While it is true that the majority of people are embracing veganism between the age of 16 and 64, around 2% of vegans in the US are aged 55 or over. In America, around 4% make the switch from an omnivore lifestyle for spiritual reasons, 19% for dietary reasons, and 77% for ethical reasons.
If you are thinking of going vegan, rest assured, you are not alone. The movement is enjoying a big boom of late, as the world struggles against pollution caused by the meat industry and human beings become increasingly concerned about animal welfare and the plethora of medications consumed by livestock.
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No Longer a Hippie Pursuit
In a fascinating article in Forbes, journalist Katrina Fox notes that far from being “relegated to the fringes of society where for so long it was mocked for being ‘weird’ or ‘extreme’, veganism is going mainstream.” Her article argues that entrepreneurs should consider ‘veganizing’ their business because plant-based food sales skyrocketed to around $3.1 billion and plant-based dairy foods are already making up 40% of all dairy and dairy alternative sales.
Upping the Attraction of Veganism
Veganism is not only more interesting from the ethical and sustainability perspectives; there are a wide array of non-meat substitutions which are making it easier to go vegetarian or vegan without missing one’s favorite foods. Veganism imposes more restrictions than vegetarianism since eggs or dairy are a no-no, but there are alternatives to these foods that make it easy to forget the difference.
Impossible Foods, for instance, is one company that reduces animal products a molecular level, looking for similar atomic combinations in plants to develop products that have a similar texture and flavor. Take the Impossible Burger, which ‘bleeds’ like a real burger. Despite its authentic taste, the site notes that the product “uses 95% less land, 74% less water, and creates 87% less greenhouse gas emissions” than beef varieties. There is some controversy about meat alternatives. Read about it here.
Losing or Maintaining Weight with Veganism
An important study carried out by scientists at the University of Southern California tested a number of different weight-loss diets on different groups of participants: vegans, vegetarians, pesco-vegetarians, semi-vegetarians, and omnivores. After two and six months, they found that the vegan group lost the most weight.
The lead author of the study noted that veganism isn’t for everyone; it requires sound planning and can be especially difficult to stick to in the first weeks without meat. However, if you are after a healthy weight to shed excess weight, it is an interesting regime to look into.
Long-Term Benefits of Veganism
There is more to veganism than meets the eye; studies have shown that this lifestyle has important health benefits. For instance, those who consume plant-based foods have a significantly lower risk of dying from heart disease and stroke. Veganism helps battle inflammation, which is vital when it comes to keeping heart disease and cancer at bay.
If you are interested in the vegan lifestyle, why not try easing into it slowly? You might hop on the “‘Meatless Mondays” bandwagon, or try to reduce your meat consumption, before deciding to go ‘the whole nine yards’. No two roads to veganism are the same, and as is the case with all major decisions in life, it is vital for you to find your own path.
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Vegans need to be cognizant that they may be missing out on vital nutrients that are more easily acquired with an omnivore diet and may need supplements.
Have you gone meatless or have been thinking about it? Please leave a comment below.
Although I haven’t gone vegan, I saw a show (Amazing Facts) where it talked about reasons to go Kosher. Things like how pigs are scavenging animals and shellfish are bottom feeders that eat the rot and waste from other animals. One part in the Bible says about how when in Babylon, these Israelites chose to eat clean food like fruits and vegetables and water instead of “defiling” their bodies with Babylon food. When the Babylonians tried eating clean food they became healthier after only days-weeks of the diet. The show is on youtube and around 30 mins but explains it better with more facts about the diet. I cut all pig products from my diet and have stopped eating crab/shrimp. Also when I was starting to get a fatty liver from too much pop, I cut buying the 2L bottles and limit myself to 3 cans of coke life with stevia a day. Also I stopped eating as much bread as it causes weight gain and I’m trying to lose a few dozen pounds. It helped.
I haven’t gone vegan either, Chris. I like food too much. Did you hear that a Rabbi said you can now eat pork as long as it comes from a cloned pig? I’d definitely cut out Pop though. It’s horrible for your health. Thanks for stopping by my blog. And, sorry I missed this comment and just got to it now.
I went vegetarian from the age of sixteen for ethical reasons, not knowing about veganisum at all.
Now vegan I wish I had been made aware of all of the suffering that we contribute towards as a society have been for about 7 years now and I am coming up towards my 63rd birthday. I feel better than I ever have both inside and out and wish to God I had done it all of those years ago
Veganisum is not a diet..it is a way of life that excludes animal exploitation and commodification when ever and where ever practicable.
If you don’t need meat,dairy or eggs nor to use animals in experiments, for fur or their skins. Then why contribute to it at all!!
Be a healthy vegan, batch cook tasty meals like veg stews and chillies include beans, mushrooms and lentils in your diet and plenty of greens.
Be kind to all earthlings not just humans