When youre Alicia Silverstone, theres one career highlight that will follow you around forever: the 90s classic that is Clueless. When you think of the nineties hit coming of age movie, is it Cher Horowitz and that signature yellow plaid blazer skirt combo that sticks in your mind? Or maybe you love *that* freeway freakout scene with Dionne Davenport? Or Tai Frasiers iconic makeover? The movie, with all of its quotable moments, has a place in the hearts and minds of many.Its nearly 30 years since Clueless first hit movie theatres (Ugh! As If!), and it wouldnt be what it is today without its admired protagonist. So what is she doing now? Silverstone has been busy since 1995. Shes a successful entrepreneur, a passionate animal rights activist and environmentalist, and a mother to an eight-year-old son, Bear. But if theres one word that ties each of her endeavors together, its kindness.

Although she remains a passionate actor, the animals have Silverstones heart. It was around the age of 21 that she threw herself into the vegan lifestyle or the kind life as she refers to it. Like many before and after her, it started with looking from her plate to her pet.I watched the documentary The Witness and took a look at my dog and thought If Im not willing to eat you, how can I continue to eat these other creatures that have the same desire to live, are just as funny, and have the same reaction to pain as my dogs? she told LIVEKNDLY. I had a realization that I was an animal lover eating animals and it didnt feel ok to be aware of the terrible reality behind the animal agriculture industry and condone them by actively participating in it with a non-vegan diet, she says. I realized that until I stopped purchasing animal products, the suffering would never end.She was all in for the animals, but the health benefits surprised her. She lost weight, she recalls, and her energy levels increased dramatically. Her hair got thicker, and all of her allergy symptoms disappeared. She enjoyed the health benefits of veganism so much, she chose to extend her passion to others and created Mykind Organics.

The idea for the line of non-GMO, vegan vitamins first came about when Silverstone was pregnant with Bear. Every vitamin recommended to her was either packed with chemicals or not suitable for vegans, so she solved the problem herself. Despite her busy work schedule shes been filming in Vancouver recently, as well as meeting with politicians to request more vegan options on the menu in California schools her attention is still very much on the vegan vitamin line. In vitamin-land, Mykind Organics launched 16 herbal supplements last fall. Im so thrilled about this line, she said. These products are so special because we source ingredients from sustainable organic farms and use a groundbreaking organic, non-GMO extraction method without the use of conventional corn alcohol or other harsh chemicals commonly used.

In the spirit of wellness, she has also partnered with the deodorant brand Crystal Deodorant to become its brand ambassador. The company makes its products with natural, non-toxic ingredients. I am proud to partner with a company that shares my values and is committed to making healthier and kinder products, she said in a recent statement.

Silverstones clearly up on all the benefits of veganism, from animal welfare to human health. But does she see a world where everyone feels the same way as her? Potentially. I think were making significant strides, she says. I remember going on the Letterman show many years ago sharing that I was vegan and was received like I was an alien! Now its actually cool to be vegan and immensely valued from a health and environmental standpoint, she continues. The United Nations has even called for a massive decrease in animal agriculture! You can find vegan options and entire vegan restaurants at airports! Last year, the United Nations Environment Program labeled tackling meat consumption as one of the worlds most urgent problems. And its a good start, but those in power have to take it further, says Silverstone. I believe legislation and markets must raise the bar significantly so people wont have the option to be blissfully unaware of cruel consumption. We are at such a crucial tipping point, she says. According to the International Panel on Climate Change, we have less than 12 years before we can no longer stop irreversible damage from the climate crisis. Floods, heatwaves, wildfires, droughts, and many other forms of natural disasters will be commonplace, and millions of people will be displaced. Silverstone sums it up best. This is terrifying, she says. But there is potentially a way out: if we all live like her. The easiest and most effective thing any individual can do is adjust their diet to ditch animal products, she explains. Shes not wrong. The biggest-ever food production analysis conducted last year revealed that the single biggest thing a person can do to reduce their impact on the environment is to go vegan.

So how do you keep fighting in a world that feels like its doomed? You keep in mind who youre doing it for. The generation of tomorrow. For Silverstone, it starts with her son, Bear.

