Plant Power: Harness the Power of Plants in Your Diet

For dieters who want to utilize the benefits of fruits, vegetables, and complex carbs—without eliminating the meat, dairy, fish, and fats they love—Dr. Ian K. Smith’s new book Plant Power delivers the most flavorful and favorable plant-based foods to their plates. In a detailed but easy-to-implement four-week program, readers will, day-by-day, flip their diet from 70% meat / 30% plants to 30% meat / 70% plants, leading to natural and pain-free weight loss, keeping them feeling full and satisfied.

Dr. Smith joined QDT for a chat about the research behind Plant Power and the ins-and-outs of a plant-based diet. 

1. What was your motivation behind beginning your research into the power of plants and plant-based diets? Do you follow this diet yourself?

I had been thinking for some time that while I love meat, I have been eating too much of it. I had been reducing my red meat intake in an informal way, but I wanted to get serious about it.  I didn’t want to give up all of my meat and seafood, but I did want to be more cognizant of the quantities I consumed.  I had obviously been well versed in the enormous amount of health benefits from plants, but I really hadn’t made a significant adjustment to match that knowledge. So I decided to formalize my transition from a heavily meat or animal based diet to one that was more plant based. I didn’t want to become a vegan or vegetarian, but I wanted the benefits of eating that way sometimes and the option to eat meat and seafood when I felt the urge. So over a 4-week period I gradually shifted my diet to being more plant based, and it went well and has become my new way of eating.

2. Are there any proteins that are only found in animals and fish that are important for humans to digest? I'm thinking of B12, which is easily accessible in supplement form for those that choose not to eat meat. Are there any other examples of that type of protein, and what are the alternatives? 

There has been a raging debate for years about which is better, plant protein or animal protein.  For my money, the two are basically interchangeable except for the issue when you talk about complete protein (having all of the essential amino acids in the protein).  Many plants don’t have complete protein, but this won’t have an realistic impact on the average person.  Bodybuilders and heavy weightlifters might be able to construct and argument as to why they need the complete protein from animal products, but note there are some plants that actually have complete protein also.

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