According to figures from the Vegan Society, the number of vegans in the UK has risen 350 percent over the past ten years, 42 percent of which are aged between 15 and 34. If the results of Vegan Life Magazine and the Veganare are anything to go by, we may need to reevaluate our idea of Vegans.
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Veganism is a trend.
But what exactly is making Millennials turn vegan? It could be a result of the findings posted by the World Health Organisation last year, linking processed meats like bacon and ham, to cancer. Many could argue that they’re following in the footsteps of their favorite celebrities.”Looking at some of the prolific names in the vegan movement (Ellie Goulding, Novak Djokovic, and David Hayes, to name a few), there is a real move away from the negative image it has suffered from in the past,” says Maria Chiorando, editor of Vegan Life Magazine. Additionally, the ethical and environmental benefits of the diet is also a persuasive factor.
Is A Vegan Diet Healthy?
A vegan diet consists of vegetables, grains, nuts, fruits and other foods made only from plants. Someone living purely on crisps or chips, for example, would be technically following a vegan diet, but it would in no way be healthy.
Research has shown that the average vegan diet is higher in vitamin C and fibre, and lower in saturated fat than one containing meat, all of which are beneficial. In addition, statistics show that vegans have a lower BMI (height-to-weight ratio) than meat eaters – in other words, they are skinnier.
A diet without any meat or dairy products is likely to contain a lot less saturated fat, which is related to increased cholesterol levels and increased risk of heart disease. We also know that fat contains more calories per gram than other foods, and so vegans may consume fewer calories as a result.
By eliminating food groups from your diet, you are potentially at risk of missing out on certain micronutrients. By avoiding animal and animal products, a vegan diet is at risk of being low in calcium, vitamin D, iron, vitamin B12, zinc and omega-3 fatty acids. Therefore, if you follow a vegan diet it is essential that you get enough of these nutrients through specific vegan food sources – and may even need to take additional supplements.
Many people see the word vegan on the label and they assume it must be super healthy, this is false. Even if it’s vegan, it’s just as important to look at the ingredients list and the nutrition information to see how much fat, sugar and salt something contains. Coconut oil is hugely popular in vegan baking and its health benefits are ubiquitous. However, it’s also worth noting that coconut oil is high in saturated fat. This is not to say you shouldn’t use it or it can’t be healthy in small amounts, but too much of it will have adverse effects.
The Bigger Picture
We should all be reducing meat consumption and eating more plant based foods…
According to the “eatwell” plate, you will see that less than 15% of our diet should be made up of protein. Try and moderate intake of both red and white meat and replace with plant-based proteins like beans and pulses, tofu, nuts and seeds, as well as having a few meat-free days a week.
The good news is there IS something we can do about it. Every time we shop or order food in a restaurant – every time we eat – we can choose to help the animals. Every time we make the switch from an animal product to a vegan one we are standing up for farmed animals everywhere. Going vegan is easier than ever before with veganism becoming increasingly mainstream as more and more people from all walks of life discover the benefits of living this way.
I personally will not be able to follow this rule religiously as I am an obstinate meat-lover. But those of you who are more docile than I am – go for it!
FL!CK