Category Archives: Veganism

Raising animals for food requires massive amounts of land, food, energy, and water. The byproducts of animal agriculture pollute our air and waterways. By shunning animal products, vegans are de facto environmentalists.

Using Up Resources

As the worlds appetite for meat increases, countries across the globe are bulldozing huge swaths of land to make more room for animals as well as crops to feed them. From tropical rain forests in Brazil to ancient pine forests in China, entire ecosystems are being destroyed to fuel humans addiction to meat. According to scientists at the Smithsonian Institution, seven football fields worth of land is bulldozed every minute to create more room for farmed animals and the crops that feed them.1 Of all the agricultural land in the U.S., 80 percent is used to raise animals for food and grow grain to feed themthats almost half the total land mass of the lower 48 states.2 In the finishing phase alone, in which pigs grow from 100 pounds to 240 pounds, each hog consumes more than 500 pounds of grain, corn, and soybeans; this means that across the U.S., pigs eat tens of millions of tons of feed every year.3

Chickens, pigs, cattle, and other animals raised for food are the primary consumers of water in the U.S.: a single pig consumes 21 gallons of drinking water per day, while a cow on a dairy farm drinks as much as 50 gallons daily.4,5 It takes more than 2,400 gallons of water to produce 1 pound of cow flesh, whereas it takes about 180 gallons of water to make 1 pound of whole wheat flour.6

Polluting the Air

Carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide together cause the vast majority of global warming. Producing a little more than 2 pounds of beef causes more greenhouse-gas emissions than driving a car for three hours and uses up more energy than leaving your house lights on for the same period of time.7 According to the United Nations, a global shift toward a vegan diet is one of the steps necessary to combat the worst effects of climate change.8

Factory farms also produce massive amounts of dust and other contaminates that pollute the air. A study in Texas found that animal feedlots in that state produce more than 7,000 tons of particulate dust every year and that the dust contains biologically active organisms such as bacteria, mold, and fungi from the feces and the feed.9 And when the cesspools holding tons of urine and feces get full, factory farms may circumvent water pollution limits by spraying liquid manure into the air, creating mists that are carried away by the wind and inhaled by nearby residents.10 According to a report by the California State Senate, Studies have shown that [animal waste] lagoons emit toxic airborne chemicals that can cause inflammatory, immune, and neurochemical problems in humans.11

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports that roughly 80 percent of ammonia emissions in the U.S. come from animal waste.12 A California study found that a single dairy cow emits 19.3 pounds of volatile organic compounds per year, making dairies the largest source of the smog-making gas, surpassing trucks and passenger cars.13

Polluting the Water

Each day, factory farms produce billions of pounds of manure, which ends up in lakes, rivers, and drinking water.

Theone trillion pounds of waste produced by factory-farmed animals each year are usually used to fertilize crops, and they subsequently end up running off into waterwaysalong with the drugs and bacteria that they contain.14 Many tons of waste end up in giant pits in the ground or on crops, polluting the air and groundwater. According to the EPA, agricultural runoff is the number one source of pollution in our waterways.15

It doesnt stop there. Streams and rivers carry excrement from factory farms to the Mississippi River, which then deposits the waste in the Gulf of Mexico. The nitrogen from animal fecesand from fertilizer, which is primarily used to grow crops for farmed animalscauses algae populations to skyrocket, leaving little oxygen for other life forms. A 2006 report by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration found that the Gulf of Mexicos dead zonean area in which virtually all the sea animals and plants have diedis now half the size of Maryland.16 In 2006, a separate study by Princeton University found that a shift away from meat productionas well as Americans adoption of vegetarian dietswould dramatically reduce the amount of nitrogen in the Gulf to levels that would make the dead zone small or non-existent.17

Cruelty to Animals

In addition to polluting the environment, factory farming strives to produce the most meat, milk, and eggs as quickly and cheaply as possible and in the smallest amount of space possible, resulting in abusive conditions for animals. Cows, calves, pigs, chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, rabbits, and other animals are kept in small cages or stalls, where they are often unable to turn around. They are deprived of exercise so that all their energy goes toward producing flesh, eggs, or milk for human consumption. They are fed drugs that fatten them more quickly, and they are genetically manipulated to grow faster or produce much more milk or eggs than they would naturally. For more industry-specific information, please see our factsheets about pigs, cows, veal, chickens, turkeys, and foie gras.

Dont be fooled by products labeled as organic or free-range. Because definitions and enforcement of regulations are inconsistent, its difficult to determine which products actually come from animals who are treated decently. Since none of the labels applies to transport or slaughter and none prohibits bodily mutilations such as debeaking, tail-docking, ear-notching, or dehorning, the worst cruelty continues to be completely unregulated. For more information, please see our factsheet about these misleading labels.

What You Can Do

Switching to a vegan diet reduces your ecological footprint, allowing you to tread lightly on the planet and be compassionate to its inhabitants. With so many great vegan options, eating green has never been more delicious. Whether you go vegetarian for the environment, for your health, or for animals, you have the power to change the world, simply by changing whats on your plate.

