Eat Green To Become Lean- 3 Reasons Why Plant-Based Diet Helps In Weight Loss

There’s no doubt you are aware of the obesity epidemic which spans across different ages, races, and cultures around the world.

The scary thing is that this problem is getting worse over time with no sign of it halting.

The negative impact of being overweight and obese brings a myriad of issues- increased risk of health problems and deadly diseases, as well as issues with self-esteem and confidence and behavioral and learning issues in children.

Recognising that there is a problem is just the first step in managing weight concerns in our world population. It raises the question of why this problem exists in the first place and how it can be overcome without repeating the same mistakes that got us into this mess in the first place?

Which is the fact that we live in a society that condones and even encourages the consumption of junk foods, such as fried, sugary foods and soda drinks. This culture needs to change. And instead of looking for ‘get-slim-quick’ fixes, we need to find interesting, delicious ways to get more colorful fruits, veg, beans, legumes and whole grains onto our dinner plates.

The Solution To Obesity
The solution is not complex, it doesn’t require a calorie controlled diet, drinking shakes or following the latest diet gimmick.

All you need to do is switch to a whole food plant based diet and to have moderate daily exercise. This really is the straightforward key to sustained weight loss* and reduced* risk of acquiring the disease.

By eating a diet that is made up of plant-based whole foods, it is possible to lose* weight surprisingly fast, and better still, to keep the weight off long term.

However, the key to making this switch successful is to focus on consuming plant-based wholefoods and to avoid plant-based foods that have been overly processed such as refined carbohydrates, fried foods or oils.

Why a Whole Food Plant-Based Diet?
Why a Whole Food Plant-Based Diet
There are 3 irrefutable reasons why a whole food plant based diet is the solution to getting you to your ideal weight and staying there.

1. Your Intake Of Fibre Increases*
When you eat more plant-based wholefoods as a natural consequence your intake of fibre increases*. Plant-based foods in their natural state are jam-packed with nutritious fibre.

This fibre is not only essential for good health, and particularly for a good functioning bowel, but fibre also contains very few calories and actually dilutes the calorie density in the plant-based meals we eat as the fibre pulls water through the bowels.

It is this fibre that will make you feel full and satisfied after a wholesome plant based meal, and as a result, you will find your appetite decreases*, which will prevent you from over-consuming calories.

Beans and legumes are particularly high in fibre and are a key ingredient when it comes to eating for weight loss*.

2. You Will Consume Overall Fewer Calories While Still Feeling Full
As a natural consequence of eating plant-based whole foods, you will find yourself actually consuming fewer calories but without compromising on the actual volume of food that you take in. In terms of volume, you may even find yourself eating more food!

You see, fruits, vegetables, beans, legumes and wholegrains are high on nutrients – ‘nutrient dense’ and low on calories. In contrast animal foods, processed foods and refined oils, are low on nutrients – ‘nutrient deficient’ but high on calories, making these foods ‘energy dense’ which is why for example 500 calories of something like cheese in terms of volume will be far less filling than 500 calories of beans or wholegrains.

Fewer Calories While Still Feeling Full
You are far more likely to feel full and satisfied on 500 calories of plant-based wholefoods but be taking in fewer calories when compared to processed or animal foods.

Now I really don’t want you to think that I am encouraging you to count calories. You must know that not all calories are equal – 200 calories of processed breakfast cereal does not equal 200 calories from delicious natural chia seed breakfast pudding loaded with crunchy wholesome toppings. 

We are talking about a way of eating, a lifestyle that will get you to your ideal weight without calculators or counting of any kind. When you commit to this lifestyle, you learn to focus on quality, not quantity.

3. Your Body Burns More Calories As Body Heat – Thermogenesis
Most people will never have heard of the word ‘thermogenesis’ but you will have heard of metabolism. Well, thermogenesis is the process of how well your body burns off calories as body heat during metabolism.

Studies have found that vegans have a slightly higher resting metabolism. Which means that vegans are better equipped to turn their calories from food into body heat during times of rest.

So you get to burn off calories even when you are doing nothing! Over time, the implications of this are quite significant and ultimately means that your body is not storing these calories as body fat.

The End of Obesity
The good news is that this solution is accessible to everybody no matter what your budget or where you live. And best of all there’s no dieting, no deprivation, no portion control or calorie counting, just delicious meals that are made from plant-based ingredients that are as close as possible to their most natural state. That’s why this diet – no lifestyle – is sustainable. It’s enjoyable and makes you feel great.

With this solution no matter how great the obesity problem is, it can be stopped in its tracks and reversed by changing the type of food you eat.

Now, if you’re wondering what a whole food plant based lifestyle looks like. I’ve created a recipe pack to get you started.

With my private clients, I always focus on breakfast first. This is the easiest meal to switch and a great place to start because you are working with your body’s natural cycles.

The End Of Obesity
During the hours of 4 am to 12 noon, your body is going through its elimination phase. This process is hampered by eating difficult to digest processed or animal foods. As a consequence of this, your body never gets to complete its elimination phase. That has massive implications for your ability to lose* weight.

On top of that eating a nutrient dense plant-based breakfast gets your metabolism set up right for the day, reducing* your changes of experiencing those mid-afternoon or night time cravings.