5 Myths about a Plant-Based Diet

All you eat is salad

I have to admit I do eat a lot of salad. However, salads are one of the most versatile things you can eat. There are so many different types of salads and combinations of foods you can incorporate into a salad that it is almost impossible to get bored of them. You can also make your own dressings using any ingredients you like, which further adds to the variety in your meals.

Salads aside, there are so many other things you can eat on a plant-based diet that will keep you from getting bored. A majority of what I eat on a plant-based diet includes fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, and some nuts/seeds. I actually found that when I started eating this way, I was introduced to so many more different types of foods, such as mangoes, avocados, plantains, kale, persimmons, dates, quinoa, and the list goes on. I also tried different types of international foods, such as Indian and Thai food. To someone on a typical American diet, it may seem impossible to give up meat and cheese, but when you realize how many other doors open in terms of the types and varieties of plant-based foods you will never want to go back.

You won’t get enough protein

In our culture, the words meat and protein are used interchangeably and, for some reason, no one seems concerned about your protein intake until you tell them your vegetarian or vegan. However, this equalization of meat and protein has several flaws. One, many types of animal products are proportionately higher in fat than protein, but we still consider them a “protein” and not a “fat”. Two, this relationship in our minds between meat and protein makes us ignore the fact that protein is also found in fruits, vegetables, and grains/seeds. In addition, the proportion of protein in plant-based products typically outweighs the proportion of fat, unlike animal products. The truth is that it is not hard to get adequate protein on a plant-based diet as long as you are eating enough calories.

See below for a previous article I wrote that discussed this topic in more detail:

http://fitonfruit.blogspot.com/2014/06/but-where-do-you-get-your-protein-how.html

You will be hungry all the time

This is 100% NOT true! In fact, I eat twice as much now on a plant-based diet than before because the foods I am eating are more nutrient-dense and less calorie-dense. Animal products and other processed foods are extremely calorie dense because they have a lot of oil, fat, and sugar in them. Therefore, you have to limit your portion sizes of these foods to lose weight which often leaves people feeling hungry. However, on a plant based diet, most foods have a high water and fiber content, which makes them less calorie dense. As a result, you can eat a much larger quantity of plant based foods without increasing your calories. On this lifestyle, I do not limit my portions and eat constantly throughout the day. Not only does this leave me feeling satisfied and not craving bad foods, but I have sustained energy throughout the day and am able to maintain a healthy weight.

It is not sufficient for exercise

There seems to be this misconception that protein is the main energy source for exercise, but actually it is mostly carbohydrates, i.e. glucose, that your body uses as fuel. After your body uses up all of the carbohydrates, it then utilizes fat stores, and its final energy source after the fat is used up is protein. The human body is made to run on glucose, which is derived from carbohydrates, and fruits and vegetables are a large source of carbohydrates. Therefore, if you are eating a plant-based diet, most of your calories are coming from carbohydrates, which is the perfect fuel for your body. With the proper fuel, carbohydrates, your body can sustain higher levels of exercise for a longer period of time than it would on a diet that is primarily protein or fat.

See more on this topic in my previous article about what to eat for exercise:

http://fitonfruit.blogspot.com/2014/06/what-to-eat-for-exercise.html

It is expensive

All I have to say to this myth is YOUR BODY should NOT be a DISCOUNT BODY! Your health should be your number one priority so why wouldn’t you want to give it the highest quality, most nutrient dense, best food you can give it? If anything, spending more money now on your health in terms of the foods you consume will prevent you from spending more money in the future on health care costs due to poor health. In addition, plant-based foods, such as rice, beans, and lentils are some of the cheapest foods in the grocery store per pound. By buying groceries in the store and making your own food at home you will also be saving money by not eating out at restaurants all the time. Living a plant-based lifestyle will ultimately save you money in the long run if you are willing to invest in your health today.

 

See more on the weekly cost of a plant-based lifestyle here:

http://fitonfruit.blogspot.com/2014/06/healthy-lifestyle-tip-1-plan-ahead.html