Veganuary is larger than ever. In 2023, greater than 706,900 folks obtained concerned within the initiative, which helps and encourages individuals to surrender all animal merchandise for the month of January. This was up from 2022, when 630,000 folks obtained concerned, and an enormous bounce from 2020, when it had 400,000 sign-ups. If this sample continues, Veganuary 2024 is about to be big. When you’re getting concerned, we’ve gathered 31 attention-grabbing, thrilling, and, in some instances, stunning details to maintain you motivated right through the month (and hopefully far past).
31 vegan details for Veganuary
1 You may get all of the vitamins you want from vegan meals
Yup, it’s true. There are lots of misconceptions concerning the dietary high quality of vegan diets, however should you eat all kinds of plant-based, complete meals, it is best to be capable to get greater than sufficient protein, fiber, nutritional vitamins, and minerals. In truth, analysis suggests this is likely one of the healthiest methods to eat. Discover our information to an entire meals, plant-based food regimen right here!
Essential notice: vitamin B12 may be tough, and a few might 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 vital to notice that this way of life isn’t a brand new fad. In truth, folks all around the world have adopted plant-based diets for hundreds of years. In keeping with The Vegan Society, proof means that 2,000 years in the past, some folks have 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 folks of the ‘Blue Zones’ eat predominantly plant-based meals
When you want extra motivation to stay to a plant-based food regimen, Netflix sequence 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 scorching spots for longevity, Okinawa, Japan, Sardinia, Italy, Ikaria, Greece, Nicoya, Costa Rica, and Loma Linda, California, often called the Blue Zones. The folks of those communities have many issues in frequent, however one key issue is food regimen. Most of them eat predominantly plant-based meals! Discover out extra right here.
4 A complete meals, plant-based food regimen is nice for coronary heart well being
Coronary heart illness is not only the most important killer within the US, it’s the most important reason for loss of life on the earth. In truth, it’s liable for a 3rd of all deaths globally. However, by switching to an entire meals, plant-based food regimen, a number of research notice that you just might be able to considerably scale back your threat. Comply with our information to coronary heart well being to seek out out extra.
5 It could possibly additionally scale back your threat of sure cancers
Consuming extra plant-based complete meals might also lower your threat of one other main world illness, most cancers. Three frequent sorts pop up persistently 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 purple meat are carcinogenic
Plant-based complete meals might lower your threat of most cancers, however sure meat merchandise may truly improve it, analysis suggests. In truth, the World Well being Group has truly labeled processed meat as a Group One carcinogen, which implies it’s identified to trigger most cancers. Purple meat is assessed as a Group Two carcinogen, which implies it’s most likely linked to most cancers.
7 Cheese would possibly truly be addictive
You’ve doubtless heard, and even felt your self, that cheese is likely one of 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, instructed VegNews. “It accommodates 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 food regimen is related to higher psychological well being
A plant-based food regimen isn’t a fix-all answer for any well being drawback, together with psychological well being points. However consuming extra complete meals might be able to scale back your threat of affected by melancholy (this research hyperlinks mushrooms with a decrease threat of melancholy), stress (take a look at this research on the advantages of walnuts for stress), and even post-traumatic stress dysfunction (discover the research right here).
9 And it could possibly scale back your threat of sort 2 diabetes
In keeping 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 counsel that you could scale back your threat of sort 2 diabetes by consuming extra plant-based complete meals, and a few even counsel you might be able to 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. In truth, one latest investigation found that within the final six years, 800 million timber within the rainforest have been lower right down to clear land for beef manufacturing. Learn extra concerning the meat business’s position 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. In truth, 77 p.c of the world’s soy goes to the livestock business.
12 Animal agriculture is liable for extra emissions than aviation
Typically, after 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. In truth, the United Nations studies that the aviation business is liable for two p.c of world emissions, and animal agriculture is liable for 14.5 p.c. Discover a number of studies on emissions right here.
13 Analysis suggests grass-fed beef isn’t a sustainable alternative
Grass-fed beef is usually spun because the extra sustainable various to standard beef, however some analysis suggests this isn’t true. All cattle farming is detrimental to the surroundings. “Grazing livestock are web contributors to the local weather drawback, as are all livestock,” Tara Garnett, PhD, of The Meals Local weather Analysis Community instructed the College of Oxford in 2018. “Rising animal manufacturing and consumption, regardless of the farming system and animal sort, is inflicting damaging greenhouse gasoline 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, nicely, its fish. In keeping 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. In truth, in response to the World Wildlife Fund, entanglement in fishing gear is the main menace to whales and dolphins, and leads to round 300,000 deaths yearly. It’s not simply cetaceans which are threatened by fishing nets. Turtles, sharks, and seabirds are only a few extra of the animals that incessantly get caught up in nets and features.
