Veganuary is larger than ever. In 2023, greater than 706,900 individuals received concerned within the initiative, which helps and encourages contributors to surrender all animal merchandise for the month of January. This was up from 2022, when 630,000 individuals received concerned, and an enormous leap from 2020, when it had 400,000 sign-ups. If this sample continues, Veganuary 2024 is ready to be big. If you happen to’re getting concerned, we’ve gathered 31 attention-grabbing, thrilling, and, in some instances, stunning info to maintain you motivated during the month (and hopefully far past).
31 vegan info for Veganuary
1 You will get all of the vitamins you want from vegan meals
Yup, it’s true. There are quite a lot of misconceptions in regards to the dietary high quality of vegan diets, however should you eat all kinds of plant-based, complete meals, you need to be capable to get greater than sufficient protein, fiber, nutritional vitamins, and minerals. Actually, analysis suggests this is among the healthiest methods to eat. Discover our information to an entire meals, plant-based weight loss program right here!
Essential observe: vitamin B12 will be difficult, and a few could select to take a complement to make sure they’re getting sufficient. Nevertheless, it’s current in fortified meals, together with dietary yeast, cereals, and a few vegan meat and dairy merchandise.
2 Veganism has been round for hundreds of years
Whereas the phrase “vegan” was invented within the UK within the Forties, it’s necessary to notice that this way of life isn’t a brand new fad. Actually, individuals all around the world have adopted plant-based diets for hundreds of years. In line with The Vegan Society, proof means that 2,000 years in the past, some individuals had been selecting to keep away from animal merchandise, and the life-style was prevalent throughout historical Indian and Mediterranean societies.
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3 The individuals of the ‘Blue Zones’ eat predominantly plant-based meals
If you happen to want extra motivation to stay to a plant-based weight loss program, Netflix collection Stay to 100: Secrets and techniques of the Blue Zones will depart you feeling impressed. The present follows explorer Dan Buettner as he travels to the world’s 5 sizzling spots for longevity, Okinawa, Japan, Sardinia, Italy, Ikaria, Greece, Nicoya, Costa Rica, and Loma Linda, California, referred to as the Blue Zones. The individuals of those communities have many issues in widespread, however one key issue is weight loss program. Most of them eat predominantly plant-based meals! Discover out extra right here.
4 A complete meals, plant-based weight loss program is nice for coronary heart well being
Coronary heart illness isn’t just the largest killer within the US, it’s the largest reason for dying on the planet. Actually, it’s accountable for a 3rd of all deaths globally. However, by switching to an entire meals, plant-based weight loss program, a number of research observe that you just could possibly considerably scale back your threat. Comply with our information to coronary heart well being to search out out extra.
5 It might probably additionally scale back your threat of sure cancers
Consuming extra plant-based complete meals can also lower your threat of one other main world illness, most cancers. Three widespread sorts pop up constantly in research: breast, colorectal, and prostate. Discover our deep dive into the analysis right here.
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6 The WHO says processed meat and pink meat are carcinogenic
Plant-based complete meals could lower your threat of most cancers, however sure meat merchandise may truly enhance it, analysis suggests. Actually, the World Well being Group has truly categorised processed meat as a Group One carcinogen, which implies it’s recognized to trigger most cancers. Pink meat is classed as a Group Two carcinogen, which implies it’s most likely linked to most cancers.
7 Cheese would possibly truly be addictive
You’ve possible heard, and even felt your self, that cheese is among the hardest animal merchandise to surrender—however this isn’t simply to do with style. Cheese truly impacts our brains. “Cheese retains you coming again for extra,” Ashley Kitchens, MPH, RD, LDN, proprietor of Plant Centered Vitamin, advised VegNews. “It comprises a protein known as casein that releases casomorphins. Whenever you eat cheese, it triggers dopamine, the ‘feel-good’ hormone, manufacturing in your mind.” Discover out extra right here.
8 A plant-based weight loss program is related to higher psychological well being
A plant-based weight loss program isn’t a fix-all resolution for any well being drawback, together with psychological well being points. However consuming extra complete meals could possibly scale back your threat of affected by melancholy (this examine hyperlinks mushrooms with a decrease threat of melancholy), stress (try this examine on the advantages of walnuts for stress), and even post-traumatic stress dysfunction (discover the examine right here).
9 And it might scale back your threat of sort 2 diabetes
In line with the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention, roughly one in 10 Individuals have diabetes, and for many, it’s sort 2. A number of research recommend that you could scale back your threat of sort 2 diabetes by consuming extra plant-based complete meals, and a few even recommend you could possibly assist reverse the situation by doing so. Discover extra research on sort 2 diabetes reversal right here.
