Many people’s New Year’s resolutions include losing weight, eating better, getting healthier, and doing more to make the world a kinder place. The good news is that you can accomplish all these goals by going vegan—and you’ll enjoy delicious, satisfying meals as well.
Here are the top 10 reasons to go vegan this year:
1. It’s the Best Way to Help Animals
Did you know that every vegansaves nearly 200 animals per year? There is simply no easier way to help animals and prevent suffering than by choosing plant-based foods over meat, eggs, and dairy “products.”
2.Slim Down and Become Energized
Is shedding some extra pounds first on your list of goals for the new year? Vegans are, on average,up to 20 pounds lighterthan meat-eaters are. And unlike unhealthy fad diets, which leave you feeling tired (and usually don’t keep the pounds off for long), going vegan allows you to keep the excess fat off for good and have plenty of energy.
3.Be Healthier and Happier
Being vegan is great for yourhealth! According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, vegans are less likely to developheart disease,cancer,diabetes, and high blood pressure than meat-eaters are. Vegans getall the nutrients that they needto be healthy, such as plant protein, fiber, and minerals, without all the nasty stuff in meat thatmay slow you down and make you sick, such as cholesterol and saturated animal fat.
4.Vegan Food Is Delicious
When you go vegan, you can still eat all your favorite foods, including burgers, “chicken” sandwiches, and ice cream. The only difference? You’ll be ditching the cruelty and cholesterol that go hand in hand with using animals for food. As the demand for vegan food skyrockets, companies are coming out with more and more deliciousmeat–anddairy-free optionsthat taste great, are much healthier than their animal-derived counterparts, and don’t hurt any living beings. Plus, we havea list of some of our favorite productsand thousands of tasty kitchen-testedrecipesto help you get started!
5. Meat Is Gross
Animal flesh is often contaminatedwith feces, blood, and other bodily fluids—all of which make animal-derived foods the top source of food poisoning in the United States. Scientists at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health tested supermarket chickens’ flesh and found that96 percent of Tyson chicken packageswere contaminated with campylobacter, a dangerous bacterium that causes 2.4 million cases of food poisoning each year, resulting in diarrhea, cramping, abdominal pain, and fever.
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6. Help Feed the World
Eating meat doesn’t just hurt animals—it hurts people, too. It takes tons of crops and water to raise farmed animals. In fact, it takes up to 13 pounds of grain to produce just 1 pound of animal flesh! All that plant food could be used much more efficiently if people just ate it directly. The more people who go vegan,the better able we’ll be to feed the hungry.
7. Save the Planet
Meat is not environmentally friendly. Consuming it is actually one of the worst things that you can do for the Earth. Meat production iswastefuland causes enormous amounts ofpollution, and the industry is also one of the biggest causes of the climate crisis. Going vegan is more effective than switching to a “greener” car in the fight against the climate crisis.
8.All the Cool Kids Are Doing It
The list of stars who shun animal flesh is basically a “who’s who” of today’s hottest celebrities. Joaquin Phoenix, Natalie Portman, Lizzo, and Alicia Silverstone are just some of the famous vegans who regularly appear in People magazine.
9. Look Sexy andBeSexy
Vegans tend to have more energy than meat-eaters, which is perfect for late-night romps with your special someone. (Guys: The cholesterol and saturated animal fat found in meat, eggs, and dairy “products” don’t just clog the arteries to your heart. Over time, they impede blood flow to othervital organsas well.) Plus, what’s sexier than someone who’s not only hot but also compassionate?
10. Pigs Are Smarter Than You Think
Although most people are less familiar withpigs,chickens,fish, andcowsthan they are with dogs and cats, animals used for food areevery bit as intelligentand able to suffer as the animals who share our homes are.Pigscan even learn to play video games.
So … what are you waiting for?
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FAQs
Here's 3 reasons why you should consider making going vegan your New Year's resolution… Animals bred for food suffer short and miserable lives. The vast majority of them are farmed in intensive factory farm conditions, where their basic instincts are denied to them, they suffer mutilations, and disease is commonplace.
Why should you become vegan? ›
Research has shown that a vegan diet can help do the following: Promote weight loss. Reduce your risk of heart disease by lowering cholesterol levels. Lower your chances of getting certain types of cancer, such as colon cancer.