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 p.c of all carbon dioxide emissions, which signifies that retaining it wholesome is important for combating the local weather disaster. Discover extra ocean details that may aid you 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 keeping with Viva!, multiple billion chickens, 15 million turkeys, and greater than 10 billion pigs are killed within the UK alone. And around the globe, 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 unit 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 stay. In truth, most livestock within the US spend their lives in industrialized, manufacturing unit farm circumstances. In keeping with the FAIRR Initiative, as many as 99 p.c of US animal merchandise come from animals that have been raised on manufacturing unit farms.
19 Male chicks are killed within the egg business
Eggs are sometimes seen as a extra compassionate meals alternative as a result of the hen doesn’t should be killed to supply them. However on most manufacturing unit farms, male chicks are seen as an undesirable byproduct of egg manufacturing, and so they’re normally culled as quickly as they’ve hatched. In truth, 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 beginning 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, in response to The Humane League.
21 The plant-based milk market is rising
People don’t must drink cow’s milk in any respect, as a result of we are able to make milk from vegetation. And vegan milks, together with almond, oat, hemp, coconut, and soy, are extra common and extra accessible than ever. In truth, the worldwide market was valued at round $35 billion in 2021, and by 2030, it’s anticipated to succeed in greater than $123 billion, in response to Strategic Market Analysis.
22 Dairy is declining
Whereas plant-based milk climbs in reputation, 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 20 years. Within the final 12 months alone, the state misplaced 400 dairy farms. Learn extra concerning the altering business right here.
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23 Pigs are extra clever than canine
Society treats pigs and canine very otherwise, however they’ve lots in frequent. They each take pleasure in affection, type bonds with people, they usually’re sensible, too. In truth, analysis suggests pigs are literally extra clever than canine. Research have proven that pigs have long-term recollections, can inform the time, and might perceive and be taught from one another. And but, yearly, tens of millions are slaughtered for meat. Pigs aren’t alone. Analysis and first-hand statement counsel that livestock, together with turkeys, chickens, sheep, and goats, may be affectionate, sensible, and playful.
24 The meat business exploits human beings, too
It’s not simply animals which are harm by the meat business. A number of investigations have discovered that Massive Meat exploits human beings, too. “There have been lots 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 writer of the ebook “Uncooked Deal: Hidden Corruption, Company Greed, and the Struggle for the Way forward for Meat,” instructed 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 Massive Meat, as a substitute, they will select from the rising vary of vegan meat merchandise on the cabinets. In truth, in response to 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 your entire plant-based meals market may soar from $29.4 billion to $162 billion throughout the decade. Bloomberg Intelligence Senior Client 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, in response to one research
The flexitarian food regimen is rising in reputation (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, in response to a One Ballot research from 2021.
28 Consuming vegan can truly prevent cash
When you have entry to complete meals, like canned beans and different legumes, grains, fruits, and greens, then analysis suggests consuming a plant-based food regimen can truly prevent cash. In 2021, one research 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 Almost half of all US eating places now supply vegan decisions
For years, it has been laborious to eat out as a vegan, however we’re thrilled to say that occasions are altering. When you do fancy splashing the money on a meal out, then it’s simpler than ever to take action. In truth, analysis in 2023 discovered that just about 50 p.c of all restaurant menus within the US have vegan choices. Discover out extra concerning the research right here.
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30 And the fast-food business is extra vegan-friendly than ever
When you instructed us 10 years in the past that vegan quick meals can be in every single place in 2024, we’d have been amazed. But it surely’s the reality. Within the US, each Burger King and White Fort supply the Inconceivable Burger, for instance, and within the UK, yow will discover vegan choices at McDonald’s, KFC, Burger King, Pizza Hut, and plenty of extra quick meals spots. Burger King has even opened a number of meat-free places in a number of nations around the globe. What a time to be alive.
31 In truth, it’s simpler than it has ever been to comply with a plant-based food regimen
The reality is, now is a good time to change to a plant-based food regimen, as a result of vegan merchandise are in every single place. There may be additionally extra help than ever earlier than, particularly should you join Veganuary. Discover out extra about find out 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.
