Plant Based Diets

There are many types of plant based diets, some are based on cultural and religious beliefs and others choose them for the health benefits.  All of these diets/lifestyle habits are good because they focus on consuming high amounts of fruits & vegetables.

• Vegan (or total vegetarian): Excludes all animal products, especially meat, seafood, poultry, eggs, and dairy products. Does not require consumption of whole foods or restrict fat or refined sugar.
• Raw food, vegan: Same exclusions as veganism as well as the exclusion of all foods cooked at temperatures greater than 118°F.
• Lacto-vegetarian: Excludes eggs, meat, seafood, and poultry and includes milk products.
• Ovo-vegetarian: Excludes meat, seafood, poultry, and dairy products and includes eggs.
• Lacto-ovo vegetarian: Excludes meat, seafood, and poultry and includes eggs and dairy products.
• Mediterranean: Similar to whole foods, plant-based diet but allows small amounts of chicken, dairy products, eggs, and red meat once or twice per month. Fish and olive oil are encouraged. Fat is not restricted.
• Whole-foods, plant-based, low-fat:Encourages plant foods in their whole form, especially vegetables, fruits, legumes, and seeds and nuts (in smaller amounts). For maximal health benefits this diet limits animal products. Total fat is generally restricted.

Researchers are finding that plant-based diets make great weight loss programs, as you can loss 1 pound per week without exercising.  These diets have also been proven to lower obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure.

Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.
— Hippocrates, c 460-370 BCE, ancient Greek physician known as the father of modern medicine

Information was obtained from The Permanente Journal/ Spring 2013/ Volume 17 No. 2. Click link to read the full article.