The Plant-based Diet: All You Need To Know

From generations, people have been changing their diet and food habits for several reasons such as: depending on the food’s availability; choosing foods to better suit their lifestyle; taking recommendations from experts; etc.

- Shivam Hingorani

A century ago, the diet was drastically different from the one we consume today. We have changed our food habits based on various factors. Nowadays with the vast exposure to the information available online, we have been changing our food habits even more rapidly than ever and adopting various diet trends. This has left no concept of staple food. We have been evolved in terms of adopting new food habits and we have customized our diets to suit us in every way from resonating to our ideologies, backgrounds, preference of taste, health & fitness requirements, etc. With the easy access to information, we have become more conscious about our food choices. We prefer those foods that provide multiple health benefits and are powerhouses of nutrients.

A person may opt for a vegan/plant-based diet for health reasons, animal welfare, or religious reasons. More and more number of people are inclined towards vegetarian or vegan diets or reducing the consumption of animal-based food products. According to one survey conducted by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, a plant-based or vegan diet could provide all the nutritional requirements of adults, children, and those who were pregnant or breastfeeding.

Vegan vs. Plant-based Diet

Recent years have witnessed that the vegan diet and lifestyle are trending all across the globe. A vegan diet is very similar to the plant-based diet, but a vegan lifestyle goes a step ahead. It advocates the idea of abstaining the consumption and dependency on animal-based products extending to food, clothing, etc.

A plant-based diet focuses mainly on foods that are derived from plant sources. These foods are not restricted to fruits, vegetables, and greens but also include seeds; nuts; oils; grains; pulses; legumes; etc. A plant-based diet is a ‘Karmically Clean’ diet that specifically uses natural plant sources to nourish the body.