“Plant-based diets are so often recommended by dietitians because of the impressive amount of health benefits they offer,” says Siera Holley, a registered dietitian nutritionist with the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus. “Plants are nutrient-dense, which means they contain more beneficial nutrients – like vitamins, minerals, fiber and antioxidants – than calories,” she notes. All of those components are health-supporting, Holley says. “From health maintenance and prevention to disease management, research continually shows the positive impact diets consisting primarily of plants offer.”
Dr. Andrew Freeman, director of clinical cardiology and director of cardiovascular prevention and wellness with National Jewish Health in Denver agrees, saying quite simply that “plants are our friends. Every professional society, including the American Heart Association, American College of Cardiology, the American Diabetes Association – they all recommend a plant-based diet as one of the best ways to prevent disease. And it’s probably the single best antidote, if you will, to the traditional American lifestyle.”