Its been the biggest inspiration to watch his innate compassion for animals and the earth unfold as he grows, she says. [He] inspires me every day and every moment. Silverstone says its a doddle raising a vegan kid. Because of the way he eats, she says he never gets sick, and living plant-based even has an impact on his behavior and personality. Because Bear feels so good he acts so sweet, she says. Theres no raising my voice or negotiating with him, just easy respectful conversations. Shes also inspired by her dog Sampson, any cow or pig that crosses her path, and the activists that put themselves on the line to fight for animal rights and for the planet. Its beautiful and encouraging, she says, referring specifically to the millions of young people who have recently protested for climate action around the world. Her inspiration isnt limited to those fighting for the planet, but those fighting for humanity too. She refers to Kendrick Castillo, the teenager who lunged at the gunman at STEM School Highlands Ranch, allowing others the time to run and hide. He was incredibly brave and heroic, she says. Kendricks selfless love and courage combined with my disdain for gun violence leaves a mark on my soul. Silverstones support and love for the planet and the people and the animals that depend on it is unrivaled. The star may be known for her iconic looks in Clueless, but she carries the passion and vulnerability that shaped Cher Horowitzs character with her to this day. She uses her platform, and her huge Instagram following as Cher may have had she have been a Millennial in 2019 to advocate for change, and above all, kindness. She recently posted a selfie to her Instagram account with the caption, Hi there friends. I was having a particularly happy moment when I took this. I was overcome with that very unique joy I experience when I think about all the love and support I give to my body and this planet (from the kind diet). She asked her 935,000 followers to consider flirting with veganism, to ditch the single-use plastic, and to become more conscious about the world that surrounds them. She continued, Im going to continue riding the highs that [the kind life] can bring, but boy does my heart break a little bit every day multiple times over all the unconscious acts of abuse to our earth and creatures and ourselves every day. We have so much more work to do!

And as for Clueless? Sorry to disappoint, but Silverstone says its unlikely there will ever be a sequel. Unlikely, but not impossible. No one knew what a cultural phenomenon Clueless would be when it was made, says Silverstone. But Im thrilled that it resonates with so many people! Even amongst a whole new generation. Ive run into teenagers who gush over it. Its so fun! According to the actor, Amy Heckerling who directed the original movie has said there wont be another. But who knows? You could be the one to change her mind. Silverstone says, if you have any ideas, Tweet her at @AmyHeckerling! Ha!

In the meantime, she has a few other projects up her sleeve. She recently filmed The Baby-Sitters Club for Netflix, as well as the new horror movie The Lodge, which will hit theatres this Fall.

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Alicia Silverstone: Going Vegan Is the Most Effective Way to Combat the Climate Crisis

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Actor and vegan activist Alicia Silverstone believes that ditching animal products will help fight the climate crisis and save the planet.

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Charlotte Pointing

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Alicia Silverstone: Going Vegan Is the Most Effective Way to Combat the Climate Crisis - LIVEKINDLY

Veganism is gaining momentum around the world. And vegan musicians are leading the trend.

Plant-based, cruelty-free living is becoming popular in industries everywhere; doctors are clocking on to the health benefits of vegan food, fashion designers are featuring animal-free leather in their work, and athletes are adopting plant-based diets to boost performance.

The music scene is just as involved. More and more artists are going vegan and many are keen to let their fans know about it.

Various factors motivate celebrities to go vegan. Health is a major motivator. A growing bank of research is finding links between meaty, dairy, and eggs, and disease. Animal products often contain high levels of saturated and trans fats, which can increase blood cholesterol. High cholesterol can increase the risk of peripheral artery disease, stroke, and heart attack.

More than ever, celebrities are doing their part for the planet by updating their diet. Animal agriculture is to blame for more greenhouse gas emissions than the entire transportation sector combined. It also uses vastly more land and water than plant-based farming.

Animal welfare is another leading reason that celebrities go vegan. The meat, dairy, and egg industries are typically rife with animal welfare violations. More musicians are making the connection between whats on their plate and the animal its sourced from, and boycotting animal products to take a stand against animal cruelty.

