Every new year, countless enthusiastic health-conscious individuals challenge themselves to join the Veganuary challenge. The challenge has inspired more than half a million people to go vegan in January 2021. Many of them have learned a valuable lesson about their diets. The first and most surprising of all is that you can carry on enjoying food as much as you do every day, even if you cut out all the animal products.
While the challenge tends to receive more attention during January, there’s nothing wrong with trying a month of vegan food and habits whenever you want. And that includes now, or next month, or perhaps wait until next year. A lot of people who are familiar with a vegetarian diet feel scared about embracing a vegan diet as they assume that it is a highly restrictive cuisine style.
And the truth is that it absolutely isn’t. There is so much goodness in a plant-based diet that it’s something you want to experience for yourself. As Vegan ambassadors Joaquin Phoenix, Evanna Lynch and Paul McCartney explain: It’s not only easy, but it’s good for your body and the planet. Here’s why a plant-based diet can change your life:
#1. It’s good for the planet
The pandemic has forced everyone to stay at home. Professionals who have been able to start working from home permanently have not been driving for the best part of a year. With fewer vehicles on the road and less travel pollution, we’ve been able to notice a significant difference in the environment. But there’s still a lot we can do in our everyday life to reduce our carbon footprint. Going vegan is one of these simple choices that can cut down the environmental impacts of animal-based proteins. Indeed, eating animal and dairy products accounts for up to 25% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. If we are to tackle climate change, changing diet will be crucial to curbing global warming.
#2. They tend to have eco-friendly packaging
Plant-based products are created within an environmentally-friendly mindset such as the No Evil Foods plastic-negative approach. Therefore, you are more likely to find plastic-free packaging and production processes with plant-based and vegan businesses. Even vegan snacks and lunches-on-the-go tend to be wrapped in biodegradable or recyclable materials. It’s not uncommon to re-use their packaging in your compost bin, as bio-based plastic is a popular choice. However, you may want to choose recyclables over bio-plastic, as its decomposition might produce methane in landfills and accelerate climate change.
#3. They often improve your health
It seems obvious to say that plant-based diets are healthier. But they do provide visible health improvements that actively support your immune system. Indeed, plants deliver a lot of essential nutrients that you can’t get through other foods. Antioxidants, minerals, vitamins, and phytochemicals are crucial to keeping your cells healthy so that your immune system is equipped to function at its best. Additionally, a vegan diet can significantly reduce your risk of developing cancer, mental health illnesses, diabetes, and heart diseases.
Is going vegan the way forward for your health and the planet? The answer could be yes. It is fair to say that everybody needs to make their own choice. However, if you are tempted by the Vegannuary challenge, which can be started at any time during the year, rest assured that you will be doing yourself and the Earth good.
