A plant-based diet is a type of eating plan that focuses on foods derived from plants, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds. This means that meat, fish, dairy products and eggs are generally excluded or minimized in this type of diet. A plant-based diet is often associated with health benefits, including a lower risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer. It can also have environmental advantages by reducing greenhouse gas emissions from animal agriculture. People choose to follow a plant-based diet for various reasons such as personal health, animal welfare or environmental concerns.