Your Health

The Facts.

The science is clear. Eating more plant-based foods improves overall health and reduces our risk of suffering from a litany of chronic illnesses.

“There are variations on the theme of optimal diet for human health, but all of them are made up mostly of whole, wholesome plant foods.”
— Dr. David Katz

plant-based Cooking
Watermelon
Plant-based eating Couple

While going all-in and saying goodbye forever to meat and dairy products may not be your style or convenient for your life, you can start by swapping at least one plant-based meal a day to take steps toward a more nourished body and vibrant, long life.

Food’s Impact on Our Bodies

Food can be medicine or spiral us into chronic poor health.

5 Reasons to Skip Meat and Ditch Dairy:

1
Increases cancer risk
Red Meat Linked To Cancer
Red meat is strongly linked to rectal, breast, prostate, stomach, and colon cancers.
2
Increases risk of heart disease and stroke
Increase Risk of Stroke
Eating meat and dairy hardens arteries and leads to increased risk of stroke and heart attacks.
3
Increases risk of Diabetes
Higher Risk of Diabetes
Meat eaters have up to a 74% higher risk of having type II diabetes.
4
Causes more Obesity
Obesity
According to an article in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 33% of people who eat meat are obese.
5
Create higher
rates of Erectile Dysfunction
Erectile Dysfunction
Men with diabetes and heart disease (conditions dominated by eating meat and dairy-heavy diets) have higher rates of erectile dysfunction — that’s a whopping 35% of men with high blood pressure, 42% of men with high cholesterol and up to 85% of men with diabetes.

5 Reasons to Eat More Plant-Based:

The science community is finding more and more how eating a plant-based diet can reverse chronic illness, help you fit into that pair of neglected jeans and enjoy longevity. Imagine the gift of being able to watch your grandchildren grow up, chasing them around the yard because your heart is healthy, and you’re not bogged down with excess baggage.

Did you know, according to a study by Harvard researchers, swapping just 3% of processed red meat for plant proteins reduces your chances of an early death by 34%?

Read on to learn more about the power plants have for your health.

  • 1
    Girl
    Supports Strong Hearts

    Compared to a typical diet, eating a vegetarian diet reduces the risk of coronary heart disease by 20-26%.

  • 2
    Yoga
    Reduces Inflammation

    Eating plant-based helps reduce inflammation in the body, lessening symptoms like joint pain and stiffness of autoimmune diseases.

  • 3
    Feet
    Heats Up Your Sex Life

    Researchers who put impotent men on a Mediterranean diet (high in plant-based foods) saw that 37% regained normal sexual function after two years.

  • 4
    Doctor
    Lowers Risk of Diabetes

    Eating a vegetarian diet reduces the risk of type II diabetes by 16-41%.

  • 5
    Scale
    Helps Maintain a Healthy Weight

    According to the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, only 9.4% of vegans are obese.

OMD Spills the Milk on Protein and Dairy.

Milk Myths

Milk. It does a body good? Not so much.

Many of us have fond memories of rocking a milk mustache to get a rise out of mom, yet dairy is no laughing matter for our health. Here are some of the negative impacts of dairy consumption on our bodies:

Cancer Risk:
Milk has been shown to put people at higher risk for various cancers — especially cancers of the reproductive system. Most significantly, dairy product consumption has been linked to increased risk for prostate and breast cancers.

bone health

Bone Health:
A 2005 review published in Pediatrics showed that milk consumption does not improve bone integrity in children.

Lactose Intolerance

Lactose Intolerance:
According to Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, “Approximately 70% of African Americans, 90% of Asian Americans, 53% of Mexican Americans, and 74% of Native Americans are lactose intolerant.

Interested to learn more? Visit the OMD Blog to read up on facts the dairy industry doesn’t want you to know.

Protein Paranoia

What’s the first thing people think about when pondering the switch to eating more plant-based?

“Where will I get my protein?”

We get it. We’ve all been told the pervasive tale that we need ample protein to be healthy and build muscle. While protein is an important part of a healthy diet, rest assured that you’ll still thrive on a plant-based diet. In fact, did you know that 66% of average Americans eats too much protein a day?

The good news is you can still source yummy protein-rich foods on a plant-based diet. Open your mind up to creative possibilities in the kitchen — like swapping lentils or black beans in your favorite chili instead of beef, or by using different nuts and seeds like sunflower, cashews and walnuts to get a healthy dose of protein and healthy fats in creamy sauces or salad toppings.

Bean Soup
Pasta

Interested to try One Meal a Day and need some plant-powered inspiration? Check out our blog on our favorite protein-packed meals.