There are now more vegans in the UK than ever before. Is this mainly due to a trend driven by celebrity hype, or does veganism have genuine health (as well as environmental) benefits for us all?
As of 2016 there were an estimated 542,000 vegans living in Britain1. Compared to the 150,000 ten years ago there has been a 361% increase in people converting to the meat free way of living. Not only does veganism involve not consuming meat or any animal by-product it involves not using any animal by-product such as leather, fur and some soaps and cosmetics. The vegan philosophy is to avoid all forms of exploitation and cruelty to animals for the benefit of humans, animals or the environment "“ as far as possible.
Top tips if you`re new to following a vegan diet:
- Get vegan aware! Know your nutrients and which vegan foods sources they are hiding in.
- Consume fortified foods. If you think you may not be getting sufficient nutrients visit your health professional who may be able to recommend a supplement if required.
- It is still possible to consume high levels of fat and sugar on a vegan diet so watch out for these in fried foods and sweet treats.
- For recipe inspiration head to our recipe page and filter the recipes by 'vegan'. This is one of our favourites - Spicy Coconut Broth Bowl
References:
1.www.vegansociety.com
2. Dinu, M., Abbate, R., Gensini, G. F., Casini, A. and Sofi F. (2016). Vegetarian, vegan diets and multiple health outcomes: a systematic review with meta-analysis of observational studies. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, [online], 06.02.2016. [Accessed 27.06.2016]