The decision to adopt a vegan diet could bring with it a range of health benefits. Plant-based food, by nature, contains no cholesterol; cholesterol is only found in animal products. Vegan food also contains good amounts of fiber, while animal-based foods have none. Cholesterol-free, fiber-rich diets lower the risk of disease and can extend lifespan. Data collected from 185 observational studies said that individuals who eat the most fiber are 15 to 30 percent less likely to die prematurely. Fiber-rich diets were also connected to a 16 to 24 percent reduced incidence of type 2 diabetes, stroke, and colon cancer.

Vegan lifestyles are good for the planets health, too. Eating animal-product-free can help clean the planet and save resources.

According to Cowspiracy, 70 to 90 percent of freshwater pollution in western countries is linked to animal agriculture. A study by the European Commission Joint ResearchCentre (JRC), which was published in Nature in 2018, found that a vegan diet uses five times less water than a meat-based one.

The most comprehensive analysis of farmings impact on the planet looked at data from 40,000 farms in 119 countries. Researchers found that if everyone on the planet went vegan, global farmland use would drop by 75 percent. This move would free up landmass the size of Australia, China, the EU, and the U.S. combined.

Oxford University researcher Joseph Poore, who led the study, stated: A vegan diet is probably the single biggest way to reduce your impact on planet Earth, not just greenhouse gases, but global acidification, eutrophication, land use and water use.

Former Beatles frontman Sir Paul McCartney has been living meat-free since 1975 but these days, the rock n roll legend is all-vegan.

His plant-based diet has powered him through his recent solo world tours where he performed two-and-a-half-hour shows featuring more than 30 songs.

The 77-year-old made a short documentary film with his daughters Mary and Stella McCartney which looked at the impact of animal agriculture on the planet. The film, which is called One Day a Week, also features vegan actors Emma Stone and Woody Harrelson and encourages people to reduce their consumption of meat. [If] we all join together in this effort, we can help improve the environment, reduce the negative impacts of climate change, and even improve peoples health,McCartney said.

He added, Through this campaign, I can say to people, Just try it and show that it can actually be quite fun when you look at what you do, what you eat, how you live and think, is this what Im gonna do for the rest of my life or would it be interesting to try making a change?

At the age of 17, American singer-songwriter Billie Eilish has taken the world by storm with hits like bad guy and bellyache. The musician went vegan around 2014. She wrote in a blog post that there werea lot of reasons for the lifestyle change, including the impact of dairy on health and animal welfare leave animals alone,she wrote.

In June, Eilish took to Instagram to urge people to think twice about the food on their plates. She shared undercover footage taken at Fair Oaks Farms, a facility in Indiana that supplies cows milk to dairy brand Fairlife. The expos, which said to be the largest undercover dairy investigation ever, showed farmworkers abusing calves.

If you can watch the videos that I just posted and not give a [expletive] that its YOU contributing by LITERALLY EATING the creatures that are being fully tortured just for your pleasure. I feel sorry for you, wrote to her 26.1 million followers.

I understand that meat tastes good and I know you think youre just one person and it wont change anything if you stop,Eilish continued.But thats ignorant and stupid.

Pop sensation Miley Cyrus went vegan in 2014, the same year she adopted a rescue pig named Bubba Sue.

By 2018, Cyrus had 16 animals living with her, including nearly 10 rescue dogs, one of whom, a beagle who was rescued from lab testing.

The musicians bond with her animals is a close one. She told Howard Stern in 2017 that her rescue pigs were stopping her from touring. Literally the only reason Im not touring is because of those [expletive] pigs. Thats how much I love those pigs,she said.

Cyrus has also been vocal about the need to save the planet. At the Tinderbox Festival in Odense, Denmark, the artist delivered a passionate speech about ocean pollution. I dont like that theres more [expletive] trash in the water than living [expletive] animals that deserve to be there, that have nowhere else to go, the She Is Coming artist said. And by the [expletive] way, we dont have anywhere to [expletive] go, either! Theres no planet B, so dont [expletive] up!

