You've probably heard the term plant-based diet, but what is it exactly?
A plant-based diet mostly consists of whole plat foods including fruit and vegetables, as well as grains, legumes, nuts and seeds. Usually these foods will be in their whole or raw state and have a minimal amount of processing.
Plant-based diets are becoming increasingly popular as more people realise the nutritional benefits of eating fruit and veg as close to their natural state as possible. Technically, a plant-based diet will exclude any animal products including meats and dairy. As this can be a large change for many, there has also been a trend towards flexible eating. This is where you may eat a plant-based diet for most of the week, then expand to animal products on the weekend, for example.
There's no doubt that everyone will benefit from eating more fruit and veg and the closer you can it in it's natural form, the better! This will ensure it retains its nutrients. However there are various nutrients that derived from animal products including iron and B12. While you can include these without eating animal products, it takes planning. We believe that everyone has different needs and requirements and also suggest discussing your diet with your doctor or nutritionist.
To find out more about, check out what our friends at Nutrition Australia recommend.
