Veganuary: Why you should try Plant-Based for a Month
Welcome to Veganuary! The month where the charity, Veganuary, encourages everyone to try a 31-day vegan challenge. Founded back in 2014, this UK based charity is on a mission to eradicate animal cruelty, environmental destruction and create healthier food systems for human beings. So, come celebrate plant-based life all month with us!
Veganism has gained a tremendous amount of mainstream attention over the past decade or so. For those who don’t know, being vegan is different to being vegetarian. A vegan not only doesn’t eat meat but doesn't eat any animal byproducts such as milk, honey, eggs or gelatin. Statistically, veganism is a healthier lifestyle for both the individual and for the planet. We see a lot of menus these days with vegan and vegetarian options and many celebrities have spoken out against animal cruelty or spoken in favor of healthier lifestyles proclaiming their veganism, for instance, Serena Williams, and Billie Eilish who’s been vegan for seven years.
Believe it or not, the vegan movement began all the way back in 1944. Several vegetarians who felt very strongly about taking their animal rights ethics further began excluding animal byproducts, calling themselves Total Vegetarians. The group aimed to popularise their methods and The Vegan Society was founded that same year. By 1946, the first issue of the still popular magazine, The Vegan, was published.
Veganuary aims to address many benefits of veganism, the most traditional of course, being animal rights. The Animal section of the Vegaunary Blog page discusses issues such as animal testing, furs, leathers and other skins used for human-wear, and animals used as entertainment.
But animal rights activism is only one reason to become a vegan - there are several health benefits to this change in diet and lifestyle as well. Most vegan diets are richer in fiber and iron, due to the plant-based nature of the food. There is some statistical evidence that a vegan diet can help prevent against Type 2 Diabetes as well. And, because of Omega-3 oils, heart disease is more easily prevented with a vegan diet.
That being said, becoming vegan isn’t a cure-all for disease and general well-being. Some vegans don’t take the time to plan their meals properly and end up with a lack of nutrients. There’s also the type of vegan who eats oreos and fries all the time, which of course is counterproductive to a healthy vegan lifestyle. (Not that oreos or fries every once in a while should be a problem in a balanced diet.) For more vegan recipes and ideas on what to eat, go to Veganuary.com and sign up for their cookbook.
Not only is becoming vegan often a healthier option, but it can do a lot for the environment by avoiding issues with factory farming and greenhouse gasses. If you don’t already know, factory farming contributes to a good portion of global warming. Not only does cow flatulence contribute to 37% - 65% of methane and nitrous oxide emission, major gasses contributing to global warming, but waste runoff in the water contributes to water pollution as well. Therefore, if you don’t eat meat, you won’t contribute to this process. The more people refuse to participate in working against this system, the more our system will be forced to change.
If you want to go vegan, it’s probably best to start slowly. Finishing up whatever non-vegan foods you have in your pantry it’s completely acceptable to avoid waste and use them to slowly transition to veganism. The Veganuary vegan guide says so as well! And, personally, that’s what I have been doing. Even becoming 90% vegan has helped significantly with my stomach issues to the point that I haven’t taken any medication for the problem in two weeks. If anything, I’ve simply been making healthier, more conscious choices with my food.
To some, veganism is a vexing trope. When I’ve been vegan in the past I’ve noticed a backlash from my friends and peers. Other people shouldn’t be concerned with whether or not someone wants to eat something as they are not the ones tasting it. When looking at the Former Veganuary Participants article on the Veganuary Blog, I saw a very good quote from a woman named Kate who is now Vegan through Veganuary:
One way to overcome isolation as a new or ongoing vegan is to join a social group. Not that there aren’t plenty of vegan restaurants now, but your new vegan friends might know the best ones. You’ll also meet people with similar viewpoints on the environment and animal rights.
Becoming vegan is not only great for the environment but great for you as well. You are doing a service to everyone by going vegan. And who knows, you may make some new friends along the way. But for more advice and interesting reads on veganism, please check out Veganuary.com.
Written by Katie Coughlin
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