References1Smithsonian Institution, Smithsonian Researchers Show Amazonian Deforestation Accelerating, Science Daily 15 Jan. 2002.2Marlow Vesterby and Kenneth S. Krupa, Major Uses of Land in the United States, 1997, Statistical Bulletin No. 973, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1997.3John Carlson, Evaluation of Corn Processing By-Products in Swine Diets, Western Illinois University, 3 Apr. 1996.4Theo van Kempen, Whole Farm Water Use, North Carolina State University Swine Extension, Jul. 2003.5Rick Grant, Water Quality and Requirements for Dairy Cattle, NebGuide, Cooperative Extension, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 1996.6Marcia Kreith, Water Inputs in California Food Production, Water Education Foundation 27 Sept. 1991.7Daniele Fanelli, Meat Is Murder on the Environment, New Scientist 18 Jul. 2007.8International Panel for Sustainable Resource Management, Assessing the Environmental Impacts of Consumption and Production, United Nations Environment Programme 2010.9Consumers Union SWRO, Animal Factories: Pollution and Health Threats to Rural Texas, May 2000.10Jennifer Lee, Neighbors of Vast Hog Farms Say Foul Air Endangers Their Health, The New York Times 11 May 2003.11Kip Wiley et al., Confined Animal Facilities in California, California State Senate, Nov. 2004.12State of North Carolina, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Review of Emission Factors and Methodologies to Estimate Ammonia Emissions From Animal Waste Handling, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Apr. 2002.13Jennifer M. Fitzenberger, Dairies Gear Up for Fight Over Air, Fresno Bee 2 Aug. 2005.14R.S. Dungan, Board-Invited Review: Fate and Transport of Bioaerosols Associated with Livestock Operations and Manures, Journal of Animal Science, 88(2010): 3693-3706.15U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.16NOAA Forecasts Larger Than Normal Dead Zone for Gulf This Summer, NOAA News Online, 24 Jul. 2006.17Simon D. Donner, Surf or Turf: A Shift From Feed to Food Cultivation Could Reduce Nutrient Flux to the Gulf of Mexico, Global Environmental Change 17 (2007): 105-13.

Link:
Veganism and the Environment | PETA

What is a vegan lifestyle? When we talk about veganism, many people hear the word diet as the most important part of the conversation. After all, one of the most well-known aspects of the vegan lifestyle involves not eating meat or animal byproducts. Yet by centering diet as the soul of veganism, we might be doing a disservice to vegans. Theres far more to the ethos of veganism than simply controlling what one puts in ones mouth, and ignoring these other facets of the vegan lifestyle denies its power.

If youre thinking about going vegan or if you already consider yourself a vegan, its important to understand why you make specific choices as a human and as a consumer, and why you choose to avoid things that other people consider commonplace. No, you dont have to become an academic scholar, nor do you need to tell everyone you meet about your vegan lifestyle. However, part of the movement involves living your values. Instead of just expressing them, you demonstrate them through what you choose to do and not to do.

Lets take a deeper look at the vegan lifestyle and what it truly means to those who practice it.

The Vegan Society defines the vegan lifestyle as a way of living which seeks to exclude, as far as is possible and practicable, all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose. Thats pretty comprehensive.

Vegans lead with intent. They do their best, however small, to create a world in which no animals are harmed by service to humans.

And it goes far beyond diet. Vegans have been behind many protests against circus acts and other entertainment venues that force animals to perform for human entertainment. A circus has nothing to do with diet unless you count popcorn and cotton candy but everything to do with animal welfare. Animals forced to perform for human entertainment often show no signs of enjoying the work or wanting to perform. Consequently, the trainers have to use pain to evoke the desired response from the animal.

The vegan lifestyle involves actively avoiding any practice that damages animal welfare or subjugates animals for our benefit as humans.

A vegan lifestyle is a creed and a way of life that denies that other animals exist for our use. We were all put here for our own purposes, and animals other than humans contribute just as much as we do to our ecosystem. Vegans believe that we can live side by side with animals rather than as apex predators. Instead of exerting dominion over animals, we can help them live their lives as naturally as possible.

The vegan lifestyle does involve diet. Vegans dont eat meat, eggs, dairy, or any other animal byproduct, including the honey that bees produce. However, its much more than that.

We know that animals are used to create many consumer products, from soaps and cosmetics to clothing. Vegans wear synthetic fabrics, for instance, instead of wool made from sheep, llamas, alpacas, and other animals. Its true that these animals arent killed for their fur. However, theyre terrorized during the shearing process, which they dont understand, and are left without their natural protection from the elements.

Just as the vegan lifestyle is about intent, its also about mindfulness. Before buying something at the store, a vegan considers whether or not it has had a deleterious impact on animals in any way.

According to statistics from 2017, the incorporation of vegan foods into meals across all American households has risen by 40 percent. Furthermore, nearly half of all Americans support banning slaughterhouses, and in some countries vegan populations have increased by as much as 600 percent. The data is clear: more people are going vegan every day.

This evolution creates significant demand for consumer products that fit the vegan lifestyle. Businesses, including factory farming operations and slaughterhouses, operate on supply and demand. If nobody wants to eat meat or animal byproducts, these businesses shut their doors because they cant justify continued operations.

Part of the vegan lifestyle means refusing to put dollars into the hands of people who would hurt animals in any way. As more people take up the vegan lifestyle, vegans voices become louder and more difficult to ignore.