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10 Animal agriculture is a number one driver of deforestation
Giving up animal merchandise can profit greater than your well being, it’s additionally a good selection for the planet, too. Proper now, beef manufacturing is the main reason for deforestation within the Amazon. Actually, one current investigation found that within the final six years, 800 million timber within the rainforest have been reduce right down to clear land for beef manufacturing. Learn extra in regards to the meat business’s function in deforestation right here.
11 Many of the soy linked with deforestation is produced for livestock
You might need heard that soy manufacturing can be linked with important charges of deforestation, and it’s. However the overwhelming majority of soy isn’t harvested for merchandise like tofu or soy milk, it’s truly used for farm animal feed. Actually, 77 % of the world’s soy goes to the livestock business.
12 Animal agriculture is accountable for extra emissions than aviation
Typically, once we speak about particular person emissions, the dialog turns to flying habits. And whereas it’s true that flying much less would end in fewer emissions, consuming fewer animal merchandise would even have a big effect. Actually, the United Nations reviews that the aviation business is accountable for two % of world emissions, and animal agriculture is accountable for 14.5 %. Discover a number of reviews on emissions right here.
13 Analysis suggests grass-fed beef isn’t a sustainable selection
Grass-fed beef is commonly spun because the extra sustainable different to standard beef, however some analysis suggests this isn’t true. All cattle farming is detrimental to the surroundings. “Grazing livestock are internet contributors to the local weather drawback, as are all livestock,” Tara Garnett, PhD, of The Meals Local weather Analysis Community advised the College of Oxford in 2018. “Rising animal manufacturing and consumption, regardless of the farming system and animal sort, is inflicting damaging greenhouse fuel launch and contributing to adjustments in land use.” Learn extra about claims like grass-fed and natural right here.
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14 Greater than a 3rd of the world’s fisheries are overfished
It’s not simply farming animals on land that’s depleting the planet, the fishing business can be stripping the ocean of, effectively, its fish. In line with the United Nations, we now have now reached some extent the place one-third of the world’s fisheries have been pushed past their organic limits.
15 Fishing nets kill round 300,000 cetaceans yearly
Bycatch and entanglement are additionally main issues within the fishing business. Industrial nets usually don’t simply catch fish, however additionally they by chance lure dolphins, whales, and porpoises, too. Actually, based on the World Wildlife Fund, entanglement in fishing gear is the main risk to whales and dolphins, and ends in round 300,000 deaths yearly. It’s not simply cetaceans which might be threatened by fishing nets. Turtles, sharks, and seabirds are only a few extra of the animals that incessantly get caught up in nets and contours.
16 Sea animals are very important for combating the local weather disaster
Stripping the ocean of its sea life has main penalties for the planet. The ocean is the world’s largest carbon sink, and it truly absorbs round 25 % of all carbon dioxide emissions, which implies that conserving it wholesome is significant for combating the local weather disaster. Discover extra ocean info that may show you how to swear off seafood right here.
17 Yearly, billions of animals are killed for the meals business
The variety of animals killed for meals every year is unfathomable. In line with Viva!, a couple of billion chickens, 15 million turkeys, and greater than 10 billion pigs are killed within the UK alone. And all over the world, it’s estimated that 1 trillion to 2.8 trillion fish are killed yearly.
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18 Most livestock are raised on manufacturing facility farms
Whereas we wish to image livestock dwelling on inexperienced fields and spending their days working round and grazing, that isn’t truly how most of them dwell. Actually, most livestock within the US spend their lives in industrialized, manufacturing facility farm circumstances. In line with the FAIRR Initiative, as many as 99 % of US animal merchandise come from animals that had been raised on manufacturing facility farms.
19 Male chicks are killed within the egg business
Eggs are sometimes seen as a extra compassionate meals selection as a result of the rooster doesn’t should be killed to supply them. However on most manufacturing facility farms, male chicks are seen as an undesirable byproduct of egg manufacturing, and so they’re normally culled as quickly as they’ve hatched. Actually, round 7 billion male chicks are killed yearly within the egg business.
20 And dairy cows are repeatedly impregnated after which slaughtered for meat
Identical to the egg business, the dairy business isn’t with out struggling. Dairy cows are repeatedly impregnated in order that they will start a calf after which produce milk. This normally occurs till they’re round 5 years previous, and after that, they’re despatched to the meat business, based on The Humane League.
21 The plant-based milk market is rising
People don’t should drink cow’s milk in any respect, as a result of we will make milk from vegetation. And vegan milks, together with almond, oat, hemp, coconut, and soy, are extra fashionable and extra accessible than ever. Actually, the worldwide market was valued at round $35 billion in 2021, and by 2030, it’s anticipated to succeed in greater than $123 billion, based on Strategic Market Analysis.
