Why Andy Levitt Of Purple Carrot Hopes More People Will Go Plant-Based – Exclusive
There are many reasons to move toward a plant-based diet, Purple Carrot CEO Andy Levitt detailed in an exclusive interview with Health Digest. One of the most important benefits — especially to those coming from the meat- and dairy-heavy average American diet — is improved health (via Everyday Health).
As Levitt said, "I think it's so incredibly important to make smart choices about what you're eating and having a balanced diet and being mindful of an amount of protein, carbs, fats, fruits, and vegetables that you're putting into your mouth and getting into your diet in a given day." He continued, saying, "There's plenty of data out there now that speaks to the value of a plant-based diet as a very helpful approach." Whether you're 8 or 80, eating more plants can be helpful. "You can start to develop new habits no matter what your age is, and begin to see the positive effects that smart eating and healthful eating can have on your health and well-being," Levitt said.
Any shift away from animal-based foods can be beneficial — and when you consider Levitt's additional reasons for encouraging a plant-based diet, you might not need much more convincing to get to a 99% or 100% plant-based diet.
Reasons to go plant-based, according to Levitt
Andy Levitt highlighted the bigger picture when he extolled the benefits of plant-based diets: the health of the earth at large. "There are more and more data that speaks to the challenges in our environment and animal agriculture is a huge catalyst of global warming," Levitt said. His other motivation for the diet? The "inhumane treatment of animals."
"[People] don't really focus on that at all — it's a distant third for reasons why people choose Purple Carrot after their health and the health of our environment, to think about the humane treatment of animals. But there was a handful of examples early on in [the pandemic] that I think made people really react to say, 'Is this a bit barbaric that we're eating animals?'"
The good news is that the times may be changing. "I think there's become a much greater acceptance of someone being plant-forward or plant-curious or plant-based," Levitt remarked. "I think those who are vegan do so because of ethical beliefs, that they really understand the pain and suffering from animals who are killed for our own consumption," he continued. "I admire their commitment to that. For the rest of us who don't have the discipline then I think at least keeping your diet 80 to 90% plant-based is a more sustainable way to go about eating."
Visit PurpleCarrot.com to learn more about plant-based meal plans and prepared meals.