Nobody can deny that vegan food is delicious. Its whole, plant-based, and diverse, which means you cant possibly get bored if youre open to all the foods available to you. However, the vegan lifestyle doesnt revolve around food alone. As mentioned above, its an ethos or creed that helps people to live their values. Vegans know what they believe, and what they hold sacred, and they do their best to ensure that their behaviors follow their hearts.

Its important to understand the vegan lifestyle, because its easy to say that you love animals and support their rights but still to chomp down on an all-beef burger for dinner. Its similar to an environmental activist driving a gas-guzzling car and drinking water from disposable plastic bottles.

When other people see that youre living a vegan lifestyle, they might become curious. Most people dont enjoy hearing lectures, but they emulate behaviors they admire and respect. Thats the key to turning your vegan lifestyle into a statement that spreads to those around you.

Lets look at what it means to put vegan beliefs into practice as a lifestyle.

When it comes to living your beliefs, there are three stages:

When people talk about their beliefs and ideologies but act in direct opposition to them, others dont take those people seriously. Theres a dissonance between belief and action, and intent is often the missing link.

When youve defined a belief for yourself, such as that all animals should be treated humanely, you then need to think about how that belief will manifest. What changes do you want to make? How do you want other people to treat animals?

From intent follows action. Once you create an intention, the next logical step is to act out that intention through your habits as a consumer and a human being. The vegan lifestyle isnt just about what you put in your mouth at mealtimes. Its about how you show other people what you believe.

Very few people will say they hate animals or want them to suffer. Nevertheless, omnivores outnumber herbivores by a significant margin.

Theres a cognitive dissonance in cuddling your cat right before digging into a steak or enjoying a bucket of fried chicken. Just because a chicken or a cow doesnt look like your family pet doesnt mean those animals dont experience the same emotions and instincts. All animals want to live. They desire to thrive with other animals of their own kind, form emotional bonds, care for their young, and protect each other from predators. By consuming animals and otherwise using them for our own benefit, we deny them those basic rights.

If you live a vegan lifestyle, however, you make a statement with every product you buy, every article of clothing you wear, and every piece of food you eat. Instead of just saying how much you love animals and wish the best for them, youre contributing to their cause.

Many of the industries that vegans fight against contribute to pollution, deforestation, reduced habitats, and other impacts on animals lives. For instance, animal testing has become a huge strain on our collective resources, requiring large labs in which to house and feed animals. The same goes for dairy farms. These operations consume massive amounts of fossil fuels, contribute to contaminated soil, and introduce large quantities of ammonia into the environment. None of these things is healthy for humans or other animals.

The vegan lifestyle is directly tied to environmentalism. We want to preserve the earth for all creatures, including our own descendants. By selfishly farming animals and using up resources without thought for the future, we contribute to a world far less hospitable than the one we enjoy now.

If you believe that we should reduce our carbon footprints and protect animals, the vegan lifestyle is the perfect way to live your beliefs and show that veganism is more than just a diet.

We dont have to hurt others to survive; human beings have proved that through centuries of living on this earth. Despite political and social divisiveness, were still a social species. Humanity has only survived because of our ability to care for one another, whether that means staying awake at night to make sure a predator doesnt ravage our village, or shouting a warning to a stranger whos about to step in front of a moving car. The fact that we still exist despite the innumerable ways in which we could destroy each other is proof positive of our destiny to live peaceably.

This doesnt mean, however, that doing no harm to our fellow humans is enough. We also have to realize that harming animals and the environment leaves just as obvious a stain. Were wired to bond with other animals. We domesticated dogs before any other creature, and for centuries weve worked alongside canines in mutually beneficial relationships. Dogs enjoy working with humans, just as horses and many cats do, because we care for each other.

The problem, though, is that many people pick and choose. If you embrace the belief that you should do no harm to another sentient creature, its impossible to separate dogs and cats from cows, chickens and fish.

One of the purest ways to embrace the vegan lifestyle is to ask yourself one question:

Are you willing to slaughter an animal yourself to feed your family, when other alternatives exist?

If not, youre a good candidate for the vegan lifestyle. You dont want to slit a cows throat, boil a chicken alive, or gut a fish from head to tail, so in your mind youve separated the animal from the food in the supermarket. A chicken breast doesnt look like a chicken, so weve allowed ourselves to compartmentalize. Once you take a more holistic view of the world and realize that all lives are sacred, however, eating meat and using animal byproducts become repulsive.

Ancient cultures often hunted animals because they had no other choices. They lived in areas where crops couldnt grow, for instance, so they had no other food sources. These peoples often prayed over the animals they killed even revered them and vowed to use their bodies in as many ways as possible to honor their unwilling sacrifice. They viewed all lives as sacred but were forced to kill to survive. Anyone who has the ability to read this article doesnt live in such circumstances. Other food choices exist, so honoring animals means not needlessly exploiting them.

Youre excited about the vegan lifestyle. Youre ready to commit. So what do you do to ensure you live your beliefs and help spread the word about veganism?

Start by learning everything you can about the vegan lifestyle. The Sentient Media articles youve read are a great start. Learn about nutrition and healthy living, research ways to get the foods you love without harming animals, and find any supplements you need to make sure you meet your bodys requirements.

The vegan lifestyle is a practice. You might screw up. Maybe you find yourself out to dinner with friends and accidentally order a dish that has milk or eggs in it. Dont beat yourself up.

