The term “flexitarian” is becoming more popular amongst millennials and generation x.
Flexitarian is a diet that focuses on plant proteins and other whole plant-based foods but encourages eating meat and animal products in moderation. Most people who adopt the flexitarian diet eat meat once or twice a week. They have ultimately adopted a plant-based diet.
The popularity of a plant-based diet is thanks to celebrities, books, and movies such as WHAT THE HEALTH.
A plant-based diet is different than being vegetarian and vegan. Although it incorporates a similar diet regime, a plant-based diet just means eating lots of plant foods! This means eating more foods that include veggies, fruits, beans, lentils, whole grains and nuts instead of consuming animal products and processed food.
Eating a plant-based diet is not as hard as people make it seem.
Do you need some motivation to try adopting a plant-based diet? Here are some good reasons to consider transitioning to a plant-based diet:
- A LOT of Health Benefits
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Plants are rich in nutrients that are important for good health. They have vitamins, minerals, fiber, and protein.
Eating a plant-based diet is linked to a lower risk of obesity and other chronic diseases such as heart diseases, type 2 diabetes, and cancer.
Eating red meat is associated with heart diseases and cancer in the body. The American Cancer Society recommends eating a healthy diet, with an emphasis on plant foods, to prevent cancer.
- Good for the Environment!
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Eating a plant-based diet reduces your carbon footprint. Eating meat is less efficient since we eat the animals that eat the grains, instead of eating the grains directly. For every pound of beef, it takes 15 pounds of grain to be produced. According to The Humane Society, animals and the agriculture industries contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, which are directly correlated with global warming.
- Standing Up Against Animal Cruelty
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I believe that no one wants to see the horrible treatments that animals are put through based for our own benefit (how delicious your bacon burger is). However, we should be aware of and understand the conditions that animals go through in order for people to have their vanilla milkshake with cheese fries.
This past summer, there was a scandal that occurred in the Fairlife Dairy farms, a scandal that occurred this past summer. According to TODAY, some footage was released by Animal Recovery Mission (ARM) demonstrating the abuse of adult cows by hitting them with poles and breaking their tails. Prior to this video, another video was released demonstrating the farm’s calves being abused by being strangled or beaten.
My point of bringing up this scandal is this: if this abuse is occurring in dairy farms, where animals ARE NOT being killed, then imagine what is happening behind the scenes in meat-farms?
In China, they have a yearly dog-meat festival where dogs are tortured and abused, just to be eaten by the locals. Although this is a tradition in their culture, it is seen as repulsive and horrifying in Western culture. A question that you can ask yourself is what makes these dogs any different from a cow or a pig?
A plant-based diet has so many benefits, not only to your health but your conscience.
Try slowly transitioning into a plant-based diet. Maybe you can do #NoMeatMondays or #FlexitarianFridays. Anything helps. Your health, the earth and the animals thank you!