Plant-Based Power-Up for You and the Planet

Many people are switching to a plant-based diet, and two main motivating factors are improving personal health and the health of the environment. If you’re looking to fuel your body better while also protecting planet Earth, this once-futuristic way of eating may be just the mission you’ve been looking to join. 

What is Plant-Based Eating?

“Plant-based” doesn’t have a standard definition, so it can look different from person to person. For some, a plant-based diet means vegan, while others identify as vegetarian or flexitarian. This differs from the standard western diet, characterized by a large intake of saturated fat, sodium, and added sugar from animal products and ultra-processed foods and a low intake of fiber-rich whole plant foods.

Generally, plant-based eating indicates a diet pattern based on plants that minimizes or excludes animal products. Someone who follows a plant-based diet eats fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds. They avoid or consume only small amounts of animal products, like meat, fish, poultry, dairy, and eggs.  

Flying High in Health, Powered by Plants  

One prominent reason behind adopting a plant-based diet is that it supports health outcomes¹ better than the standard western diet. Research shows that a diet rich in whole and minimally processed plant foods can reduce the risk for obesity, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer, and other chronic conditions. On the other hand, the western diet has been associated with² a higher risk for obesity, chronic disease, and early death.  

Plants are the only source of fiber, a cosmic carbohydrate for digestive and heart health. They also contain vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and unique plant compounds that help protect against disease. 

Help Protect the Planet at the Speed of Light 

Eating more plants benefits planet Earth and all of its inhabitants. Plants require significantly fewer natural resources to produce than animal products. For example, beef cattle are an enormous emitter of greenhouse gases like methane and carbon dioxide, contributing to global warming and climate change nearly as much as transportation. 

Modern animal farming requires significant global land for grazing and growing crops to feed farmed animals. This has led to Amazon rainforest destruction³ and harm to species that live there. Furthermore, chemical runoff from modern farms leaches into soil and groundwater. It even promotes dead zones⁴, areas in the ocean where there is no longer enough oxygen for anything to survive. 

Feeling inspired and ready for a blast-off? Here are some simple ways to get more plants on your plate in 3…2…1. 

Easily Fuel Your Jets With More Plants

• • Go galactic with fiber-dense ingredients and stay satisfied longer. Resistant starches, like those found in Carbonaut products, let you enjoy more while maintaining a low-carb, fat-burning state. Explore a range of options like tapioca starch, potato starch, flaxseed meal, and psyllium husk to enhance your recipes. Carbonaut offers a selection of gluten-free, low carb products, including bread, granola, bagels, and tortillas, to support your healthy, low-carb lifestyle. 
• • Substitute meat with hearty plant-based alternatives. Meaty vegetable alternatives like portobello burgers or cauliflower steaks offer a satisfying and savory experience that can rival traditional meat-based dishes. Portobello mushrooms, with their dense and meaty texture, make for an excellent burger substitute, imparting a robust umami flavor that’s perfect for grilling or roasting. On the other hand, cauliflower steaks are thick-cut slices of cauliflower, showcasing a hearty bite and a versatility that allows them to absorb a variety of seasonings and cooking methods. Pairing one of these alternatives with a Carbonaut bun allows you to relish the perfect blend of taste and nutrition while contributing to your low-carb, plant-based culinary journey.

• • Gravitate toward fruits and vegetables. We should all eat more produce anyway, and a plant-based diet makes this an easier habit. Try apples with nut butter, add berries to your oatmeal, blend greens into smoothies, sauté mushrooms and peppers for fajitas, or serve every dinner with a side salad.  

• • See where you land with plant milk. Milk made from soy, peas, oats, rice, cashews, and almonds can be used in place of dairy. Try it in your cereal, in recipes for baked goods, soups, and smoothies, or to dip your cookies. 

• • Make nuts and seeds star players. Nuts and seeds are a source of healthy fats, fiber, and protein. Enjoy nut or seed butter spread on toast, served with fruit, or mixed into oatmeal and smoothies. Add whole nuts and seeds to salads, grain dishes, trail mix, and granola bowls or add some of Carbonaut’s new granola, available in 4 varieties.

Plant-based diets are the way of the future, and the time to get on board is now. Not only are plants delicious and packed with nutrition, but they also support your long-term health. Plus, switching to a plant-based diet can help ease the burden on the environment for centuries to come.