Veganism
Veganism is a way by which it cuts animal products from one’s diet. A person who follows this diet is known as a vegan.
This practice has increasingly become popular
These people chose not to consume eggs, dairy products or other products of animal lineage. The word “vegan” comes from mixing the first and last letters of “vegetarian.”
Why do people choose veganism?
There is more than one reason why people are choosing veganism.
- Ethics
The ethical vegans firmly believe that all creatures have equal rights and freedom. So, they oppose the killing of animals life and reject the consumption of its meat, dairy products like milk and cheese, and wearing its skin. The ethical vegans also defied the physical and psychological pressure that animals may undergo due to new farming methods. For example, they mourn the small cages and pens in which numerous livestock live and frequently flee between slaughter and birth. These vegans may ascertain their resistance by raising awareness, protesting, and choosing products that don’t include animal husbandry.
- Environment
Because of the environmental impact of animal agriculture, people tend to avoid animal products. As in 2010, the UN reported that the animal products requires more resources which incorporates more greenhouse gas emission. Moreover, animal agriculture is more water-intensive process.
- Health
For some health benefits, many chooses veganism. For instance, there is a reduction in heart disease, lung cancer, type 2 diabetes in a plant-based diet. It also reduces the risk of Alzheimer. To avoid the side effects of antibiotics and hormones used in modern animal agriculture people also follow veganism. People suffering from obesity tends to follow veganism diet.
Types of veganism:
The main categories of this eating habit are dietary, junk food, whole-food, raw-food, and low-fat, raw-food veganism.
- Dietary vegans.
Frequently used with “plant-based eaters,” this phrase relates to those who prevent animal products in their diet, but these people use it in other products like clothing and cosmetics.
- Whole-food vegans
Those people favour a rich diet in whole foods, like vegetables, fruits, legumes, whole grains, nuts, and seeds.
- Junk-food vegans.
These people rely heavily on refined vegan food, like vegan fries, meat, frozen dinners, and desserts, including non-dairy ice cream and oreo cookies.
- Raw-food vegans
In this group, people eat only raw food or cooked at 118°F below temperature.
- Low-fat vegans.
This type of group are fruitarians; this subset ends high-fat foods, like avocados, nuts and coconuts; another plant-based diet is also take in a small amount.
Foods that are eaten by vegans.
Vegans eat a variety of food products which can easily replace animal-based meat or dairy products. For examples, bean burritos, smoothies, tomato pizzas, veggie burgers, nachos with guacamole and salsa, sandwiches, and pasta dishes.
Replacing of dairy products are done plant-based milk like scrambled eggs replaced by scrambled tofu; chia seeds can replace raw eggs.
Foods that vegans avoid:
The vegans avoid all animal-based foods. That includes meat, milk, eggs, honey, shellfish. They also avoid many animal-derived ingredients like albumin, carmine, casein, pepsin, gelatin, shellac, whey, and isinglass.
Interest for veganism:
Many people across the globe have interest in veganism and were highest in 2020. The google data trend shows the high percentage of people are vegans. Much of the world’s population is trending towards the plant-based diet and Everybody from athletes to celebrities to entire companies, including Google and countries as big as China, promoting the movement to eat more plant-based foods. This movement may not be mainstream, but it is far-reaching to the people.
According to global data, which reported that only 1% of the US people were vegans in 2014 but 2017 report, the per cent rose to 6%.
About 600% increase in people of the U.S are identified as vegans in the last three years.
Many athletes like Heather Mills, a skier and amputee, holds multiple times world records and gold medals, Kendrick Farris, who competed in the Rio Olympics, Venus William the tennis star and Patrik Baboumian and Armenian-German former bodybuilder and strongman.
Many celebrities are also there who went to the plant-based diets includes Bill Clinton, Natalie Portman, Joaquin Phoenix, Ellen DeGeneres, Beyonce, Brad Pitt, Ellie Goulding, Carrie Underwood, Miley Cyrus, Jennifer Lopez, Moby, Al Gore and Stevie Wonder.
Dairy milk sales are dwindling as plant-based milk is seeing a tremendous boost.
The plant-based global milk market is expected from $7 billion in 2010 to 16 billion in 2018, up dramatically. Moreover, there has an increase in non-dairy milk sales by 61%, from 2012 to 2017.
Plant-Based fast food is Thriving and expects to grow further
The additional area seeing a rise in plant-based options is fast food. Many restaurant chains that are meat-free, including Plant Power Fast Food, Veggie Grill, Amy’s Drive-thru and Evolution Fast Food, inaugurated other settings in 2017, and are anticipated to grow more.
A new BBC report claims that 8% of black Americans are vegans. They eat veggies three times more than white Americans.
According to a global survey by Nielsen, more than 39% of consumers in the United States and 43% in Canada say they are trying to have more plant-based foods into their diet.
Conclusion
The bottom line is that Veganism has it’s own valuable benefits. And by reading above, we can say that veganism is a new way of life that many people are now adopting. As by adopting this trend, there are much healthier and environmental benefits of it.