Veganism, one of this year's most influential trends, has seen a recent surge in popularity with 250,000 people taking part in ' Veganuary ' (a combination of the words 'vegan' and 'January'). But could it be said that this lifestyle can change the world? If you're as overwhelmed as we are by the amount of conflicting information out there on this topic, or about the pros and cons of going vegan, then this article is perfect for you.

The Vegan Society describes veganism as 'a way of life which seeks to exclude (as far as is practical and feasible) all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for the production of food, clothing, or other products.' In 2018, the United Nations Environment Programme named meat as the 'world's most urgent problem.' Our current meat consumption is not only negatively affecting our planet, but is also altering the biology of the animals themselves. – The bodies of chickens, cows, and pigs now weigh 20-30% more than they did six decades ago. Still, it's important to fully understand the advantages and disadvantages of this dietary change, both globally and personally.

Advantages

Generally, there are three reasons why people switch to veganism: the environment, health and animal welfare. But what are the specific benefits of each of these three categories?

Whose energy is it?

• It is said that animal agriculture leads to a excess greenhouse gas emissions (e.g. methane or nitrous oxide) – 'a single cow can produce more than 500 liters of methane every day,' reports the BBC.
• UNEP member states say that 'the greenhouse gas footprint from animal agriculture can be compared to that of all other cars, trucks, buses, ships, airplanes and rockets combined '
• It occurs 75 times more energy producing meat than corn
• A study on livestock farming carried out by Oxford University states that Going vegan is one of the best things anyone can do in the fight against climate change .

Healthy and happy vegan

• Meat production causes a harmful effect in the health of animals and humans
• The meat of animals is contaminated with feces, blood and other bodily fluids, which makes it one of the major causes of food poisoning.
• There are studies that suggest that plant-based diets can help reduce the risk of serious illness.

For the love of animals

• A 2018 study published in the journal Current Biology , revealed that a 87% of the world's oceans are dying , and only a small percentage of marine life is being saved.
• Each vegan saves approximately 200 animals each year (PETA)
• Most land animals (those used to produce food) live in unacceptable conditions that are not in line with the values ​​of fair treatment of animals that consumers have in mind.

In addition to the food industry, fashion is also experiencing a shift in consumer behavior with the emergence of what we call ' the conscious consumer '. According to Agatha Lintott, conscious fashion is one of the most exciting areas of fashion right now, as the limitations of vegan consumers make it difficult to find a way to consume more food. you have to be constantly looking for new materials.

Disadvantages

Okay. We've switched our usual milk to plant-based and our meat to plant-based, but Is it really better for us?

Mara Kahn studied the effects of a vegan diet on the human body and concluded that 'once you remove all animal products from a diet, many nutrients are lost along the way, or at least no longer exist in the quantities needed.' Often, with this change in diet, People forget to compensate for these missing nutrients with their corresponding alternatives , and in the end it is the body that ends up suffering the consequences. Veganism can only be healthier if implemented correctly.

Avocados from Mexico, beans from Brazil, and mangoes from India

• Research into veganism and the rise of new vegan products is primarily taking place in Western communities and countries, which directly affects the countries from which all these new food sources originate.
• The benefits of the vegan consumer often come at the expense of those at the origin of the food chain. (For example, avocados and quinoa are now sold at a premium in their countries of origin due to the high prices of Western demand.)
• In Mexico, the high demand for avocado has led to the Illegal deforestation of forests to gain space and plant more avocado trees.
• Environmentally speaking, It is just as bad to distribute all kinds of food globally as it is to distribute meat or dairy products locally.

A lifestyle change or a passing fad?

• With the rise of vegan restaurants and Instagram influencers, we wonder if this trend is over. focusing more on what is 'Instagrammable' and the personal health benefits , than on real concern for the environment or animals.
• Brands have begun to take advantage of the vegan boom by charging exorbitant prices for their vegan food alternatives, which raises another question: Is it possible to be vegan today if your income is low?

The need for change in animal agriculture:

• He grazing contributes to improving vegetation and the well-being of other species.
• Companies like Mootral are developing diets scientifically formulated for animals , which would prevent animals from generating so much methane.

Should we all make the switch to a vegan lifestyle?

Taking into account all the above data, It is clear that the vegan diet has many benefits . Still, it all depends on the personal reasons of each person . A key point that we should all start to take into account is that we must be much more conscious of what we buy and how we buy . We must begin to take into account where the products we buy come from , and how much human intervention there has been before reaching our supermarket .

We know these lifestyle changes don't happen overnight, but if you've read this article and feel inspired, there are a few things you can do to start living a more vegan lifestyle:

1. Make one of your New Year's resolutions participate in ' veganuary '
2. Get yourself a vegan kit Peta's
3. Try a diet flexitarian and reduce your consumption of animal products every week
4. Instead of buying other leather shoes, Why don't you try buying some? our new vegan line ?

Written by elspeth.pb.online