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WELL WOMEN OF COLOR | Rosalind Brooks

September 10, 2017 by  
Filed under Health

Why and How to Eat More Plants

WHY

Author Michael Pollan puts it quite simply: “Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.”

This may seem easier said than done. The typical American diet consists mostly of processed foods, meat, and dairy which largely contribute to serious health issues including cancer, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes.

By incorporating more plants into your diet, you get a welcome boost of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber. A plant-heavy diet can aid with weight loss, prevent — and even reverse — chronic diseases, and lower mortality rates.

In his book “Food Rules,” Pollan writes, “If it’s a plant, eat it. If it’s made in a plant, don’t.” But fear not! It doesn’t have to be done overnight, and it doesn’t have to be daunting. In fact, baby steps can be more effective in making sustainable lifestyle changes.

HOW

Upping your daily plant intake can be easy and inexpensive. Don’t be afraid to get creative! Here are some ideas to get the ball rolling:

• Participate in meatless Monday (meatlessmonday.com)!

• Add a fruit to breakfast and lunch

• Try zucchini noodles as a healthy but equally delicious alternative to pasta.

• Snack on nuts and raw veggies instead of chips and cookies

• Make cauliflower rice (and then eat it!)

• When in doubt, throw it in a smoothie.

• Experiment with less familiar fruits and veggies — and don’t fear the tofu.

• At dinner, use meat as a side dish instead of a main entrée and double your usual serving of vegetables.

Ease into it, and have fun with it. Whether you adopt a fully plant-based diet or not is entirely up to you — but adding more whole plants into your diet is the goal, not deprivation.

If you have any questions about how you and your loved ones can stay healthy, send an email to roz@wellwomenofcolor.com. You can also visit the Vegas Roots Community Garden to purchase fresh, life-giving vegetables straight from the source. For more information, go to vegasroots.org.

 

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