Veganism can be both healthy and environmentally friendly. You can help it by being an ally.
Veganism is gaining popularity all over the globe. As data shows, veganism is becoming more popular every year. It is estimated that approximately 6% of Americans are vegans. In contrast, the UK has more than a third who want to change to a vegan diet shortly.
Veganism can be done for many reasons. Some people do it to improve their health and others to help animals. Veganism is now more easily accessible than ever. Many restaurants and supermarkets are taking notice and offering a wider range of vegan-friendly products. McPlant is a vegan-certified hamburger made from a plant-based pat. McDonald’s is known for its low-calorie, high-calorie fast food. Veganism has become a conscious choice for millions of people around the world.
What does it mean to be vegan?
Vegans avoid all animal-related products. Other animal-derived products like meat, eggs, and dairy should be avoided. However, other animal-derived foods such as honey, cheese, and gelatine (a substance derived from boiling animal bone with water) can also be considered.
Vegans may also opt not to wear leather, silk, or wool and avoid products that have been tested on animals.
January
Many people start each January with renewed enthusiasm for a healthier lifestyle. This is when fitness clubs and slimming magazines are heavily promoted to the masses. This is also when Veganuary, an internationally registered charity that promotes veganism in the UK, challenges you and me to eat a vegan-friendly diet for the entire month.
It can be daunting to switch to a vegan or dairy-free diet. However, many tips and recipes on the internet will help you get through Veganuary without any hassle.
Simple
A few easy changes can make it easier to adopt a vegan diet. You can experiment with tempeh, jackfruit, and tofu when you are ready to add more vegan options to the menu. This is because celebrity chefs and gourmet magazines introduced jackfruit versions referred to as ‘pork’.
Another smart way to avoid meat and dairy is to shop in the fresh food section of your local supermarket. This can help you save money. Broccoli and carrots and their delicious vegetable cousins are often much cheaper than beef, chicken, pork, or beef. If you are concerned about getting enough nutrients from fresh vegetables, add beans to your salad or sprinkle nutritional yeast on top. These golden flakes of goodness contain the same proteins as most meats and dairy products.
Health benefits
The National Library of Medicine has more than a thousand studies on the vegan diet. These range from anti-inflammatory effects to muscle strength and endurance in young, healthy women to whether it’s harmful.
Although many arguments and debates about veganism, medical professionals agree that a vegan diet can lower your risk of developing heart disease. However, it can increase your risk of stroke due to the lack of vitamin B12.
Vegansociety.com published an excellent article that addresses this B12 shortage. It covers many aspects. According to them, B12-fortified foods such as soy products and B12 supplements are the best sources of B12.
Save the planet
The food we eat has an unsustainable and direct impact on the planet. Large swathes of primitive lands have been converted into intensive farms. These farms grow crops and later slaughter animals for food. Our World in Data, an organization that provides research and data to all, claims that half of the world’s land is used for agriculture. This amounts to 51 million square kilometers. Only 23% of this staggeringly large amount of land is used for agriculture, leaving 77% for livestock farming. This includes both lands used for grazing or land used to produce animal feed.
The unprecedented expansion of agriculture has also had an impact on water. Beckett & Oltjen, University of California Davis researchers found that one pound of beef needs 2,000 to 8,000 gallons of water. One pound of tofu, however, requires only 302 gallons.
Combine accelerated livestock farming, water waste, and billions upon billions of tonnes of carbon dioxide emitted from global food production, and you suddenly find that this multidimensional issue becomes personal. Many people realize that they can make a positive difference by adopting a plant-based diet and living a more ethical life.
Veganism can be a well-informed choice. Vegans all over the globe realize that collective efforts will make a difference in preventing deforestation, limiting biodiversity loss, and improving our health.
