one green planet
one green planet

It’s easy to head to a fast food restaurant or a convenience store when you get hungry, but do the options found there really fill you up or do they just fill you out? The truth is that fast and packaged foods that include laundry lists of ingredients might be tasty, but they’re void in many nutrients which simply won’t keep you or your belly satisfied when all is said and done. Not to mention, many packaged foods found on the shelves of your typical store contain chemicals, colorants, and other ingredients that aren’t necessarily good for your health. The good news is that you can fill up without sacrificing taste or your health thanks to the bountiful whole food options that are out there. Here’s why you should be focusing on a whole foods diet filled with fresh fruits and vegetables.

Healthy Weight Maintenance

Fruits and vegetables are packed with nutrition, and they happen to be low on calories so you don’t have to worry about calorie counting when they’re center stage on your plate at every meal. Paired with whole grains, you can turn fruits and vegetables into tantalizing burgers and desserts to keep yourself full and satisfied all day long.

Less Chance for Heart Disease

Heart disease continues to be the leading cause of death in the United States alone, which isn’t surprising when you consider what the average American diet consists of. But heart disease is not inevitable! Consuming a high fiber, whole foods diet significantly protects the heart from cardiovascular disease. An abundance of fiber can be found in whole grains, but they’re also readily available in raw fruits and vegetables such as carrots and greens too.

Lower Risk of Diabetes

Eating a diet high in whole foods such as grains, fruits, and vegetables lowers your risk of developing type 2 diabetes and any ailments that may result from the disease if you already have it. Consuming a whole food, high raw vegan diet will help you to optimally manage your blood sugar whether or not you have diabetes, so make it a point to start your day with a big smoothie full of fibrous fruits and veggies, and to pack the rest of your day with fun veggie snacks to keep you going.

The Opportunity to Reverse Some Diseases

Many people have had success with reversing their heart disease, diabetes, and even some cancers on a whole food vegan diet. Some people have even reversed diabetes symptoms for good on a raw food diet. The key is focusing on whole food meals and snacks on a consistent basis. Need some help with easy, tasty, and nutritious whole food recipe ideas? Try some of these ideas: Comforting Whole Grain Banana Date Muffins, Zucchini Pasta with Creamy “Cheese” Sauce, Banana, Pineapple, and Mango Sorbet, Indian-Style Asparagus and Carrot Stir Fry and Colorful and Zesty Watermelon Gazpacho. In addition to easily maintaining optimal health, consuming a whole food high raw vegan diet will put some pep in your step and give you the energy you need to get through your day without the need for lots of coffee and other stimulants. Image Source: Mike Haller/ Flickr

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