Reference no: EM133882454

Summarize?

The interest in plant-based diets has grown due to their perceived health and environmental benefits, but the term "plant-based diet" lacks a consistent definition. This review aimed to analyze how researchers define and implement plant-based diets in nutrition studies and the various foods such diets include. Upon reviewing two databases, it was found that the definition varied widely: half of the studies equated plant-based diets with vegan diets, while about 33% allowed for dairy and 20% described semi-vegetarian patterns. This variability leads to ambiguity and challenges in comparing and reproducing studies. Consequently, the review recommends using "plant-based diet" alongside a detailed dietary description and offers a reporting checklist template. It also stresses the need for a standardized definition of "plant-based diet.

Plant-based or plant-forward eating patterns focus on foods primarily from plants. This includes not only fruits and vegetables, but also nuts, seeds, oils, whole grains, legumes, and beans. It doesn't mean that you are vegetarian or vegan and never eat meat or dairy. Rather, you are proportionately choosing more of your foods from plant sources.