Practice veganism. Learn how to read labels and ask questions. Before you travel, research vegan-friendly supermarkets or restaurants in your destination city so youre not forced to scramble. Take snacks with you on the go. Plain nuts, dried fruit, and similar foods are perfect for slipping into a pocket, purse, or briefcase. Carry water, too, so you dont get dehydrated.

Its not a coincidence that people who openly live a vegan lifestyle are also advocates for healthy living and good nutrition. They talk about hydration, exercise, sleep, and other aspects of a healthy lifestyle. Remember, its not just about diet.

You dont have to proselytize over the Thanksgiving dinner table. Most people dont respond well to that approach. Simply let your friends and family know that youve adopted a vegan lifestyle and ask them to respect it.

Who knows? Your loved ones might start asking questions and learning more about veganism. Thats a great start. Live by example live your beliefs so others can witness what youre willing to consume and what youre not.

Surrounding yourself with people who believe what you believe can be immensely helpful. For one thing, you can learn from one another about how best to live a vegan lifestyle. For another, you can keep yourselves on track.

If you go to the gym with a few fellow vegans, youre unlikely to suggest a trip to Taco Bell afterward for beef quesadillas. Youll keep yourself honest while enjoying the company of people who believe, as you do, that all animals deserve rights.

Keep your eye out for situations in which animals are mistreated. Adopt unwanted pets from a local rescue organization, report animal cruelty to law enforcement, and refuse to patronize businesses that serve animal products.

Your dollars matter. Organizations that fight against animal abuse need your money to further their efforts on animals behalf. Donating even a small recurring amount, such as $5 or $10, can make a huge impact on the lives of animals in your community and around the world.

The vegan lifestyle doesnt require advocacy, but if youre moved to get involved in a more active way, consider joining an animal rights organization. These groups help fight against animal cruelty on numerous fronts, and you could become part of their work.

Veganism isnt just about a diet. Its about a way of life. If you believe that all animals deserve to live their lives free of obligation to humans, youre on the right path.

Subscribe to the Sentient Media newsletter to learn more about the vegan lifestyle and animal matters in which you might be interested. Dont hesitate to join conversations about veganism, animal rights, animal cruelty, and other issues that impact our animal friends.

Are you ready to adopt the vegan lifestyle? Have you already?

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Vegan Lifestyle: Why Veganism Is More Than a Diet

A vegan or plant-based diet cannot prevent a person from developing COVID-19, but it may help support a healthy immune system. This in turn could aid in SARS-CoV-2 infection prevention and lower the risk of severe symptoms.

People should note, that there is no direct evidence to support a link between a plant-based or vegan diet and protection from COVID-19 or other severe diseases.

That said, plant-based diets can also decrease a persons risk of obesity and chronic diseases. These are conditions that tend to worsen the outcome of COVID-19.

This article explores plant-based diets and their health benefits in relation to COVID-19 and otherwise. It also looks at how a vegan diet could decrease the risk factors for more severe effects of COVID-19.

There is no specific diet that lowers a persons risk of developing COVID-19.

The World Health Organization (WHO) advise people eat a balanced diet to strengthen their immune systems during the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes eating fresh, unprocessed foods, such as vegetables, legumes, and whole grains.

The WHO also recommend avoiding consumption of sugar fat, and salt, and limiting red meat consumption to 12 times a week, and poultry to 23 times per week. They also suggest consuming no more than 160g of meat and beans daily.

According to research, a plant-based diet has health benefits for weight, energy metabolism, and systemic inflammation. These beneficial effects could support a healthy immune system and lower a persons risk of severe impacts of COVID-19.

That said, it is important to note that eating a plant-based diet and identifying as a vegan are not, strictly speaking, the same. The term plant-based refers only to diet, while veganism incorporates other factors.

People who identify as vegans object to exploiting or killing animals for food, clothing, or any other reason. However, some people who identify as vegans may eat mainly processed foods, which in itself as a dietary plan is not beneficial to health.

By contrast, people who follow a plant-based diet eat mainly or exclusively plant foods. People may have a diet that consists solely or predominantly of freshly prepared whole foods. They may choose this approach for health, environmental, or ethical reasons.

It is of note that a plant-based diet does not necessarily lead to an improved immune system. A person can follow a plant-based diet and have poor health due to consuming far too many processed foods, plant-based alternatives, and plant fats.

If a person eats mainly processed foods and few vegetables and fruits and does not supplement essential nutrients, such as vitamin B12, they may counteract the potential benefits of a plant-based diet.

Learn more about foods with B12 for vegetarians and vegans here.

In the sections below, we discuss some of the health benefits of plant-based diets and how following them may impact the risk of developing COVID-19.

A review in the British Journal of Nutrition suggests that people with optimal levels of micronutrients may be more resilient to COVID-19.

Micronutrients are vitamins and minerals that people obtain from their diet. Human bodies also produce vitamin D in response to exposure to sunlight.

Plant foods contain many vitamins and minerals essential for a healthy immune system, such as zinc, selenium, and vitamins A, C, and E. Selenium is a trace mineral that benefits immune system health and cognitive function.

However, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), only one in 10 adults in the United States eat enough fruits or vegetables.

