Limit Your Chances of Having Heart Failure

What are the benefits of having a plant-based diet?

When it comes to keeping yourself healthy, we know how important it is to have a balanced diet. Part of having a healthy diet is making sure we are constantly eating enough fruit and veg but now we might need to increase our intake of plant-based food altogether.
Studies are proving that a plant-based diet can decrease your chances of having heart failure big-time. So far, this condition affects around 5.7 million people in the U.S and about 26 million people internationally. Experts are even predicting that heart failure will become a worldwide issue. Having heart failure is a serious issue so you might need to reconsider getting that bacon sandwich.

Beyoncé recently spoke about her diet change whilst she was preparing for her headline gig at Coachella. She cut out bread, carbs, sugar, alcohol, meat, AND fish! Though this is a bit extreme and I wouldn’t recommend taking this approach, even Queen B is seeing the importance of changing your food intake.

There are several benefits to having a plant-based diet but if you need one more reason to change your eating habits, this is definitely it. According to the Veganaury organisation, during this year, we saw 250,310 people in 190 countries commit to going vegan. With more people choosing to live a vegan lifestyle, there’s no better time to trade in your meat with veggies! Sure we enjoy a takeaway now and then but is it worth the possibility of having a failing heart? Absolutely not.

So I’ve mentioned heart failure a few times but what does having a failing heart actually mean? Essentially having heart failure means your heart cannot supply enough blood and oxygen to the main organs in your body. If you’re a meat lover like me, the idea of eating green food all the time may seem quite intimidating but even I’m going to start making a change to my diet. The Vegan Source found that in 2018, the UK launched more vegan products than any nation, this will make your diet change way easier.

So, now some of you are probably thinking “I want to have a plant-based diet but how will I give up meat?” The first thing you need to realise is that changing your eating habits is a process. Your body is used to consuming meat so you need to start changing your diet slowly. This will allow your body to process the change.
If you’re still confused as to how you can switch up your diet here are some other thing that might help you:

1. Education

If the prospect of eating plants is extremely new to you, you’re going to have to educate yourself. It’s important to have a list of ingredients that show you what you can and cannot eat. Go to your local supermarket and make yourself familiar with different foods. Try and read vegan blogs, articles, and books about how other people made their transition to veganism. This can help you become more comfortable in your own journey.

2. Be intentional

Changing your diet is far from easy, so it’s important that you plan your diet and your lifestyle. Everyone’s experience of transitioning is different, so find what works for you and try and stick with it.

3. Start with Veggies first

If meat is all you eat 24/7, it will be easier for you to be a vegetarian first. Then you can transition to vegan meals when you feel more comfortable. What you’ll have to do to is, take out all the meat from your diet including fish and poultry. For example, if you’re going to Nandos with your friends instead of getting the usual chicken wings, try getting a falafel wrap. There isn’t an award for who can change their diet the fastest, so there’s no need to rush.

4. Find new Plant-based proteins

A lot of plant-based food is high in protein so you need to make sure you’re getting a lot of it. Foods high in protein include chickpeas, tofu, beans, lentils, and various others.

5. Enjoy the process

Many people think having a plant-based diet is restrictive and boring but vegans will tell you that’s far from the truth. Allow this transition to teach you more about your body, the food you like and yourself. Think about how you’ll be benefiting yourself in the long-run and the impact being vegan will have on your health and the planet! According to The Vegan Source it the world went vegan, it could save 8 million human lives by 2050, reduce greenhouse gas emissions by two thirds and lead to healthcare-related savings and avoid climate damages $1.5 trillion!

Whatever worries you have about making the big step, remember all the great things being vegan can do for yourself, the environment and the wider community.