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Abstract:

Plant-based diets are getting more popular over the years. Many follow the diets for health and ethical reasons while others argue that the diets do not provide adequate nutrients. This review is established to examine the efficacy of plant-based diets. Peer-reviewed journal articles acquired from Google Scholar and Pubmed databases were conducted to examine the benefits and drawbacks of being on a plant-based diet. The main focuses are nutritional values, environmental impact and financial practicality. It was reported that plant-based diets are highly nutritious with a drawback of nutrition deficiency in vegan diets that can be solved by incorporating supplements and fortified foods in daily consumption. Also, higher levels of sodium in plant-based meat-substitutes can be an issue. Plant-based diet was found to be more sustainable than animal-based diet due to the product yield efficiency from the input of natural resources - water, land, and fossil fuels. Furthermore, plant-based diets were suggested to be more cost-effective compared to animal-based diets and because the plant-based diet improves the overall health of individuals, healthcare costs would also be saved. Overall, not only does following a plant-based diet provide physical and financial benefits, but also by doing so would help reduce the carbon footprints and slow down global warming. Implications include increasing awareness of the benefits of switching to plant-based diets while considering adequate nutrient intake.