by plant4health | Jan 19, 2015 | Nutrition, Plant-based, Vegan
Where do you get your protein? That’s a question most of us who have transitioned to a vegan, whole foods plant-based diet are asked by concerned or inquisitive family and friends.
The answer is, plants! Plants provide all of the protein our bodies need to thrive.
Along with the other macronutrients (carbohydrates and fat), protein is necessary for human survival. Protein is built from twenty amino acids, of which our body makes 11, leaving 9 that we need to get from food (called essential). Plant-based foods contain all of the essential amino acids our bodies need to make high quality protein. (more…)
by plant4health | Jan 18, 2015 | Vegan
Important Facts: an estimated 74% of all packaged foods contain added sugars and sugar has 61 different names making it difficult to decipher on a food label.
In December 2014, after reviewing more than 8,000 scientific papers, a team of scientists at the University of California in San Francisco (UCSF) determined that the consumption of sugar causes disease. Their findings support the claim that American’s intake of sugar correlates to the rise in fatty-liver disease, the emergence of Type 2 diabetes as an epidemic in children and the dramatic increase in metabolic disorders.
This makes a lot of sense because: (more…)
by plant4health | Jan 18, 2015 | grocery shopping
Congratulations! You are on the path to a healthier lifestyle. But how do you eat healthy when all you have time for is quick convenience foods?
Avoid products like this with sugar and white flour…
Understanding the ingredients list on food labels of prepackaged foods is an important part of learning to make healthy choices. Some foods contain ingredients with complicated names that sound like they belong in a chemistry lab, not on your plate. To make matters even more confusing, the advertising of some products can be misleading, making you think their product is healthy when, in reality, it is laced with sugar, preservatives and/or trans fats.
Tools to deciphering the ingredient list: (more…)
by plant4health | Jan 2, 2015 | Nutrition, Recipes
Welcome to Plant-based4Health! We are excited about the launch of our new website, a “go-to place” for vegan resources and recipes. Join us as we share successes and challenges of being vegan and discuss important information about the food we eat and how it relates to our health.
One of the important ways to live healthier is to choose organic foods when possible. What does “organic” actually mean? According to the USDA, “Organic agriculture produces products using methods that preserve the environment and avoid most synthetic materials, such as pesticides and antibiotics. USDA organic standards describe how farmers grow crops and raise livestock and which materials they may use.”
There are several different ways companies boast that their products contain organic contents. But be careful, the seals can be misleading, making it important to understand the meaning behind the different labels. (more…)