By switching to a plant-based diet that includes a wide variety of fruits and vegetables or eating more plant-based foods, people will increase their intake of essential minerals and vitamins that support the immune system. This in turn may increase peoples resilience to COVID-19.

Learn more about anti-inflammatory foods here.

Healthy vegan diets that include a wide variety of fruits and vegetables are rich in antioxidants. These are compounds that fight free radicals and help counteract oxidative stress.

Some vitamins and minerals, as well as plant compounds such as polyphenols, act as antioxidants. Polyphenols are present in berries, olives, and nuts, among other foods.

According to a 2021 review, studies are currently underway to test whether polyphenols could potentially help prevent or treat viral infections, such as infections with SARS-CoV-2. However, at present, there is no evidence of this.

The authors explain that as people age, their immune system is less able to combat infections. The researchers refer to this immunological aging as immunosenescence. Polyphenols can counteract the senescence process and reduce inflammation.

Another review notes that excessive oxidative stress may be responsible for the lung damage, thrombosis, and red blood cell dysregulation that occurs in some people with COVID-19.

The authors of the review suggest that antioxidants could have therapeutic effects. Therefore, a plant-based diet rich in antioxidants and polyphenols may help protect against COVID-19.

Learn more about some of the top foods high in antioxidants here.

According to some research, SARS-CoV-2 alters the gut microbiota, and probiotics and prebiotics may improve the immune function in people with a SARS-CoV-2 infection.

The fiber in plant foods provides prebiotics to feed gut bacteria. Research shows that plant-based diets influence the gut microbiome favorably, increasing bacterial diversity and potentially reducing inflammation.

According to a 2020 review, a plant-based fiber-rich diet may have protected COVID-19 patients in India. The authors suggest that plant-based foods are likely to boost a gut microbiota capable of triggering an anti-inflammatory response.

Eating a plant-based diet may help people avoid having obesity and other health conditions that could worsen their experience of COVID-19 if they develop it.

Research suggests that a SARS-CoV-2 infection results in increased hospitalization rates and greater severity of illness in people with diabetes or obesity.

According to a 2020 study, obesity was the most commonly reported underlying medical condition 72.5% in healthcare personnel hospitalized for COVID-19 in the United States.

Authors of a 2016 analysis indicate that plant-based diets could decrease inflammation and risk of chronic disease in people who have obesity.

A 2019 review notes a plant-based diet may help prevent the development of overweight, obesity, and diabetes. Research also supports the diets cardiovascular benefits.

People wishing to switch to a vegan diet should ensure that they eat fresh whole foods and avoid processed foods and vegan junk food.

With veganism gaining popularity, more and more grocery stores and food outlets now offer a variety of vegan products.

It is important to note, however, that that a product is vegan does not necessarily mean it is healthy. It is still advisable to check nutrient density and the amounts of vitamins, minerals, fats, and added sugars of vegan products people consider buying.

People will benefit most from choosing fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats and protein sources.

Including a wide variety of plant foods and eating a rainbow allows people on a plant-based diet to get all the nutrients they need.

However, plant foods do not contain vitamin B12, an essential nutrient needed for red blood cell production and brain function, among other things.

That is why it is important for people on a plant-based diet to eat foods fortified with vitamin B12 and preferably take a vitamin B12 supplement. They may also need to supplement omega-3 fatty acids.

People can find numerous resources and recipes online to plan their plant-based meals. They may also consult a registered dietitian or nutritionist.

Learn more about plant foods high in protein here.

There is no conclusive evidence to suggest that any single diet can lower a persons risk of developing COVID-19.

However, a plant-based or vegan diet may support a healthy immune system. This in turn can limit the risk of a SARS-CoV-2 infection, as well as its serious health complications.

Eating a plant-based diet may also help prevent the development of chronic health conditions that might cause complications or increase the severity of COVID-19 symptoms.

A vegan diet may also help people reach a moderate weight and prevent obesity, reducing the risk of worse COVID-19 outcomes.

It is worth noting that not all vegan foods are healthy, and people should avoid processed vegan foods and choose a whole foods diet instead.

People following a strict vegan diet should also ensure that they supplement essential nutrients, such as vitamin B12.

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Can veganism really lower a person's COVID-19 risk?

Veganism is typically equated with healthy eating, but todays factory-produced fake bacon, sausages and burgers could be tarnishing the halo of a plant-based diet. New Scientist investigates

By Helen Thomson

Kyle Bean

DONALD Watson was born in Yorkshire and spent much of his youth on his uncles farm. But rather than making him feel at ease with breeding animals for food, the realisation that these friendly creatures went for slaughter horrified him. He became a vegetarian in 1924, aged 14. Two decades later, with his wife and four friends, he coined the word vegan from the first and last parts of the word vegetarian, and founded the UK Vegan Society.

Watsons diet was filled mostly with nuts, apples, dried fruit, vegetables and, when wartime rations allowed it, lentils. Fast-forward to today, and Watson would have been astonished at the wealth of vegan-friendly offerings. Browse the aisles of supermarkets in the UK, US, Australia and beyond and you will find a growing amount of space dedicated to vegan fish and meat alternatives. But while Watsons diet turned out to be a healthy one, a different picture is emerging for some of todays vegans.

Take a look at the ingredients in the ever-increasing variety of products and they can seem more like junk, packed full of salt and ingredients such as soya protein concentrate that you wouldnt find in a chunk of meat.

