What is a Whole-Foods, Plant-Based Diet (WFPB)?
A whole-food, plant-based diet is centered on whole, unrefined, or minimally refined plants. This diet focuses on fruits, vegetables, tubers, whole grains, and legumes; and it excludes or minimizes meat (including chicken and fish), dairy products, and eggs. It also excludes highly refined foods like bleached flour, refined sugar, oil and trans fats.
I choose to exclude meat, dairy, eggs and refined foods from my diet. I also choose to eat foods in their freshest state, preparing food from scratch and eating mostly raw foods. I also include sprouts and fresh juices. Another important thing for me is avoiding Genetically Modified Foods (GMO).
Ultimately, I think the Whole Foods Plant Based diet is a fancy way to say Vegan. However many people have an aversion to the word Vegan; associating extreme activist-type activities to it. However the WFPB is perhaps more acurrate because it is possible for a Vegan to eat a poorly balanced diet just as easily as it is for a Meat-Eater to eat a poorly balanced diet.
Why I Choose to Eat a WFPB Diet
Eating a variety of whole foods that are plant-based has been a wonderful thing for my body. Save for a few bumps along the way, it has been very beneficial for me. Here are a few reason:
1. My Health– Eating a plant-based diet has helped me maintain my ideal weight, has kept me safe from heart conditions & diabetes and other life-threatening illnesses and has given me lots of energy to live a full life. Eating plant-based foods ensures that I consume more fiber and more antioxidant rich food. Recently this way of eating has helped me heal from a Brain Injury. It has been 14 months and every day I am feeling stronger and I know that I will return to all of my previous activities. I attribute this healing largely to my healthy food choices and avoiding processed foods.
2. The Environment- Reducing my carbon footprint is a very important reason for choosing a WFPB diet. The pollution, chemical and animal waste run off from factory farms is responsible for many miles of polluted rivers and streams. By avoiding animal products, I can help reduce this. Not to mention, the amount of food that is produced for the animals (that will be eaten) could feed many more people than the slaughtered animals will feed. What about deforestation? All for a hamburger? Is it worth it? I don’t think so.
3. My Emotions- It is said that our bodies absorb the energy of the food that we eat. If this is true, then when we eat a pig that was frightened before it was slaughtered, we will take on that fearful energy. Or the cow that was teased and taunted and angered before it was killed; that anger will be passed on to the person eating it’s flesh. I don’t want that for myself. There are enough pressures in life as it is. Eating a variety of plant-based foods (remember this means more than just vegetables) has brought some peace in to my life that I treasure.
Of course, none of these reasons may resonate with you. You will have your own reasons for choosing the foods that you eat. Consider taking a look at your diet and ponder why you eat the foods that you eat. If your only reason is because you like it, consider digging a little deeper.
If you would like to eat more of a WFPB diet and would like help with this or if you already are eating consciously and would like more ideas or support, consider working with me and let me help you take your health to the next level.
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Thanks for reading!
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