Vegans are often seen as social justice activists because they care for animal welfare; they will not eat any meat or animal byproducts—some will not even purchase goods with animal fur or leather! But few people realize that veganism is not just about the well-being of animals; it’s about the well-being of people and the environment, too.
We have compiled a list of vegan health facts, environmental facts, culture, and more to show why everyone should join the movement and have a vegan diet.
What Is A Vegan Diet?
A vegan diet, also known as a plant-based diet, is when you do not eat meat or any animal byproducts. Animal byproducts are any foods that can come from an animal. For example, vegans do not consume dairy products like milk or eggs because they are from cows and chickens.
What Is "Vegan Food"?
Vegans eat everything except meat, fish, eggs, cheese, milk, and honey. Instead, they enjoy plant foods like legumes, vegetables, fruits, and dairy alternatives like soymilk.
Many people believe that vegans have nutritional deficiencies. But, a well-balanced diet full of plant proteins and fortified foods allows them to receive their protein and other essential vitamins like vitamin D. Some examples of plant-based protein are tofu, chickpeas, lentils, and tempeh.
How A Plant-Based Diet Can Improve Your Health
Many people have joined the vegan trend because it’s believed that a vegan diet can be better for your health, but is it really? In our research, we have discovered that cutting out animal products does have a positive impact on your health overall. To prove it to you, we have compiled a list of vegan health facts to show you the health benefits of eating vegan.
Vegan Health Facts:
- A vegan diet can boost heart health. In fact, 22% of participants in one research study found that their heart disease was reversed when they followed a vegan lifestyle.
- The World Health Organization has released medical news proving that vegans have a lower cancer risk. In fact, the vegan cancer rate is much lower than vegetarians, omnivores, flexitarians, and pescetarians—especially for ovarian and breast cancer.
- A vegan diet reduces the symptoms of heart disease. Cutting out your meat and dairy intake reduces your saturated fat intake. Saturated fats can increase your cholesterol, causing it to build up in your arteries. Therefore, vegans have a reduced risk of heart disease and heart attack.
- Vegans tend to lose weight faster than other dietary groups. According to one study, more calories are being burned after meals when you follow a vegan diet, causing a steady weight loss of about one pound a week.
- Vegans have a lower risk of developing chronic diseases. A 2009 study of 60,000 individuals found that the prevalence of diabetes in vegans was 2.9%, whereas it was 7.6% in nonvegans.
Speak to a healthcare professional to learn whether a vegan diet is right for you.
Vegan Diets Are Beneficial For The Earth
While many vegans choose to follow a vegan diet for their health, many also do it for the environment. Plant-based diets have a lower environmental impact because it eliminates the need for animal products.
We have gathered a list of vegan environmental statistics to show you the environmental benefits of going vegan.
Vegan Environmental Facts:
- According to the Food and Agriculture Organizations of the United Nations, animal agriculture is responsible for 87% of all greenhouse gas emissions. Decreasing your reliance on animal foods can decrease your impact on the environment.
- Vegans save approximately 30 animals, 913 square feet of forest, 620 pounds of harmful carbon dioxide emissions, and 33,481 gallons of water every month.
- According to researchers at Oxford University, vegans have a carbon footprint that is 47-60% smaller than meat-eaters.
- A report from the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change said that vegan diets have a high potential for mitigating climate change.
Vegan Food Uses Less Land & Resources
As previously mentioned, eating meat and animal products has a significant impact on the earth. The meat industry uses approximately 80% of the agricultural land to raise farmed animals, but processed meat only accounts for 18% of our caloric intake. So, where do vegan foods fall? We have done some research to identify the environmental impact of veganism.
Vegan Food Market Statistics:
- 23% of the earth's agricultural land is used for crops that make up plant-based products, yet 83% of the world's caloric intake is from plant-based foods.
- Producing 1 kilogram of vegan products like rice, beans, grains, fruit, and vegetables takes 20 times less water than producing 1 kilogram of red meat.
- It only takes 0.7 square metres of land to produce 1 litre of soy milk, whereas it takes 8.9 square meters of land to produce 1 litre of cow milk—the dairy alternatives industry has a smaller impact than the dairy industry!
You can feel good knowing that the vegan food industry is environmentally friendly.
Vegan Culture Is Growing
The vegan lifestyle is becoming more and more popular as more people realize the benefits of eating plant-based foods. Veganism is now becoming a movement that you and many other people can join.
Are you thinking of going vegan? Many people are vegan–several of which are famous. There are even holidays, organizations, and conferences centred around being vegan!
Vegan Fun Facts:
- World Vegan Day is November 1st.
- Celebrities like Zac Efron, Beyonce, Ariana Grande, Bryan Adams, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Russel Brand are just a few celebrities living vegan lifestyles.
- The first vegan society was founded in 1948 by Catherine Nimmo and Rubin Abramowitz in California.
- There is an annual Vegan Women Summit hosted by Jennifer Stojkovic, Founder of Vegan Women Summit and keynote speaker and author of The Future of Food is Female
La Dee Da Is Proudly Plant-Based
When our first food products launched, we knew that we wanted to create delicious vegan-friendly options for families across Canada. As a result, all of our La Dee Da sauces, soups, jams, and jellies are plant-based.
In addition to our products, we have created a wide variety of vegan recipe ideas. Whoever said that eating healthier meant eating less delicious food lied!
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