The vegan movement has seen massive growth in recent years, with more and more of us turning to a diet and lifestyle free from animal products.
Veganism is proving particularly popular among the younger generation and recent research found that one in five young people believe in a meat-free future while 38% have concerns about the sustainability of meat production. There are many reasons to become vegan, but let’s take a look at just a few today.
True veganism involves change โ but brings substantial benefits too!
Being a true vegan involves ditching all animal-based products from your lifestyle โ meaning substituting your clothing with naturally-sourced apparel, making the switch to vegan skincare, and swapping your razor for a vegan shaving brush. However, while making the transition to veganism may involve considerable change, it can also bring substantial benefits to both you and the environment.
Here are just a few good reasons why you should become vegan:
Vegans save animals: Itโs estimated each vegan in the world saves around 200 animals per year by not buying animal-based products and foods. If you want to reduce animal cruelty and deaths, there is no better way than turning vegan. Reducing your meat intake and choosing non-animal clothing and lifestyle items is helps cut the farming of animals. Itโs a simple question of economics โ less demand in turn leads to less production.
Achieve weight-loss without reducing energy levels: On average, vegans are up to 20 pounds lighter than their meat-eating counterparts and, unlike many other forms of dieting, once the weight is lost, it stays off. Also, a balanced vegan diet contains foodstuffs that maintain energy levels and give your body all the nutrients it needs โ again, the opposite of many fad dieting systems.
Lead a healthier, happier lifestyle: Thereโs no way around it and no escaping the truth โ meat contains products that are bad for us. For example, cholesterol and saturated animal fats can increase your chances of developing cancer, heart disease and high blood pressure, etc. However, adapting your food intake and replacing meat with fiber, minerals and plant proteins will allow you to avoid the toxins contained in meat products yet still ensure you maintain a healthy, balanced diet.
Help save the planet and cut carbon emissions: The single most significant contribution we as individuals can make towards slowing climate and environmental change is to reduce โ or completely cut โ the amount of meat in our diet. Itโs estimated around 14.5% of all greenhouse gas emissions come as a direct result of animal farming โ more even than is produced through driving our cars.
Save plant waste on animal production: It can take up to 13 pounds of grain to produce just one pound of animal flesh โ grain that could otherwise be used to feed starving populations around the world. The food we give to animals would benefit us much more and go a lot further if we just ingested it directly.
Vegan food has improved dramatically in recent years: As the popularity of veganism (and vegetarianism) has increased in recent years, so manufacturers have been forced to introduce tasty vegan alternatives into their lines. Likewise, most restaurants now offer vegan dishes to cater to a growing market. Where once vegans were limited to inadequate choices and poor-quality substitutes, there is now a vast range of alternative vegan products available.
If you have more reasons to become vegan, please leave them in the comments!
