While veganism may once have been a niche diet, these days it’s fast become part of the new norm. Pretty much every restaurant will have a menu to cater for their vegan patrons, and there are entire aisles in most supermarkets dedicated to plant based and meat free options. In the UK, the number of vegans is rapidly growing, as each year tens of thousands of people make the transition to an animal-free diet.
And rather than viewing it as a strict lifestyle, people have come to understand veganism as something that can be lived moment by moment - not every meal has to be vegan, but one can decide to order a vegan option from the menu every now and again, or dedicate one or two days a week to eating vegan. With its increasing popularity, it’s no surprise that the range of vegan options in both restaurants and supermarkets has soared in recent years - making it easier than ever to cut out animal products. With all its hype and popularity, let’s take a look at the top reasons for making the switch to a plant based diet.
1. Animal Welfare
Of course, it goes without saying that one of the most obvious benefits of a vegan lifestyle is reducing the number of animals in captivity needed to sustain your diet. In many parts of the world, including the UK, factory farming has become the norm, meaning that hundreds of thousands of animals are raised in what is usually a highly uncomfortable state of captivity, with the express purpose of being sent to slaughter. The truth of where a lot of meat comes from is in fact so unpleasant, that studies have shown that those who switch to a vegan diet with ethical reasons in mind are far more likely to stick to it in the long run.
2. Help The Planet
The environmental impact of the animal farming industry is truly monumental. So much water, land, and energy is needed to rear animals that researchers at the University of Oxford found that switching to a vegan diet may in fact be the single most impactful action a person can take to reduce their environmental footprint. Estimates show that a vegan diet could reduce an individual’s personal water consumption by over 50%, and a shift to a plant-based diet could reduce global food-related emissions by up to 80% by the year 2050.
3. Reduce Hunger
People normally associate the vegan lifestyle with animal wellness, but surprisingly few realise the sheer impact that the production of animal-based food has on human welfare! Tonnes upon tonnes of water, land, and energy are used to farm even just the crops that got to feed animals bred for slaughter. All of those resources could go directly towards feeding people who, at present, go hungry. In fact, around the world, meat and dairy production is believed to account or 83% of all farmland, despite providing just 18% of our calorific intake, and only 37% of the protein in our diets. With a greater emphasis on plant-based diets, these numbers could be evened out, and with a more equal distribution of farming resources.
4. Boost Nutrition
There are many health benefits associated with a more plant-based lifestyle. Eating vegan is understood to lower the risk of heart disease, by lowering the levels of harmful cholesterol in the body. There is also plenty of research that suggests that a vegan diet can lower the risk of certain cancers developing, notably colon cancer. Veganism is also thought to be a mitigating factor in dealing with diabetes. Overall going vegan requires putting a little more thought into what’s on your plate, meaning you’re likely to eat more healthily as you make sure you’re getting the nutrition you need.
5. Potential Weight Loss
While no diet is ever a guarantee for weight loss, and trimming down requires a holistic lifestyle change, there is good reason to believe that going vegan has a positive effect on weight loss efforts. The types of foods from which vegans get their essential nutrients - legumes, leafy greens, root vegetables, and other superfoods - are all staples of the healthiest diets. Packing your plate full of these goodies is bound to have a positive effect on weight loss, a fact which is backed up by studies focusing on vegans and non-vegans attempting to lose similar amounts of body fat. What’s more, veganism encourages the practice of “mindful eating” - thinking more carefully about what you consume. Mindful eating naturally encourages a more nutritious, well-balanced diet, further promoting overall health and weight loss.
If any of these pros have an appeal to you, it might be an indication to try out the vegan lifestyle. This doesn’t have to be all-in - many people are now championing the “flexitarian” lifestyle, a mix between eating vegan, vegetarian, and omnivore.
