are fresh, wholesome foods with as little to no processing as possible. Free from chemically derived ingredients and additives.

If after making these changes you feel that eliminating animal food is of benefit and you would like to do this. Then my answer would be if it is for health benefits, then it will benefit you.

When making any changes to your life or lifestyle it is important to do this gradually. What I am saying here is if you go from today eating a diet of mainly animal foods to tomorrow one of eating just plant-based foods. You may well find that this will be too much of a shock to your body and your mind.

It is also about learning about the whole foods you are going to need to obtain the best nutritional value from your plant-based diet.

Let’s talk about Increasing your Intake of Plant Foods!

So, if you are prepared to go on this learning journey and adventure to either eliminate animal protein altogether or to minimize it then you have come to the right place.

Increasing your intake of plant foods whilst decreasing your intake of animal-based foods. This will benefit you by improving your health and decreasing your risk of disease. It is of no secret these days with all the research done, that a diet of 75% plant-based foods and only 25% animal-based foods has been found to support healthy aging, reduction in disease and supposed age related illnesses such as Heart disease, High blood pressure, Alzheimers. There has been noted significant decrease in mental health problems, fertility problems and cancer due to an increase of vegetables, fruit, nuts, and seeds being included into daily eating habits.

You will find that you will have more energy, feel more vital and suffer less from common ailments such as allergies, colds, flu, even from aches and pains. Your body will recover so much quicker from any health hiccups along the way.

 

8 Steps to Begin making Positive Changes

1: Eliminate animal foods that you don’t eat on a regular basis. For me this was red meat. In my early adult life red meat just didn’t seem to agree with me. So, it was easy not to choose it.

2: Add more plant foods to your meal. Such as sweet potato, parsnips, cauliflower, carrots, zucchini, pumpkin, beans, peas, broccoli, kale. Also, foods such as Quinoa, Brown rice, Black rice these are great sources of nutrients, fibre, and protein. See below for further suggestions and health benefits.

3: Nuts and Seeds are a great source of nutrition, protein, and fibre. They also aid healthy digestion. These include either roasted or raw unsalted – Cashews, Almonds, Pine Nuts, Walnuts, and Pecans. Seeds to include – Flaxseeds, Chia seeds, Pumpkin seeds, Sunflower seeds, Hemp seeds and Sesame seeds. Nuts make great snacks, and you can add the seeds to your salads or use as a topping on casseroles and bakes.

4: Gradually moving away from say chicken or fish. If you do choose to go totally vegetarian then you could say go alternate days to begin with, including either fish or chicken in your meal. Whilst decreasing the portion size. Then you may work toward just having one or two of these meals per week, to fortnightly, monthly until you feel quite happy to eliminate them altogether.

5: Eating out can be somewhat of a challenge even though many restaurants are beginning to cater for vegetarians and vegans. The menu selection for these meals still leaves a lot to be desired. Don’t be afraid to ask if you see a meal that you like but don’t want the meat part of it, then ask for the meal without the chicken or beef. This will depend on a great deal as to how strict you want to become, because quite often a red meat meal will be cooked with the vegetables or rice. But you can check on this and ask.

6: Be Prepared stock your fridge with plenty of vegetables and plant-based foods. Your pantry with nuts, seeds, wholegrain or black rice, quinoa, rice noodles and spelt pasta. This helps you to stay on track.

7: Eliminating Dairy: You will find many of your non-dairy and vegetarian health food choices in your local health food shop and even at your local Fruit and Vegetable outlet. If you are still wanting to include some animal products goats and sheep products are a healthier option. As for milk, Oat and Almond are your best choice. Vanilla Coconut Yogurt is a yummy addition to your daily diet.

8: Adding Flavour: Find some simple, yet yummy recipes that you like and use flavours such as basil, bay leaves, thyme, mint, garlic, fennel, onion, coriander, caraway seeds, dill, and lime leaves.

 

Excellent Plant-Based Food Choices – To Alkalize your Body

All these foods are rich in antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and bioflavonoids that are essential for healthy heart, digestion, and metabolism. In supporting your body with alkalizing foods, you are helping to prevent disease.

1: Red Bell Peppers or Sweet Peppers – Red peppers contain three times more vitamin C than orange juice, according to some medical sources.

2: Berries – Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries you name it berries are great for you.

3: Citrus Fruits – Oranges, Lemons, and limes, as well as peaches, nectarines and other fruits all contain vitamin C and bioflavonoid super oxidants.

4: Broccoli – This green vegetable has a lot of vitamin C, as well as some other essential vitamins for a healthy diet. As with other foods, use broccoli raw for best results.

5: Brussels Sprouts/Cabbage – For a hearty meal, include these cabbage type sprouts. Rich in antioxidants, they are also packed with their own unique taste for a delicious way to get bioflavonoids and vitamins.

6: Tropical Fruits – Exotic fruits, like mangoes and papayas, have a lot of bioflavonoids and other nutritional elements packed under their skins. These are becoming more accessible at supermarkets everywhere. Don’t miss out on what they have to offer.

7: Garlic – By most accounts, garlic is a superfood. Our food culture has long been aware of its anti-inflammatory properties, but now scientists are counting it as among the natural food’s rich in bioflavonoids, and therefore able to deliver the antioxidant values we associate with “healing foods.”

8: Sweet Potato – has been found to support healthy blood pressure, maintaining healthy insulin levels, healthy bowels. Nutrient packed with Vitamin A, Fibre and Beta-carotene.

9: Spinach – Popeye wasn’t kidding: this stuff has all of the qualities you would associate with a green vegetable rich in antioxidants. Spinach and Kale are packed with nutrition improving detoxification and brain power.

10: Kale – is one of the most nutrient dense vegetables on the planet. Kale contains the glucosinolates isothiocyanates (ITC) that fights the formation of H. pylori (Helicobacter pylori), a bacterial growth in the stomach lining that can lead to gastric cancer. Kale has antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin A, and manganese, as well as vitamin K to fight against inflammation.

11: Pumpkin – is a widely grown vegetable and is incredibly rich in vital antioxidants, and vitamin A, B, E, and flavonoid polyphenolic antioxidants such as lutein, xanthin, and carotenes. These vitamins are essential for maintaining integrity of the skin and mucosa, as well as prevention against oral cavity cancers.

12: Beetroot – contains potassium, magnesium, iron, vitamins A, B6 and C, folic acid, carbohydrates, protein, antioxidants, and soluble fibre. Beetroot leaves are source of calcium, iron, beta-carotene, and vitamin C. Beetroot is known to helps manage blood pressure and reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke.

 

Now I am not here to tell you what you have to do. Far be it that I should lead you, you are your own leader and food plays a very important part in life. From it either being your “Best Friend or Worst Enemy” to enjoying family get-togethers and other social activities. Like all areas of life, I believe it is important to find balance and this depends on each individual.

Be Careful – Just because it says it’s Vegan: Doesn’t Mean that it is Healthy!

So, if going totally vegetarian or vegan is right for you, then begin with these simple, yet effective incremental changes today!