In today's episode we're joined by vegan nutritionist and PT Cath Short to discuss maintaining optimum health and weight on a planet-based diet. We explore the explosion of vegan options in supermarkets – great for the vegan movement but not necessarily the best for our health –and how a whole food plant-based diet is naturally lower in fat and calories.Cath advises us what to eat to stay full and satiated and explains the importance of fibre in our diet. We also dispel the myth that carbs are 'bad', why we need them for brain function, and why brown carbs are better than white. We also look at which oils are the healthiest and why more research is needed into things like coconut oil and Cath explains how she looks to experts like Simon Hill and Rich Roll to stay up to date with the latest nutrition research. Cath also discusses how batch cooking is the way forward to succeed on a whole food plant-based diet. Finally, Cath lets us in on some of her favourite (healthy) cheat products, such as the Sunflower Hack mince, what sweet snacks to go for and why sugar is the enemy of gut health.This episode is sponsored by Virgin Wines. As you probably know, not all wine is made Vegan, but it can be really hard to tell what is or isn’t vegan-friendly when you’re staring at the supermarket shelves. That’s why we’re currently obsessing over Virgin Wines.The award-winning online retailer has over 400 vegan certified wines on their books… and the best bit is they come from small, independent vineyards and winemakers. These talented winemakers often work exclusively in partnership with Virgin Wines to create handcrafted (and often organic) wines that you won’t find anywhere else.Whether it’s red, white, rose or sparkling you’re after, it’s easy to set your preference on the website to ‘vegan’ so that every wine you see is suitable to buy. They will also be delivered straight to your door, making life (and wine shopping) that little bit more enjoyable.Virgin Wines offer a unique club called WineBank, a premium wine service which allows you to save money each month and spread the cost of buying wine. You get to choose the amount of money you would like to put aside each month and Virgin Wines top it up with 20% interest. That means for every £25 you save in your WineBank account, Virgin Wines will give you an extra £5 to spend!This quickly adds up, so the next time your wine rack looks a bit sparse you can top it up with ease. Winebank allows you to order as and when you want with simple cancellation at any time. Virgin Wines also stand by the fact that if you don’t enjoy every bottle, you get your money back! You’ll also have access to your own personal, friendly and dedicated wine advisor to help ensure you select bottles of wine you’re guaranteed to love, and free delivery comes as standard! For Vegan Food & Living readers we currently have 50% off­ your first vegan case and introduction to WineBank. To claim this offer, visit www.virginwines.co.uk/VeganFL