American rapper A$AP Rocky revealed his newly adopted vegan lifestyle in his latest single, Babushka Boi. He raps on the track, I aint ducking bullets either. Sh*t, I aint duck sauce since I became a vegan.

The musician became a pescatarian in 2011 and later stopped eating fish, too, telling Rolling Stone that eating meat-free helps him to clean my mind, body, and soul.

Animal welfare and health reasons were behind the change. He toldComplex in 2012, I started doing research and found out how they treat those animals before they, you know, service them. They inject them with steroids and drugs that enhance their growth. None of that sh*t is healthy, and on top of that those [expletive] animals were stressed and compressed the whole time, he said. That kind of food going into your body is unhealthy. I dont mean to sound like some weirdo, but it is what it is.

Will.i.am went vegan in 2017 after being diagnosed with high blood pressure and cholesterol. The change in diet helped the rapper lose 15 pounds and lower his cholesterol and blood pressure without medication. He also said it improved his nasal drip, energy levels, and acid reflux.

Will.i.am has since spoken out about the ethical side of plant-based living. If we didnt have these fancy utensils, would I have the ability to go up to a living creature and like, savagely kill it to eat it? Could I do that?he said in a video on his Instagram.

The Black Eyed Peas frontman said on a podcast with Arianna Huffington that going vegan changed my life.

Singer and dancer Ne-Yo was inspired to go vegan after watching What the Health. The 39-year-old said to Capital FM earlier this year, Initially, I watched the documentary What the Health, and to put it frankly, it p***ed me off. It really did, he said.I was like, let me get this straight: The person giving you the disease and the person fighting the disease are in bed together? To hell with yall.

The switch has paid off. I am loving it. I genuinely am. Its been about two years. More energy, my face clears up, weight falls off. I lost, like, 30 pounds!he said.

Ne-Yo is set to appear in Hungry for Justice, an upcoming documentary that explores the issue of food injustice, including food deserts, the link between diet and disease, and nutritional racism.

Sixty-year-old singer-songwriter Morrissey stopped eating meat at 11-years-old. As the frontman of The Smiths, Morrissey released the album Meat is Murder in 1985.

The musician hasnt been quiet about his lifestyle. He told Fiona Dodwell in an interview, I refuse to eat anything that had a mother, thats obvious.

Earlier this year, he began setting up booths at his concerts to collect petition signatures to urge winter clothing manufacturer Canada Goose to ditch down and coyote fur. Im writing to urge Canada Goose to act more like its namesake (e.g., smart, brave, and willing to fly off in a new direction) by making the bold ethical choice to remove coyote fur and down feathers from its parkas,the musician wrote in the petition, which will be delivered to Canada Gooses CEO Dani Reiss once the tour has ended.

Last year, Morrisseywrote a letter to the Irish Minister for Agriculture, Food, and the Marine asking for a ban on fur farming in Ireland.

American rock singer Joan Jett has been meat-free since the 80s. The artist made the change for ethical reasons. Twenty years ago I thought: Whats the difference between eating a bloody steak and killing my dog, slitting him open and roasting him? Jett said to the Guardian in 2010. Ive always loved animals but it was around the late 80s that I realized I had to go vegetarian. A lot of things converged in my life then musically, emotionally but mainly it was my love of animals and spending so much time touring that made me decide I had to change my diet.

It was a change of pace for the frontwoman of the Runaways, who had grown up being a major carnivore. Now shes a major supporter of PETA, the largest animal rights group in the world. In a 2008 testimonial for the organization, Jett said, Cutting meat out of your diet is the best thing you can do for animals and your own health. Did you know its one of the best things you can do for the planet too?

When longtime vegetarian Ma went vegan, she experienced a world of benefits. She has since declared she is vegan for life. The R&B artist credits her plant-based diet for helping her beat anemia. I thought you had to have meat to have protein and get your iron, and thats just false information, she said in a video for PETA.

She explained that she no longer gets sick since ditching animal products and thanks her healthy diet for her clear skin and fountain of youth.

Its done wonders for my entire life.

