Okay, I will be honest. A plant-based diet makes me cringe. However, it does not mean that I do not pick into that territory once in a while.

Research shows that a plant-based diet could offer a number of health benefits, so let’s explore this subject a bit further.

Why you might want to try a plant-based diet Approximately four billion people worldwide build their meals around foods that are grown rather than animals that need to be raised.

The Mediterranean diet has been linked to lower risk of colorectal cancer recurrence in women, while even a prudent Western diet (rich in produce, low-fat dairy, fish, lean poultry, and whole grains) seems to protect against a number of cancers, including colorectal.

One reason may well be that foods lower on the food chain tend to contain fewer synthetic hormones and persistent toxic herbicides and pesticides.

Why a plant-based diet may be healthier A plant-based diet eliminates meat from your menu. Weight-promoting drugs are used in livestock production, especially in beef while certified organic beef is raised without these dangerous substances.

Studies have repeatedly linked red and processed meats to colorectal cancer, so Walter C. Willett, professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, advises eating less than 18 ounces a week. It is important to note that certified organic beef has not been used in said studies.

If you are on a plant-based diet, you do not need to worry about red meat. Consume vegetable protein; think legumes, rice, etc and consider eating fish and seafood at least once in a while. A number of recent studies show that omega-3-rich fish may reduce the risk of colorectal cancer by 12 percent. [via Taste for Life]