Ask a vegan this question in 2018 and you're likely to get a snarky answer. With the proteinmyth firmly in the rear view mirror, supported by empirical science and commonsense, it's time to start asking the right questions instead of having to defend against the fallacious.
More importantly, where do you get your fiber?!
Dietary fiber is an essential component in a healthy diet. It is the indigestible portion of plant based foods broken into two categories: soluble and insoluble. Both have their purpose, but soluble fiber finds itself among the most important and often most neglected part of the nutritional panel.
Since fiber is found in plants, diets heavy in animal products often neglect the need for fiber. Processed foods also are often devoid entirely in fiber.
What are the benefits of fiber?
Soluble fiber dissolves into a gel which is effective in lowering blood glucose and combating LDL cholesterol levels.
Insoluble fiber works as a highway to healthier digestion and eventually, better passage of waste. Both are essential in regulating the gastrointestinal tract and helping to maintain a feeling of fullness.
Is fiber why a plant based diet is so healthy?
It's not alone but fiber makes a major difference! Having low cholesterol, well-regulated digestion, and a healthy appetite can change the trajectory of your lifetime.
With heart disease and cancer among the highest killers of Americans, it's time to see protein for what it is - everywhere. Fiber, an essential and elusive part of our diet, begins and ends in the soil.