American singer-songwriter Ariana Grande adopted a plant-based diet in 2013. She told the Mirror the following year, I love animals more than I love most people, not kidding.

But I am a firm believer in eating a full plant-based, whole food diet that can expand your life length and make you an all-round happier person, she said.

By 2017, Grande had adopted nine rescue dogs (one of whom, Toulouse, appeared in the music video for 7 Rings).

The entertainer has been spotted donning a faux fur coat by Marei 1998, a Tel Aviv-based luxury fashion brand.

Canadian musician Bryan Adams, the artist behind the 1985 hit Summer of 69, is a vocal supporter of the vegan movement. The singer-songwriter said last year that ditching animal products (and sugar) was the best thing I ever did for myself.

Adams frequently urges his fans to think twice about whats on their own plates (even his Instagram bio encourages people to go vegan). Earlier this year, he warned his fans to ignore meat industry propaganda, especially the myth that meat is needed for protein. In September he took a stand against whale hunting, saying theres no need to hunt the magnificent giants. He added, The future is recognizing that killing animals for food is [expletive] up the planet.

Jermaine Dupri has been vegan for more than 12 years. The American rapper first dipped his toes into plant-based eating by participating in a 25-day cleanse. The energy I had, the way I felt, I just tried to figure out at that point how could I keep this same feeling. People were like, well you should be vegan,'he said last year for a campaign that encouraged people to feel the beets, lose the meats, go vegan.

The vegan lifestyle, to me, is the best lifestyle. And I want to get the world into this, the Grammy Award-winner said.

Twenty-six-year-old singer-songwriter Gabrielle Aplin adopted a plant-based diet in 2014. Today, I embark on my fully vegan adventure. Trembling at the thought of no blue cheese. Or just no cheese at all. No. cheese. at. all, she wrote on Facebook.

But the British musician seems to be coping just fine. The Please Dont Say You Love Me singer now has her own vegan cooking show on YouTube called Food With Friends. The online series sees her whipping up dairy-free mac n cheese, eggless omelet, vegan Buffalo wings, and plant-based jackfruit tacos.

American musician Moby hasnt kept quiet about his animal rights activism and vegan lifestyle. The artist recently got a vegan for life tattoo on his neck. Ive been a vegan for almost 32 years, so getting this tattoo seemed like a pretty safe bet, he wrote on Instagram last month.

In 2018, Moby sold his personal record collection which featured more than 1,000 records and more than 100 pieces of music equipment and donated the money to PCRM, a non-profit research organization that promotes a plant-based diet for optimal health. The same year, he sold his house in New York which is worth $1,300,000 and donated a portion of the proceeds to his animal rights foundation.

Jason Mraz adopted a plant-based in 2011. The Im Yours artist wrote on his blog at the time that he felt stronger, fitter, healthier and more productive as a vegan. I ride longer distances on my bike, can do more pull-ups than ever, and my brain seems to have a larger capacity for new projects, problem-solving, songwriting, and fielding random questions, Mraz said.

My health and strength make me a better performer and all that combined gives me more confidence to go out in the world and shine my light. It also makes me a lot better in bed. Just sayin he added.

The musician also lives on a five-and-a-half acre avocado farm, which might be the most vegan thing about him.

Member of the Wu-Tang Clan RZA thinks veganism leads to a better tomorrow.

The American rapper was partly motivated by ethics to ditch animal products. He told PETA in 2014 that theres nothing on this planet that doesnt want to live.

Im quite sure [animals] do not wanna be on my plate When you eat [animal products] youre eating that stress, eating that sickness, eating that fear,he said, also adding, I dont need a dead animal or dead piece of flesh to go into my live body.

Last year, RZA launched his own vegan fashion line. The collection features shirts, jackets, CDs, hats, socks, and cruelty-free leather wallets.

American singer-songwriter Dawn Richard went vegan cold turkey following her fathers cancer diagnosis. Everything has changed for me and for the better, Richard commented, also saying that veganism is about more than just food, its a lifestyle.

She believes more people need to make the connection between whats on their plate and the animal their food was sourced from. People are forgetting that it starts with the animals and we have misused them as if they are not like us, she said. The mistreating of them, it comes into our food.

