What is a whole foods plant based diet?

Since I was young I've been interested in the power of nutrition in promoting good health.  While this doesn't stop me from snacking on the occasional slice of pizza or a cookie from time to time, it does influence the majority of my daily food choices.  Over the past 4 months I've transitioned to a whole foods plant based diet, meaning I've ditched all animal products, processed foods, and oils.  With the abandonment of these foods, I'm free to fill up on fruits, veggies, whole grains, nuts, seeds and legumes instead.

Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and legumes form the basis of a whole food plant based diet.*

Isn't that just a vegan diet?

Like vegans, people who follow a whole foods plant based diet steer clear of meat, eggs, butter, milk, cheese, honey, and all other food products derived from animal sources. However, there are a few key differences that set these lifestyles apart.

First off, veganism extends beyond diet into all forms of consumption.  In addition to avoiding eating animal products, vegans do not purchase, wear, or use any animal products.  Within the vegan community, there is a high degree of group influence to only patronize ethical, animal friendly brands (Babin/Harris, p. 157).  While people who follow a whole foods plant based diet may also be motivated by ethical concerns, it is not an essential characteristic of those following the diet.  So, while you won't see a vegan walking down the street in a leather jacket, a person following a whole foods plant based diet could very well do so.

Another key difference is the types of non-animal based foods permitted within each diet.  When following a vegan diet, any foods without animal products are permitted.  This means that white bread, soda pop, refined sugar, and other definitively unhealthy products are A-OK under standard vegan guidelines.  A whole foods plant based diet, on the other hand, says au revoir to these enemies of good health.  Refined and processed foods (like white flour, oil, and refined sugar) are huge no no's on a whole foods plant based diet which, as the name suggests, centers around whole, unprocessed, plant foods.  The behaviors of people following a whole foods plant based diet can be described by the regulatory focus theory, as these individuals seek to both maintain a state of good health while improving their wellbeing (Babin/Harris, p. 92).  This is not to say that a vegan diet is automatically less healthy than a whole foods plant based diet, rather it simply notes that a vegan diet allows for the potential of less healthy food choices.

What's the point of all these restrictions?

Being greatly motivated by personal health and fitness, I'm always looking to fine tune my nutritional intake to maximize my results.  Prior to adopting this diet, I always ate what I thought to be a healthy diet.  I frequently consumed chicken, eggs, and yogurt mistakenly thinking the protein would fuel good health.  Since discovering the whole foods plant based diet, I've noticed incredible results.  With increased energy, strength, and endurance, I am reaching new heights in my athletic endeavors and feel generally more focused, calm, and happy.  Experiencing these gratifying benefits creates hedonic motivation for me to stay engaged with a whole foods plant based diet (Babin/Harris, p. 93).

Since adopting a whole foods plant based diet, I've experienced increased physical strength and endurance, positive mood, enhanced focus, and better sleep.*

Additionally, with the high quantities of plant foods I consume, I am constantly flushing my system with vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals.  These components have all been proven to prevent, and even cure, a plethora of diseases and ailments (Fuhrman, p. 62).  By eliminating harmful fats, cholesterol, and animal proteins that have been shown to promote disease, I am optimizing my body's ability maintain health (Fuhrman, p. 85).  More specific information about the scientifically proven health benefits of a plant based diet (and evidence of the dangers of animal products and processed foods) can be found here.  I am driven to continue following this diet because I am largely influenced by self-improvement motivation (Babin/Harris, p. 91).  I am constantly looking to better myself, and taking charge of my internal health and physical fitness is a primary way of doing so.

Are you interested in the whole foods plant based diet?  Pop over to the Plant Based Cooking blog for some tasty recipe ideas or, for more information on the specifics and science behind the benefits of a whole foods plant based diet, check out these resources:

The China Study by T. Colin Campbell and Thomas M. Campbell II
Buy here. **

Eat to Live by Dr. Joel Fuhrman
Buy here. **

Image credits:

*Images from unsplash.com, assembled into graphic by author.
**Images from amazon.com.

Sources:

Babin, B., & Harris, E. (2016). CB: Consumer Behavior: Student edition 7. Stamford: Cengage Learning.

Fuhrman, J. (2003). Eat to Live.  Boston: Little Brown and Company.