You may have heard the terms ‘plant-forward’, ‘plant-based’, and ‘vegan’ making the rounds on the Internet and amongst your friends. Did you know that some of your favourite celebrities identify with at least one of these? Alicia Silverstone, Moby, Joaquin Phoenix, Pamela Anderson, Paul McCartney, Peter Dinklage, and Lewis Hamilton are a handful of people that have ditched all animal products and by-products for the vegan cause.
In recent news, Virgin’s founder Sir Richard Branson announced that he has stopped eating beef and fish due to environmental concerns and is experimenting with going vegetarian. He also says he feels as fit in his 70’s as he was in his 20’s.
Is this a new trend that will eventually fade, or are we at the brink of a new way of living and eating? There is no denying that a growing percentage of people are concerned about the negative effects of climate change on our lives and the future of our planet. What if we can make small changes in our day-to-day lives and do our part in saving the planet? It can be as simple as eating a plant-based diet!
Climate change is happening due to the rise in carbon emissions, which are caused by deforestation and the increase in animal agriculture. If the demand for animal foods and by-products goes down due to more people following a plant-based diet, then we are playing our part in living more sustainably.
There are many benefits of a plant-based diet for human health as well as the health of our planet. Read on to know more:
There are many benefits of a plant-based diet for human health as well as the health of our planet. Read on to know more:
Reduce carbon footprint: Eating plant-based greatly reduces greenhouse gas emissions and its impact on climate change. Animal farming requires a lot of land, which leads to deforestation. Since humans started cutting down trees, 46% of trees have been destroyed. We need trees because they absorb the carbon dioxide we exhale as well as the heat-trapping greenhouse gases that human activities emit.
We can save water: Did you know that animal agriculture accounts for approximately 70% of freshwater use? Meat and dairy product production requires a lot of agricultural water. To put things into context, producing just one pound of beef requires 1,800 gallons of water.
Minimise agricultural land use: Animal farming occupies 40% of Earth’s ice-free landmass, so this means the farming and production of animal products have a large environmental footprint. So, if we consume more plant foods and minimise the demand for animal foods, we can free up so much cropland.
Feed more people: Animal agriculture uses resources inefficiently because these animals are fed most of the soybeans, maize, barley, and grains that we produce. Millions of people around the world lack sufficient food. If the demand for animal foods goes down, we will no longer need to farm so many animals and the resources needed to feed them can go towards alleviating hunger worldwide.
Does not break the bank: A plant-based diet is more cost-efficient. The staples of a plant-based diet are grains, legumes, fruits, & vegetables. These food groups typically do not cost a lot of money.
Let food be thy medicine: Consuming a whole foods plant-based diet is without a doubt the healthiest choice and can save lives. The Lancet report states that unhealthy diets are “the largest global burden of disease”. The frequent consumption of animal products and by-products leads to heart disease, diabetes, and other chronic diseases. Plant foods are known to both prevent and reverse diseases!
So, did I convince you or at least inspire you to eat more plants 😉? It can be overwhelming to move away from something you’ve been familiar with your whole life, but there are so many resources that can help you.
Start by introducing ‘Meatless Mondays’ in your week, which means you only consume plant foods once a week.
Then, slowly increase the number of meals that are plant-based throughout the week.
Visit Challenge 22, a website that offers participants a free, supportive online framework for trying veganism for 22 days.
Follow activists and plant-based bloggers on social media for more information, inspiration, and recipe ideas.
Go, team green!
Start by introducing ‘Meatless Mondays’ in your week, which means you only consume plant foods once a week.
Then, slowly increase the number of meals that are plant-based throughout the week.
Visit Challenge 22, a website that offers participants a free, supportive online framework for trying veganism for 22 days.
Follow activists and plant-based bloggers on social media for more information, inspiration, and recipe ideas.
Go, team green!