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Did You Know These 17 Musicians Are All Vegan?

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From A$ap Rocky to Billie Eilish the number of vegan musicians continues to rise as artists embrace a more compassionate and healthy lifestyle.

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Jemima Webber

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Did You Know These 17 Musicians Are All Vegan? - LIVEKINDLY

Greta Thunberg, Sir Paul McCartney, Woody Harrelson, Lewis Hamilton, Pamela Anderson, RZA, Miley Cyrus, John Salley, and Cory Booker. These high-profile names have at least one thing in common: theyre thriving on the benefits of a vegan lifestlye.

Veganism is everywhere nowadays, and the people ditching animal products in favor of a vegan diet are doing so for a handful of reasons.

Those who follow a vegan diet, also called a plant-based diet, do not eat animal products. This includes meat, dairy, eggs, honey, and gelatin. But veganism expands further than diet. Per the Vegan Society, the definition is as follows: Veganism is a way of living which seeks to exclude, as far as is possible and practicable, all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose.

For instance, vegans dont wear clothing made with animal materials (like leather and wool), buy cosmetics that were tested on animals, or support entertainment that relies on the exploitation of animals, like bullfighting or SeaWorld.

Sixteen-year-old climate activist Thunberg follows a plant-based diet and even persuaded her parents to do the same. She said in an interview that those who support animal agriculture are stealing her generations future. You cannot stand up for human rights while you are living that lifestyle, she added.

Beatles frontman McCartney famously said, If slaughterhouses had glass walls, everyone would be vegetarian. Now the 77-year-old rockstar is vegan and still a vocal advocate for the lifestyle. In a short film called One Day a Week, which encourages people to eat less meat, McCartney said, [If] we all join together in this effort, we can help improve the environment, reduce the negative impacts of climate change, and even improve peoples health.

Vegan New Jersey Senator Booker who is running for president in 2021 recently announced his animal welfare plan. It would see the end of animal testing for cosmetics, snares, people keeping big cats as pets, and the sale of shark fins. Booker said, Our treatment of animals is a test of our character and a measure of the compassion of our society.

Veganism has reached the sporting world, too. Formula One champion Hamilton says his plant-based diet has helped him feel the best Ive ever felt in my life.Wesley Woodyard, linebacker for the Tennessee Titans, experienced increased energy levels after going vegan because he began putting good fuel into his body. Quarterback for the Carolina Panthers Cam Newton credits his vegan diet for his quickened recovery. Im loving how Im feeling,he said.

Other high-profile vegan names include: A$AP Rocky, will.i.am, Alan Cumming, Ne-Yo, Ruby Rose, Ted Deutch, James Cameron, Benedict Cumberbatch, Jenna Marbles, Kyrie Irving, Nathalie Emmanuel, Natalie Portman, Craig Robinson, Eric Adams, Sia, Mayim Bialik, Tia Blanco, and Kevin Smith.

An ever-growing bank of research is highlighting the health risks linked to meat, dairy, and eggs, and the benefits associated with a plant-based diet. Many experts agree that going vegan could help you live a longer life.

In 2015, the World Health Organization (WHO) named red meat a Group 2 carcinogen, meaning it probably causes cancer in humans. WHO put processed meat (like bacon and pepperoni) in the Group 1 category, meaning it is carcinogenic to humans. Tobacco smoking and asbestos are also in the Group 1 category.

Even small amounts of meat could increase the risk of cancer. An Oxford Universitystudyfrom earlier this year found that eating just three rashers of bacon a day could increase cancer risk by 20 percent.

Professor Jane Plant, a geochemist who has survived cancer six times, maintains that dairy is also a carcinogen. She believes her plant-based diet helped put her breast cancer into remission twice.

Meat typically contains high amounts of saturated and trans fats, which can increase blood cholesterol. Cholesterol can cause fatty deposits in the blood vessels which increases the risk of stroke, peripheral artery disease, and heart disease. Plant-based foods, by nature, contain no dietary cholesterol. A diet high in fat and cholesterol can raise blood pressure, too, which also makes cardiovascular diseases more likely.