22 Dairy is declining
Whereas plant-based milk climbs in recognition, dairy consumption is declining. In 2021, dairy consumption hit an all-time low. And dairy farms are incessantly closing. In 2023, it was revealed that in Wisconsin, the place dairy is a serious business, round 10,000 dairy farms have been misplaced within the final twenty years. Within the final 12 months alone, the state misplaced 400 dairy farms. Learn extra in regards to the altering business right here.
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23 Pigs are extra clever than canines
Society treats pigs and canines very in a different way, however they’ve lots in widespread. They each take pleasure in affection, type bonds with people, they usually’re sensible, too. Actually, analysis suggests pigs are literally extra clever than canines. Research have proven that pigs have long-term reminiscences, can inform the time, and may perceive and study from one another. And but, yearly, tens of millions are slaughtered for meat. Pigs aren’t alone. Analysis and first-hand remark recommend that livestock, together with turkeys, chickens, sheep, and goats, will be affectionate, sensible, and playful.
24 The meat business exploits human beings, too
It’s not simply animals which might be harm by the meat business. A number of investigations have discovered that Huge Meat exploits human beings, too. “There have been quite a lot of human rights violations, totally different abuse allegations, discrimination allegations which have come up throughout the historical past of the [meat] business,” Chloe Sorvino, a journalist for Forbes and creator of the ebook “Uncooked Deal: Hidden Corruption, Company Greed, and the Battle for the Way forward for Meat,” advised VegNews. “However at JBS [the world’s biggest meat processor], there are such a lot of totally different examples.” The business has additionally been linked with youngster labor on a number of events—learn extra about that right here.
25 The plant-based meat market is anticipated to hit $33.3 billion by 2031
Those that love the style of meat don’t have to have interaction with Huge Meat, as a substitute, they will select from the rising vary of vegan meat merchandise on the cabinets. Actually, based on Allied Market Analysis, by 2031, this sector of the plant-based meals business may exceed $33 billion. Learn extra about vegan meat right here.
26 And the broader plant-based meals market may attain $162 billion by 2030
In 2021, a “groundbreaking report” from Bloomberg Intelligence famous that the whole plant-based meals market may soar from $29.4 billion to $162 billion throughout the decade. Bloomberg Intelligence Senior Shopper Staples Analyst, Jennifer Bartashus, “Meals-related shopper habits usually come and go as fads, however plant-based options are right here to remain – and develop.”
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27 Half of younger Individuals are flexitarian, based on one examine
The flexitarian weight loss program is rising in recognition (discover out extra about that right here). Within the US, greater than half of younger Individuals, aged between 24 and 29, describe themselves as flexitarian, based on a One Ballot examine from 2021.
28 Consuming vegan can truly prevent cash
When you’ve got entry to complete meals, like canned beans and different legumes, grains, fruits, and greens, then analysis suggests consuming a plant-based weight loss program can truly prevent cash. In 2021, one examine from Oxford College, which centered solely on complete meals and never costly vegan meat merchandise, discovered that consuming plant-based within the US, the UK, Australia, and throughout Western Europe, may meals payments by as much as one-third.
29 Practically half of all US eating places now provide vegan selections
For years, it has been onerous to eat out as a vegan, however we’re thrilled to say that occasions are altering. If you happen to do fancy splashing the money on a meal out, then it’s simpler than ever to take action. Actually, analysis in 2023 discovered that almost 50 % of all restaurant menus within the US have vegan choices. Discover out extra in regards to the examine right here.
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30 And the fast-food business is extra vegan-friendly than ever
If you happen to advised us 10 years in the past that vegan quick meals can be in all places in 2024, we’d have been amazed. Nevertheless it’s the reality. Within the US, each Burger King and White Fortress provide the Unimaginable Burger, for instance, and within the UK, you’ll find vegan choices at McDonald’s, KFC, Burger King, Pizza Hut, and lots of extra quick meals spots. Burger King has even opened a number of meat-free places in a number of international locations all over the world. What a time to be alive.
31 Actually, it’s simpler than it has ever been to observe a plant-based weight loss program
The reality is, now is a good time to change to a plant-based weight loss program, as a result of vegan merchandise are in all places. There may be additionally extra assist than ever earlier than, particularly should you join Veganuary. Discover out extra about learn how to go vegan for the month of January (and past) right here.
For extra vegan motivation, learn:
Charlotte is a author and editor based mostly in sunny Southsea on England’s southern coast.