While todays factory-produced foods make it easy to switch to a vegan diet without the need to make drastic changes to eating patterns, these alternatives might be worse for our health than the meat versions they are replacing. Finding out is increasingly important, due to the growing number of people avoiding meat and dairy in their diet. So what do we and dont we know?

When Watson applied for vegan

Original post:
Are vegan meat alternatives putting our health on the line? - New Scientist

2020 was a big year for veganism in the UK. And judging by the response to Veganuary this year, the rise of the movement for culinary, social, and agricultural change is set to continue in 2021. Whats more, the responses from retail giants and entrepreneurs will continue to make it easier for people to switch to a plant-based diet.

Weve rounded up the most important veganism facts and statistics for the UK as more Brits make the decision to go vegan.

Every year, hundreds of thousands of Brits sign up for the Veganuary campaign a pledge to embrace plant-based diets for a month.

According to the Guardian, a record 500,000 people, of whom 125,000 are based in the UK, took the Veganuary pledge to eat only vegan food in January. The figure is up by 100,000 on last years, and its double the number of people who signed up for Veganuary in 2019.

However, this time, its not just individuals who are getting into the vegan spirit. The beginning of 2021 has seen major supermarket brands doing more to cater to the growing number of Brits who have turned their back on animal products.

Aldi, Asda, and Iceland published detailed vegan recipe and product pages on their websites. Marks & Spencer created a 31-day vegan meal plan, and Tesco ran an advertising campaign to promote Veganuary on radio and television. Veganuarys Toni Vernelli speaks of how the Aldi website features a message which says that cutting down on or totally avoiding animal products demonstrates a commitment to make a difference to the planet.

Its not just supermarkets that are seeing a demand for vegan options; food delivery services like Deliveroo are noticing an increased demand from customers for vegan dishes.

The UK-based delivery service saw the number of vegan restaurants on its app more than double since last year, with 12 000 restaurants now offering vegan-friendly options. The most vegan orders in 2020 were placed in Brighton, Bristol, London, Manchester, and Edinburgh.

VegNews reported that in the first week of 2021, at the beginning of Veganuary, searches for vegan food on Deliveroo spiked by 153% compared to the previous month. Many Deliveroo partners have added special vegan options to their menus, from Wagamamas vegan sticky ribs to Majestic Wines vegan wine options.

Research on plant-based meat alternatives conducted by investment bank UBS last year also indicates rising interest in vegan lifestyle choices. Its also in keeping with some of what are predicted to be the biggest vegan food trends in 2021.

UBS research found that the number of people who tried plant-based meat alternatives increased from 48% to 53% between March and November last year. Of those who tried plant-based alternatives, approximately half said that they would continue to eat them at least once a week.

The banks Andrew Stott said the survey also revealed why some consumers are not happy to switch to an entirely plant-based diet just yet. He explained that 59% of respondents who were not willing to try plant-based meat substitutes did not think they would taste good, 29% said plant-based alternatives were too expensive, and 37% objected to the highly processed nature of the products.

Even so, more than half of respondents agreed that plant-based alternatives were the environmentally friendlier and healthier option. UBS surveyed 3,000 consumers in the UK, Germany, and the US.

Veganism is said to be most popular among younger generations. Food Revolution Network believes this is partly due to their increased availability of information via the Internet about where their food comes and how its made.

As encouraging as many of these stats are, 2021 is not likely to be the year in which Britain goes vegan. British Nutrition Foundation and YouGov research found that 61% of Brits were unlikely to switch to a plant-based diet this year. Of course, that simply may be because they havent been exposed to what are predicted to be the big vegan food trends of 2021.

The last few years have seen the launch of various vegan food products as well as all sorts of culinary innovations by creative cooks. Vegan Food And Living reckons that this year will be no different. In fact, the options for folks who are committed to a plant-based diet are going to get even more exciting. Some of the top trends the magazine predicted will be on the rise this year include:

Vegan butchers Last year saw the launch of Rudys Vegan Butchers in London. The establishment looks very much like a traditional butchers shop, minus the carcases and animal meat. Instead, its counters and fridges are packed with plant-based meat substitutes. Not to be outdone, Asda started trialling a vegan butchers counter at its Watford store earlier this month.

Vegan egg replacements Aquafaba is the vegan go-to egg replacement, but that may change in 2021. One of the predicted food trends this year is egg replacements, such as the liquid egg replacement launched by Crackd last year. Singaporean and French scientists recently unveiled an egg replacement that is almost indistinguishable from the real thing.

Vegan sweets The magazine also predicted that more and more major confectionery brands will release vegan sweets in 2021. According to Vegan Food And Living, vegan chocolate recipe internet searches increased by 31% last year.

Vegan chicken replacement Many plant-based meat alternatives were created as substitutes for red meat. Very little attention was paid to replacements for chicken, but 2021 looks like it could be the year in which that changes. In the last year or so, weve seen the launch of vegan alternatives to chicken by KFC, Marks & Spencer, Subway, Papa Johns, and Nandos.

(Source: The Vegan Society and Finder)

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Veganism Statistics 2021 How Many Vegans Are There in ...

