Veganism is a way of living that seeks to exclude all forms of cruelty and exploitation of animals from the production of clothing, food products or for any other purposes. Fortunately, there are a wide range of ways that people can embrace and enjoy a vegan lifestyle. The one thing that all vegans have in common is they follow a plant-based diet that is devoid of any animal-based products such as meat, fish and shellfish, eggs, honey and dairy. A vegan lifestyle is also completely void of any animal-based products such as leather and furs, as well as any substances that have been tested on animals.

Why Go Vegan?

• For your health

Following a balanced vegan diet can work wonders for your health. In fact, the Evening Standard reported on several studies which found that balanced vegan diets tend to contain more fiber, antioxidants, potassium, magnesium and vitamins A, C and E than conventional meat-based diets.

Getting your essential nutrients and minerals from plant-based foods also enables you to discover a wide range of new foods as well as delicious recipes which incorporate all manner of vegetables, nuts, seeds, fruits, legumes and whole grains into your daily life. Contrary to popular knowledge, you can still consume the correct amounts of protein, iron and other important nutrients and minerals from plant-based foods such as beans, broccoli, raisins, wheat and tofu. Everything you need to keep your body, mind and soul fit and healthy.

• For the environment

There are several ways in which we can all follow a greener and healthier life; from cycling to work and recycling your garbage to using paper products instead of plastic and donating your old clothes to local charities. But did you know that veganism can also reduce your carbon footprint? In fact, many scientific journals have argued that following a vegan lifestyle can be the ‘single biggest way’ to reduce our impact on the planet. This is because meat and dairy production has been found to be responsible for approximately 60% of agriculture’s greenhouse gas emissions. In this manner, adopting a vegan lifestyle will not just benefit your own health but the planet’s as well!

• For individual sustainability

As mentioned above, following a vegan lifestyle can drastically reduce your carbon footprint. In this manner, veganism is a sustainable option for looking after the planet. Plant-based living has also been proven to be a cheaper and more sustainable means of feeding human families. Following a plant-based diet means that you only need to use one-third of the land that is usually required to support dairy and meat production. As such, individuals should follow a vegan diet not only for their own purposes but also to minimize the immense strain on the planet that is global food production. Avoiding these animal products is one of the simplest yet most effective ways of reducing this strain and taking a stand against these inefficient food production systems.

Year 2019-The Year of Veganism

The Economist has predicted that veganism will become a popular topic this year and, as such, they have declared 2019 to be ‘the vegan year’. This is the time when veganism will become a mainstream lifestyle. Many individuals already agree with this declaration because it is becoming increasingly acceptable for people to embrace plant-based lifestyles.

Furthermore, the Economist have stated that approximately 25% of Americans aged 25-34 years old already identify as vegetarian or vegan. Sales of vegan foods in US alone have increased ten times faster between January and June 2018 in comparison to general food sales. This spike is can largely be attributed to Generation Z and millennials who continue to adopt vegan lifestyles in record numbers.

As well as eating plant-based foods, studies have also shown that millennials in particular have refrained from purchasing animal-based products such as wool, silk and eggs. The truth is, over the past decade, veganism has shown consistent growth among millennials. In fact, millennials are already the generation that has the largest proportion of vegetarians in comparison to their meat-eating predecessors. This trend looks set to continue with Generation Z – who are already even greater proponents of vegan lifestyles than millennials.

Veganism continues to become mainstream

According to the Economist, the business of offering vegan meals is rapidly booming. Even the most prominent restaurant chains now serve vegan burgers and other plant-based options as part of their core menus. Providing a vegan-friendly menu has worked wonders for the reputations of many of these small and large-scale businesses. Consequently, we can expect this vegan-friendly attitude to become even more commonplace throughout 2019.

After all, veganism is not a counter-culture anymore. ‘Vegan’ has become a widely acceptable term that people hear and see everywhere; in restaurants and shops, as well as in everyday conversations, magazines and newspapers. This is not a short term trend or hype.

There is a substance behind its rise, and this gives it credibility. Any venture or movement needs to reach critical mass in order to carry on and to succeed. Many individuals would agree that veganism has reached that certain point and is currently on its way to becoming a mainstream practice.

Veganism benefits all aspects of life

In general, when people think about becoming vegan their thoughts usually turn to food. However, becoming vegan has far-reaching ramifications on your everyday life; from the clothes you wear to the skincare products you use. Fortunately, many brands have started to become aware of this. As such, you can now find a wide variety of alternative vegan products; from beauty serums, moisturizers and bath gels all to way to lubricants and faux leather wear! Yes, it is now possible to follow a vegan lifestyle without compromising on any aspects of your social or sex life.

Ultimately, veganism continues to become a more widespread and popular lifestyle choice. More and more individuals feel emboldened to stay away from animal products and embrace plant-based living instead. As these attitudes continue to become more mainstream, we can expect a greater number of individuals, families and brands to switch to vegan lifestyles. Will 2019 be the year of veganism for you?