A2018 studyby the Cleveland Clinic found that eating red meat could increase the risk of heart disease 1,000 percent more than a plant-based diet.

More and more research is finding that a plant-based diet could reduce the risk of developing diabetes or even reverse the disease altogether.

A recentstudy, which included than 2,000 adults, found that individuals who increased the number of fruits, vegetables, and nuts in their diet over the course of 20 years lowered their risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 60 percent more than those who didnt.

Brooklyn Borough President Adams says he reversed his diabetes diagnosis by adopting a plant-based diet. This concept is backed up by research. The American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) recommends an online program that helps diabetes sufferers adopt a plant-based diet to reverse their condition. The National Institute for Diabetes and Endocrinology in Slovakia is trialing a whole-food, plant-based program to help reverse the condition.

The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) highlights a study on its website that looks at the eating habits and moods of 3,486 people over a five-year period. The study found that participants who ate whole, plant foods reported fewer symptoms of depression.

A different study found that vegetarians typically experience more positive moods than meat-eaters. Nutritionist Geeta Sidhu-Robb spoke toCosmopolitan about the study, which was published in Nutrition Journal. The elimination of long chain fatty acids, predominantly arachidonic acid which is present in meat and is associated with symptoms of depression, means you are less at risk of suffering from it,she said.Vegan diets also have more complex carbohydrates present which increase the feel good hormone serotonin in the brain.

Products that are made with plant-based ingredients but also processes that dont involve animals are considered vegan. Beeswax, honey, lanolin, collagen, and keratin are some common non-vegan ingredients to look out for.

Most people are against experiments on animals. A survey by Naturewatch Foundation found that 99.5 percent of Brits support a ban on cosmetic animal testing. While most are against the practice due to the stance that it is cruel to animals, animal testing is also unreliable.

Many experts agree that tests on animals cannot accurately predict human response to a product. More than 95 percent of pharmaceutical drugs test as safe and effective on animals but then fail in human trials, according to PETA.

Yet the practice is still common in the beauty industry. Since veganism does not allow for the exploitation of animals, buying vegan beauty products guarantees that youre not supporting animal testing.

Up to 60 percent of the products we apply to our bodies are absorbed by the skin and end up in the bloodstream. Many cosmetics brands use phthalates and parabens in their recipes. These ingredients can interfere with development and reproduction, and cause neurological issues. The nervous and immune systems can also be affected.

While not all vegan beauty brands use natural ingredients, a growing number of them do. Companies like Zuii Organic use real flowers, essential oils, and plant extracts to make their vegan cosmetic products.

As well as sidestepping the health risks linked to chemical ingredients, natural ingredients can provide health benefits. Oats have anti-inflammatory properties and can treat skin irritations like eczema. Witch hazel hydrates the skin, and green tea contains high levels of antioxidants, which can help repair sun damage.

A plant-based diet could boost your beauty regime by helping your skin stay healthy. An increasing number of studies are linking dairy to skin problems like acne. Dairy products contain growth hormones and are also treated with artificial hormones, which can interfere with the human bodys hormone system. Some experts also believe that dairy can disrupt insulin levels, making acne more likely.

Many celebrities credit veganism for their youthful looks. American singer-songwriter Ma says that her vegan lifestyle is to thank for her fountain of youth. Fifty-eight-year-old actor Woody Harrelson said his plant-based diet is crucial for his youthful appearance, and 77-year-old rock n roll legend Paul McCartney not only looks younger than he is but completes his solo world tours which see him playing more than 30 songs per show over the span of two and a half hours on a vegan diet.

Following a vegan lifestyle means not buying items featuring leather, suede, wool, or silk. But dont be fooled, the vegan fashion industry is bursting at the seams with innovation and style.

Wearing vegan fashion means you wont be supporting the leather industry. Besides the animal welfare issues linked to the livestock trade, raising animals for leather (and food) leaves a large mark on the planet. Raising livestock accounts for 14.5 percent of all human-caused greenhouse gas emissions. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) said in September 2018 that the greenhouse gas footprint of animal agriculture rivals that of every car, truck, bus, ship, airplane, and rocket ship combined.