Is going vegan the best way to help the environment? ›
The production of plant-based foods requires less land, fewer resources, and produces vastly fewer greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, research shows that the carbon footprint of a vegan diet can be as much as 60% smaller than a meat-based one, and 24% smaller than a vegetarian diet.
Should we all become vegan to save the planet? ›
A vegan diet is in most cases better for the environment than a flexitarian diet, when you consider greenhouse gas emissions, land use, freshwater use and water pollution. But it's a complex issue, and your personal dietary footprint will be influenced by many factors, including which meats you eat and how you shop.
Is going vegan actually better? ›
Vegan diets have also been shown to help in the treatment of type 2 diabetes by lowering total and LDL cholesterol and by controlling lipid levels, for example by reducing triglycerides, a type of fat that is also associated with a greater risk of heart disease (Jenkins et al.
Does being vegan actually save animals? ›
Going vegan is one of the best things you can do to help stop animal cruelty. By refusing to pay for animal products, you reduce the demand for them, which ensures fewer animals are bred to suffer and die on farms and in slaughterhouses.
What are 3 reasons people go vegan? ›
Some research has linked that there are certain health benefits to vegan diets with lower blood pressure and cholesterol, and lower rates of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and some types of cancer. Going vegan is a great opportunity to learn more about nutrition and cooking, and improve your diet.
What are the pros and cons of veganism? ›
Pros and Cons of the Vegan Diet
| Advantages of Veganism | Disadvantages of Veganism |
|---|
| Lower negative impact on environment | Higher demand and prices with low supply |
| Growing mindful, healthy food habits | Agricultural and environmental footprint |
| Enhanced weight loss | Lack of certain nutrients |
3 more rowsJul 27, 2023
While several studies have shown that a vegan diet (VD) decreases the risk of cardiometabolic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, obesity, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, veganism has been associated with adverse health outcomes, namely, nervous, skeletal, and immune system ...
How could veganism change the world? ›
If everybody went vegan by 2050 we estimated that food-related greenhouse gas emissions could be reduced by 3/4. Cows are the biggest emission contributors. Bugs in their digestive system produce methane and deforestation for their pasture releases carbon dioxide – these gases warm the planet.
Emissions. Food production is responsible for a quarter of all greenhouse gas emissions, mostly from cows burping methane. Methane is such a potent greenhouse gas that a global switch to plant-based diets would cut emissions from food production by 28 per cent – that's the equivalent of India going carbon neutral.
Why is vegan meat better for the environment? ›
When dealing with carbon emissions alone, they are up to 120 times more carbon efficient than meat products. A recent 2021 study found that plant-based patties have a 77% smaller climate change burden than beef patties, with reduced land and water use, eutrophication, and acidification.
Can being vegan help climate change? ›
Of course, eating vegan foods rather than animal-based ones is the best way to reduce your carbon footprint. A University of Chicago study even showed that you can reduce your carbon footprint more effectively by going vegan than by switching from a conventional car to a hybrid.
Can we survive being vegan? ›
With good planning and an understanding of what makes up a healthy, balanced vegan diet, you can get all the nutrients your body needs. If you do not plan your diet properly, you could miss out on essential nutrients, such as calcium, iron, vitamin B12, iodine and selenium.
Does being vegan save money? ›
An Economic Diet
A 2021 study from Oxford University found that vegan diets reduced food costs by as much as one-third. 1.
Why is vegan good for climate change? ›
Many other scientists around the world have reached the same conclusion. Researchers with Loma Linda University in California found that vegans have the smallest carbon footprint, generating a 41.7 percent smaller volume of greenhouse gases than meat-eaters do.
Why is vegan day important? ›
This annual event encourages people around the world to explore and embrace a vegan lifestyle, which involves abstaining from the use of animal products for food, clothing, or any other purpose.
What happens when you go vegan for a year? ›
If you stick with healthy food choices, you'll likely lose weight and snack less. You may also see improvements in your skin and energy levels. Just make sure to get enough of all the vitamins and minerals you need, especially B12 and omega-3 fatty acids, which can be lacking in vegan diets.
What are moral reasons for veganism? ›
Ethical vegans oppose the commercialization and exploitation of animals for human purposes and believe in the inherent worth and rights of all sentient beings. Vegans who care about the environment support a plant-based diet to lessen the environmental impact of animal agriculture.
