More people are joining the vegan movement and trying a vegan healthy eating plan than ever before. According to a recent study by Vegetarianism in America, 3.5% of the US population now survive on a vegan diet, up from 0.4% two years ago. In total, about 9.7 million Americans follow a vegan diet.
The trend is the same elsewhere around the world. In the UK, a survey by The Food & You shows that 720,000 people are now following a vegan diet, compared to about 150,000 five years ago. And, in India, 500 million of the 1.2 billion population are vegans.
These growing numbers are proof that people are realizing the exceptional benefits of veganism. Below we discuss why you too should join the vegan movement.
A vegan is a person who doesn’t eat animals or use products derived from animals. Don’t confuse it with vegetarianism, though. Vegetarians don’t eat animals – that’s all. They can eat animal-derived products, such as dairy and eggs. They can also use products made from animals, such as animal-derived clothes and entertainment devices.
Veganism is a lifestyle dedicated to excluding the use of animals and the products extracted from or tested on animals.
If you’ve been hesitant about becoming a vegan and trying a vegan healthy eating plan, the following five reasons might just change your mind.
Animals, whether cows, pigs, sharks, chicken, etc., that often wind up on dinner tables, have emotions just like humans. They experience loss, pain, love, grief, and fear, just like us, even if they can’t verbally express those feelings. When we lose compassion and empathy for these animals, how can we become fully compassionate to fellow humans?
Studies show that eating animals and animal-derived foods is the primary cause of many foodborne illnesses, including salmonella, E. coli, swine flu, and so forth. Animal-based foods are also associated with skin inflammation conditions such as acne and may also cause arthritis. Remember that plant-based diets have every possible nutrient the body needs.
It’s a lot easier to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight when you live on a vegan diet, free from fatty foods such as meat and cheese. The best part is that a vegan diet contains all the healthy fats, carbohydrates, proteins, and vitamins the body needs. You’re also guaranteed to consume fewer calories as long as you stick to whole natural foods.
Did you know that veganism can reverse chronic psychological and emotional challenges, such as depression and anxiety? Studies show that plant-based diets improve your mental and psychological wellbeing, boost concentration, and slow aging. You may even live longer! Some studies show that regardless of carbohydrate intake, vegans have reduced mortality rates.
The easiest way to understand this point is to think about the number of animals slaughtered every day to fill food shelves with sufficient stock. All these animals need to be fed, watered, and housed before they are destroyed. Animals also contribute to water pollution because of fecal runoff and consume tons of grain, meaning more pesticides to grow more grain. It’s a vicious circle that causes significant environmental degradation.
You can see why a vegan healthy eating plan is a good option. It’s good for you, the community, and the world around us. If you haven’t done so yet, make the switch today and become an inspiration to the many others out there who are not sure about their meat safety and want to do something better for the world.