Going vegan or vegetarian has become mainstream in Britain, as new coverts join the momentum to switch to a plant-based diet

By Prasun Sonwalkar

Published: Fri 29 Oct 2021, 10:46 PM

What do global movers and shakers eat when they meet and confabulate about major issues? Next week, world leaders will congregate in Glasgow for the COP26 summit, with mixed hopes among billions across the globe of what the event will eventually achieve in terms of global warming and climate change. But keeping with the events aspirations, one aspect has already been decided: plant-based dishes will dominate the menu, with 80 per cent of the food seasonal and sourced in Scotland. Overall, 95 per cent of the food will be from the United Kingdom, focused on the idea that sustainability should be at the heart of catering for the summit, reducing emissions and promoting environment-friendly food production. Campaigners wanted a 100 per cent vegan menu to be served, but the fact that most of the dishes will be plant-based at such a high-profile international event is music to their ears.

Each item will have an estimate of its carbon footprint, helping delegates make climate-friendly choices. Items will include Edinburghs Mara Seaweed, which is abundant, sustainable, does not require fertiliser, fresh water or soil to grow, as well as Benzies carrots and potatoes that use wind turbines to power their cool storage, biomass to provide heating and actively recycle the water they use. Cups used to serve drinks will be reusable, washable 1,000 times; it is estimated that this approach will save up to 250,000 single-use cups. Says Alok Sharma, Cabinet minister in the Boris Johnson government and COP26 president: There will be a tremendous amount of work to be done at COP26, with many hours of negotiations and long days, so the choice of food that we serve our visiting delegations, staff and all our volunteers is very important. It is exciting to see such innovation in the menus that will be on offer and to understand the thought and effort that has gone into making dishes both healthy, sustainable and suitable for different diets and requirements. We very much look forward to giving our international visitors a flavour of the wide-ranging cuisine the UK has to offer.

This focus on a plant-based menu at the Glasgow summit seems inevitable given the growing momentum in Britain in recent years to switching to a vegan diet, which is a step further than a vegetarian diet, since it excludes dairy products (vegan was coined from the first three and last two letters of vegetarian in 1944, when The Vegan Society was formed with just 25 members). According to the society, A vegan is someone who tries to live without exploiting animals, for the benefit of animals, people and the planet. Vegans eat a plant-based diet, with nothing coming from animals no meat, milk, eggs or honey, for example. The momentum is driven by philosophical, religious and other reasons, but mainly by widely-publicised scientific research that animal agriculture and animal products are disastrous for the planet, and that cutting out animal products from the diet is the single-most effective action an individual can take to help fight climate change.

A vegan supply chain

From the United Nations calling for a wider global uptake of plant-based diet in 2010, to a host of studies and mass awareness drives by campaign groups subsequently, veganism has gone mainstream, with superstores, restaurants as well as manufacturers of cosmetics, medicines, toiletries, fashion and textiles making it known that their food and goods are vegan, catering to a growing niche customer base. Coffee lovers can now enjoy a flat white with soy, oat, coconut or almond milk instead of whole milk, besides a large number of dishes that earlier used dairy products. Cadbury hit the headlines when it announced that from November there would be a vegan alternative to its signature Dairy Milk chocolate bar. The new Cadbury Plant Bar would substitute almond paste for the glass and a half of milk that is supposed to be in the Dairy Milk bar. Veganuary, a charity organisation that encourages people to try vegan diet in January and beyond, enlisted pledges of more than 580,000 people this year.

Says senior journalist Syed Zubair Ahmed: Its been over a year since I last had meat. My journey to being vegetarian was slow. First, I gave up eating beef way back in 1984 when I was a university student. I tried to give up eating meat completely several times since then but it was difficult to resist. Gradually, I stopped cooking meat at home. And then in the first month of Covid I decided to cut out meat completely... Going vegan or vegetarian appears to be a fad in the West but those who have turned vegetarian or eating vegan food know what they are getting into. Even when I ate meat I believed vegetarianism is a higher form of living. Eating meat was fine when we lived with nature 12-13,000 years ago. We have a choice now. Giving up animal products is achieving that higher form of living I have always been hankering after. My next goal is to stop eating all animal products, including milk and eggs. I love oat milk anyway. I believe being vegan is being more civilised.

According to new research by The Vegan Society, a large number of Britons reduced the amount of animal products they consume since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. It found that 1 in 5 (20 per cent) people have reduced the amount of meat they are eating while 12 per cent said they have minimised their eggs and dairy intake. Seven per cent of respondents revealed they have cut down on all three, meaning that 1 in 4 (25 per cent) have actively cut back on some form of animal products since the first lockdown. It also found that more than a third (34 per cent) people are spending more time with their companion animals, and 32 per cent are thinking more about their personal impact on the planet. In a second survey aimed at those who had cut back on animal products, 35 per cent said they were mainly motivated by health concerns, with that figure rising to 39 per cent for those aged 55+, while 30 per cent said the environment was their primary motivation, and almost 1 in 4 (21 per cent) said it was down to animal rights issues.

