One Hundred Ninety: Myth Busting: Meat-Based Diets Can Be Just as Healthy as Plant-Based Diets

There are endless benefits associated with a whole foods, plant-based diet. Health is an important aspect of life, and making healthy eating choices is often top of mind. Sure, we all indulge once in a while, which is fine. We seek comfort in food, but know that a diet of fries, burgers and soda won’t get us a gold star for nutrition.

When it comes to a comparison of meat vs. plant-based diets, here is how it breaks down:

Vegetarians have a 24% reduced risk of dying of heart disease. For vegans it's even higher.
The Adventist Health Study found that non-vegetarians had a 54% increased risk for prostate cancer and an 88% increased risk for colorectal cancer.
Several studies have suggested a connection between osteoporosis and diets that are rich in animal protein. Calcium can actually be leached out of the bones by animal protein and ultimately excreted from the body in the urine.
According to the American Dietetic Association, vegetarians have a lower body mass index, lower cholesterol levels and blood pressure and lower rates of type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
According to the USDA, vegetarians consume a lower proportion of calories from fat (particularly saturated fat); fewer overall calories; and more fiber, potassium, and vitamin C than do non-vegetarians.

Other than disease prevention, there are lots of other health benefits of going vegan, some include:

Increased consumption of antioxidants (berries), vitamin C (fruit), vitamin E (grains, nuts and leafy greens), photochemicals (plant-based foods) and magnesium (seeds, nuts and greens).
Lower cholesterol (eating nuts and whole grains, while eliminating dairy products and meat, will improve your cardiovascular health).
Healthy skin, hair and nails (Nuts, and vitamins A and E from vegetables play a big role in healthy skin, hair and nails)
Less allergies (Reduction in dairy, meat, and eggs is often tied to alleviation of allergy symptoms. Many vegans report much fewer runny noses and congestion problems).