Plant Based Food Trend – Volume 1 ~ (Article 1 of 5)

by Dr. Marli Botha

What is a plant-based diet and why should you try it? Vegetarian diets have also been shown to support health, including a lower risk of developing coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and increased longevity. Plant-based diets offer all the necessary protein, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals for optimal health, and are often higher in fibre and phytonutrients. However, some vegans may need to add a supplement (specifically vitamin B12) to ensure they receive all the nutrients required.

Here are 9 more interesting facts about plant-based diets:

1. Vegetarian diets come in lots of shapes and sizes, and you should choose the version that works best for you.
2. Semi-vegetarian or flexitarian includes eggs, dairy foods, and occasionally meat, poultry, fish, and seafood.
3. Pescatarian includes eggs, dairy foods, fish, and seafood, but no meat or poultry.
4. Vegetarian (sometimes referred to as lacto-ovo vegetarian) includes eggs and dairy foods, but no meat, poultry, fish, or seafood.
5. Vegan includes no animal foods. Veganism is stricter since it also prohibits dairy, eggs, honey, and any other items that derive from animal products, such as leather and silk.
6. Lacto-ovo-vegetarian. People who follow this diet avoid all types of meat and fish but do consume dairy products and eggs.
7. Lacto-vegetarian. People on this diet do not eat any meat, fish, or eggs but do consume dairy products.
8. Ovo-vegetarian. Individuals following this diet do not eat any meat, fish, or dairy products but do consume eggs.
9. Pescatarian. Those who follow this diet avoid all meats expect fish and other types of seafood. However, this does not meet the traditional definition of vegetarianism, and many people refer to the pescatarian diet as being semi-vegetarian or flexitarian.

It is important to mention that no food is meant to be a cure-all for any condition, though there are certainly health and skin benefits contained within them. The one thing you should always do before using a new skin care product is to do a patch test to look for allergies and sensitivities.