My take on: Veganism 🥑

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A vegan diet involves cutting out any food or drink that comes from animals, such as meat, fish, and dairy.

 According to research from The Vegan Society, there are estimated to be around 540,000 vegans in Britain, and this figure is on the rise.

 In addition, around 360,000 of these identify as 'lifestyle' vegans, who avoid using items containing animal products, or animal-tested cosmetics.

 But why is this so-called 'Instagram trend' so popular, and why are so many people changing their eating habits? I'm going to be weighing up the pros and cons of a vegan lifestyle, to try to understand this new-found obsessions with avocados!

Vegan diet is 'healthier' - for you AND the planet

It is suggested that a vegan diet leads to a reduced risk of serious illness, e.g. heart disease and cancer.
However, this a very vague statement - I think we need some evidence:

 Research conducted by PNAS (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America) concluded that vegan diets are even more effective than vegetarian diets in protecting against Type 2 Diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.

 Vegan diets are predominantly plant-based, and thus low in saturated fats; this means that vegans are less prone to obesity, and have lower blood pressure and cholesterol. By consuming plenty of fruit and veg, you are adding more antioxidants into your diet, which are said to significantly reduce the risk of chronic illnesses.
Transitioning toward more plant-based diets that are in line with standard dietary guidelines could reduce global mortality by 6–10% and food-related greenhouse gas emissions by 29–70% compared with a reference scenario in 2050.
Overall, we estimate the economic benefits of improving diets to be 1–31 trillion US dollars, which is equivalent to 0.4–13% of global gross domestic product (GDP) in 2050. However, significant changes in the global food system would be necessary for regional diets to match the dietary patterns studied here.

 In terms of saving the planet, veganism seems like the way to go - researchers at the University of Oxford found that cutting meat and dairy products could reduce an individual's carbon footprint from food by up to 73%!
Source: The Vegan Society/BBC Website

However...

It goes without saying that veganism is not for everyone, as everyone's body is unique, with its own needs and tolerances. This is why I wouldn't recommend a vegan diet to EVERYONE - I've heard several stories from people who transitioned to veganism and found it detrimental to their health, either causing unwanted weight gain or loss, or damaging the normal functioning of their body.

 Furthermore, vegans are more at risk of nutrient deficiencies, so have to be careful about what they're eating, and what they're not eating.

Getting the right nutrients

Although a plant-based diet provides you with natural fibres and vitamins, vegan diets can sometimes be lacking in certain nutrients that can't be found as readily in plants as they are in animals products: examples include calcium, Vitamin D, Vitamin B12 and Omega 3.

 Here are some alternate, vegan sources for these vital nutrients:

  • Calcium: Leafy, green vegetables; sesame seeds and pulses; dried fruit; fortified plant milks
  • Vitamin D: Fortified, plant-based products, such as breakfast cereals and soya drinks; vegan supplements
  • Vitamin B12: Supplements or fortified foods, as B12 is only found naturally in animals products
  • Omega 3: Flaxseed oil; rapeseed oil; walnuts; soya

Vegan chocolate ganache torte

So many options...

With more people going vegan than ever, there are so many more options, from places to eat out to dinners you can cook at home - one of my favourites is satay sweet potato curry.

A common misconception is that vegans eat salad, salad, and more salad - but vegans can indulge too!
Here are some vegan dessert ideas you can try...




Jade Bowler (aka Unjaded Jade) is a British YouTuber, who vlogs about university, revision, her daily life and veganism. Her YouTube channel is extremely successful, and I recommend it for any who is considering going vegan, or is already vegan but struggling to find exciting meal ideas.

 Here is a video on how to go vegan: 8 tips for beginners:




 Disclaimer: I'm not a vegan, but I've been a vegetarian for pretty much my whole life, and a lot of my meals end up being vegan anyway! Being a vegetarian has never been a big deal for me, as I don't ever crave meat, but I understand that it can be hard for non-vegetarians to go vegan. It certainly won't happen overnight!

If you're considering becoming a vegan, I recommend that you limit your meat intake first, until you're comfortable without it (there are alternatives, too, like Quorn). Being a vegetarian in today's world isn't difficult, as there are millions of options for meals, but the shift veganism can be more daunting.

However, as Unjaded Jade explains, vegan alternatives to foods are unlimited; you can get so many plant-based milks and yoghurts (a personal favourite is hazelnut milk), and even nut-based butters, like almond butter, and vegan ice-creams - there really is no shortage of amazing products to help you on your way to becoming a vegan Instagram guru!
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 I hope this blog has inspired you to think a bit more carefully about your eating patterns - or, if not, I hope you feel a little more informed about vegans! Who knows, you could have your own vegan recipe blog up and running in no time...

 - R

Comments

  1. Anonymous16 August 2019 at 17:35

    Thank you for raising these points !! I think veganism is overall a good thing, but obviously you need to be careful. Fortified foods are great for vegans! And I'll definitely be trying one of those vegan dessert recipes ��

    ReplyDelete

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