Louisianna Waring, Insight and Commercial Policy Officer at the society, says: Its fantastic to see that not only are people consciously cutting back on animal products, but that this trend has continued over the last 12 months. Its no surprise that the pandemic has inspired so many consumers to make the switch to plant-based alternatives and adopt a more planet-friendly diet. Covid-19 has certainly made people think twice about what theyre eating and where its coming from. This is highlighted by the large number of people cutting down on animal products because of their own health concerns. New research published in the British Medical Journal says that plant-based or pescatarian diets were associated with lower odds of moderate-to-severe Covid-19. The Vegan Society will make its presence felt at Glasgow through its various campaigns (Plate Up for the Planet), adverts and messaging on buses, digital billboards, subway stations, performances and an outreach stand in a shopping mall.

The legislation debate

Campaigners would like the turn to veganism to be backed by legislation, with subsidies for plant-based food, but opinion within the Johnson government is mixed. According to the independent Climate Change Committee, people should be encouraged by the government to cut the amount of meat and dairy they eat, recommending a 20 per cent shift away from those products by 2030, since reducing meat and dairy consumption will cut emissions from agriculture and release land to plant trees to help absorb carbon dioxide. But the Johnson government has said it will maintain peoples freedom of choice in their diet.

Business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng has spoken to the media about the importance of veganism to climate change. He may adopt a vegan diet at some point to play his part in the global climate effort, since lifestyle changes would be needed across society if the UK government is to hit its new emissions target: cut by 78 per cent on 1990 levels by 2035. He says: Im certainly reducing my meat consumption, not only for environmental reasons but also for health reasons. Im eating a lot more fish than I ever did before and maybe I can move to a full vegan diet at some point. The number of people who are vegans, who are reducing their meat intake, is going up all the time. I think that there is a lot of societal change that will actually help us and drive the progress to 2035, admitting that the government should accelerate the change and praised the boom in plant-based diets, which is taking place without government legislation.

Kwartengs views about veganism stand in sharp contrast to Johnsons. According to the prime minister, veganism is a crime against cheese lovers. Asked recently on BBC about his 2020 resolution to lose weight and if he would be ditching meat and dairy products from his diet, he said it would require too much concentration, adding that while he tipped his hat off to vegans who can handle it, a vegan diet is a crime against cheese lovers. Campaigners were quick to point out that vegan-friendly cheeses are now available in every grocery store, besides other alternatives to dairy products.

The latest alt-milk to hit the market besides almond, soy, coconut, oat is potato milk; the market for plant milk alone is estimated to be 400 million a year, while the global plant-based alternatives market is pegged at over 115 billion. The Vegan Trademark is already established, helping users identify that a product is free from animal ingredients since 1990. Over 56,000 products worldwide, including cosmetics, clothing, food, drink, household items, and many more display the Vegan Trademark. In 2019 alone, The Vegan Society registered 14,262 products with the Vegan Trademark, which was an increase from 2018, when 9,590 products were registered. The Vegan Trademark is present in 108 countries, with over 50 per cent of products registered coming from companies based outside of the UK. Vegan and plant-based foods are the fastest-growing category of foods people are ordering, according to leading food-delivery companies in the United States, Canada and the UK. Campaigners say globally the number of vegans is nearly 80 million; of those in the UK, 66 per cent are women.

A new report by think-tank Chatham House says post-Covid economic recovery efforts by governments across the globe provide a unique opportunity to put in place measures for a green recovery. Its report, Food System Impacts On Biodiversity Loss, says: Over the past 50 years, the conversion of natural ecosystems for crop production or pasture has been the principal cause of habitat loss, in turn reducing biodiversityWithout reform of our food system, biodiversity loss will continue to accelerateReform will rely on the use of three principal levers: Firstly, global dietary patterns need to converge around diets based more on plants, owing to the disproportionate impact of animal farming on biodiversity, land use and the environmentSecondly, more land needs to be protected and set aside for natureThirdly, we need to farm in a more nature-friendly, biodiversity-supporting way, limiting the use of inputs and replacing monoculture with polyculture farming practicesDietary change and a reduction in food waste are critical to breaking the system lock-ins that have driven the intensification of agriculture and the continued conversion of native ecosystems to crop production and pasture.

The flip side

For all the enthusiasm to adopt veganism and stick to it rigorously, it has many critics, besides attracting the old joke: How do you known someones a vegan? Answer: Theyll tell you. There is also the fact that almost everything edible involves some kind of animal suffering; all one can do is try and minimise it through food choices. One website is dedicated to its point that almonds are not vegan. It may be impossible to be 100 per cent vegan, since plants get nutrients from the soil, which often contains decayed remains of animals, besides pollination by bees and others species. The jury is out and both sides hold on to their positions passionately.

Ward Clark, author of Misplaced Compassion: The Animal Rights Movement Exposed, writes in an online essay titled The Myth of the Ethical Vegan: Unfortunately for the ethical vegan, the production of their food alone reduces their claim to impossibility. Animals are killed in untold millions, in the course of plant agriculture. Some are killed accidentally in the course of mechanised farming; some are killed deliberately in the course of pest control... Every potato, every stick of celery, every cup of rice, and every carrot has a blood trail leading from field to plateEthical vegans, as a class, fail utterly to put any of their professed ethics into action. They claim to not cause harm to animals, but they do; when confronted, they claim to cause less harm to animals than the non-vegan, but they are utterly unable to show that to be true... They are intimately involved, every day, in an activity that causes the deaths of millions of animals...

(Prasun is a journalist based in London. He tweets @PrasunSonwalkar)

Read more from the original source:
The rise and rise of veganism in Britain - Khaleej Times