Eat Plants, Stay Slim

Research continues to support the weight benefits of eating a more plant-based diet. Including this Spanish study that found that people with diets that favor plants over meat can cut their risk of developing obesity by almost half. Among 16,000 healthy, non-obese adults tracked for an average of 10 years, a pro-vegetarian diet index was developed that gave points for the consumption of seven pant foods groups: vegetables, fruits, grains, nuts, olive oil, legumes, and potatoes. Points were subtracted for five animal food groups: animal fats, dairy, eggs, fish, and meat. Based on the scores, people were categorized into five groups: from the least pro-vegetarian diet to the most. The most vegetarian diet group was 43% less likely to become obese compared to the least vegetarian group.

Read more about the study here.

Main image: Flower Power Salad with Rose Vinaigrette, Sharon Palmer, RDN