Improved Nature – September 9, 2022
What’s A Plant-Based Diet and Why Do We Keep Hearing About It?
What is it?
You may hear “plant-based diet” and think of vegetarians or vegans, but you’d be mistaken. Plant-based diets focus on eating more plants, plant proteins, and decreasing meat or animal products. However, the goal isn’t to eliminate animal products entirely from your diet.
The result of this growing lifestyle? Americans are eating 25% less meat than before.
Why are people switching to it?
To make a complicated life choice simple, most people are shifting toward plant-based diets because of environmental and health concerns.
When it comes to the environment, there’s a growing awareness of the impact of personal choices on the planet, and it’s motivating individuals to make changes in their everyday lives. Cutting back on the consumption of animal products is one of those changes.
The meat industry contributes to environmental issues like methane levels or deforestation. For example, in order to raise cattle, trees have to be cleared from massive amounts of land. The World Bank states that animal agriculture is responsible for about 80% of deforestation worldwide.
Researchers at Oxford University have concluded that without emission reductions in the food system, we won’t meet the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement.
This is just the tip of the iceberg, but it helps us understand how our everyday choices have long-lasting impacts beyond our dining table. Of course, the onus isn’t on individuals to fix climate change, but it is a piece of the overall puzzle.
When it comes to health, the majority of Americans don’t get enough plants in their diets, and this can even include vegetarians and vegans. A large majority of food options that are considered vegetarian or even vegan exclude animal products but don’t include nutrient-rich substitutes or plant-based ingredients. For example, you could eat pasta for every meal without compromising your vegan lifestyle, but that doesn’t mean your diet is “healthy”.
More and more of these dietary options don’t actually provide the nutrition our bodies need, even though they don’t contain animal products.
A vegan diet can certainly be a healthy one, but experts say a plant-based diet has one nutritional edge: It usually encourages eating more whole foods and avoiding processed food choices.
The majority of those eating plant-based foods are still eating animal-based products. Eighty-nine percent of plant-based users don’t consider themselves vegan or vegetarian.
How can you start?
At Improved Nature, we offer a great solution that starts at your own dinner plate. We know that consumer choices are affecting business choices, and work to evolve with shifting demands in the market.
Our mission is to provide better protein for a better planet. That means offering sustainably sourced products in combination with our commitment to environmental stewardship and zero deforestation. To achieve our mission of feeding the growing population with better protein, we provide nutritious, non-GMO, 100% plant-based protein that replicates the experience of eating meat. Our version, however, is more sustainable and scalable.
Ready to make a difference? Check out all available products here.
SOURCES
- https://foodinstitute.com/focus/analysts-expect-plant-based-food-trend-to-continue/
- https://www.health.com/nutrition/what-is-a-plant-based-diet
- https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/2022/4/22/23036010/eat-less-meat-vegetarian-effects-climate-emissions-animal-welfare-factory-farms
Improved Nature FAQs: https://improvednature.com/faqs/
A One-Ingredient, Plant-Based Solution
Improved Nature offers options for consumers and businesses looking to conveniently replace meat with a high-quality alternative protein. Our Nature’s PRIME® 100% plant-based protein products are available in diverse size and shape options that include nuggets, slices, shreds, tenders, and more. Our all-natural, gluten-free, non-GMO products consist of just one ingredient: soy protein. Nature’s PRIME is non-GMO Project Verified with neutral flavor and meat-like texture. It is a solid choice for whole food plant-based options because of nutrition, versatility and minimal processing.
You can see all of our products and purchase them by visiting www.ImprovedNatureDirect.com. To discuss how to integrate plant-based ingredients into your business offerings or menus, send a message to Sales@ImprovedNature.com.