Leather is treated with 250 different substances including cyanide, arsenic, chromium, and formaldehyde. These substances pollute waterways and raise the risk of disease for workers and local communities.

Vegan leather is just as durable and stylish as its animal-based counterpart. It can be made from

Its easy to believe that wool can be collected without harming the animal. However, exposs reveal that animal cruelty is rampant in the woold sector. Shearers are paid by the volume of wool collected, not by the hour. This often encourages the aggressive handling of sheep. The animals are beaten and when injured, their wounds are sewn up without pain relief. To prevent flystrike, workers will mule sheep cut off pieces of the sheeps hindquarter skin. This often has the opposite of the desired effect since flies are attracted to the open wound.

Vegan alternatives to wool include hemp, linen, and organic cotton. Bamboo, seaweed, and wood are also used to make cruelty-free clothing.

Many vegan fashion brands prioritize sustainability in their designs. Footwear brand No Saints uses food waste to make its vegan leather sneakers. The companys pineapple leather, called Piatex, is made from pineapple leaf fibers, which are a by-product of pineapple harvests and would otherwise go to waste. Using these fibers offers extra income to farming communities and saves the waste from being incinerated, which creates toxic emissions. No Saints also uses apple peels thrown out by the juicing industry to make apple leather shoes.

German footwear brand thies and Brazilian brand Insecta make vegan fashion items out of plastic waste. Adidas teamed up with Parley for the Oceans to produce a vegan shoe with plastic pulled from the ocean. Each shoe contains 12 plastic bottles worth of waste, with some of this coming from discarded fishing nets.

Animal agriculture is one of the major generators of greenhouse gas emissions, which worsens climate change. UNEP hasnamed meatthe worlds most urgent problem, saying that, Our use of animals as a food-production technology has brought us to the verge of catastrophe.

Producing half a pound of beef generates the same amount of emissions as driving a car 9.8 miles. Producing half a pound of potatoes is only equal to driving a car 0.17 miles.

A 2016 report found that if the world went vegan, the planets food-related emissions would drop by 70 percent by 2050.

Animal-based diets are extremely water-intensive. According to UNEP, a bacon cheeseburger requires more than 3,000 liters of water to produce. In contrast, a vegan meat burger requires 75 to 95 percent less water.

Major meat publication Global Meat News admitted to animal agricultures impact on the planet last year. It stated that 92 percent of the planets water footprint is linked to agriculture, with livestock making up one-third of the figure. On a per gram of protein basis, beefs water footprint is six times that of pulses,Global Meat News wrote.

According to Water Calculator, someone following a vegan diet has half the total water footprint as a meat-eater.

Raising animals for food requires vast amounts of land and deforestation. The beef industry was blamed for the current Amazon fires since farmers intentionally burn down sections of the rainforest to make room for herds.

Oxford University researchers completed the most comprehensive analysis of farmings impact on the planet earlier this year. They looked at data from approximately 40,000 farms in 119 countries and found that beef production requires 36 times more land than plant-based protein like peas.

The researchers stated that if everyone were to go vegan, global farmland use would drop by 75 percent, freeing up landmass the size of Australia, China, the EU, and the U.S. combined.

A 2018 report published in the journalCurrent Biologydiscovered that 87 percent of the worlds oceans are dying.

Many people are doing their part to save the seas ditching plastic straws, bringing their own shopping bag to the supermarket, and choosing plastic-free produce. However, your diet could have more to do with the ocean; half of the plastic found in the ocean comes from fishing nets.

Overfishing is also impacting the oceans fish stocks. Some experts agree that the worlds oceans could be empty of fish by 2048. Even land-raised meat can harm the oceans. The pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers used on feed crops enter and pollute waterways. Factory farm runoff and livestock grazing is also a major contributor to river and lake pollution. According to Cowspiracy, animal agriculture creates 70 to 90 percent of freshwater pollution in western countries.

Often forgotten about but ever-important is honey. Following a vegan lifestyle means going without this ingredient, and this could have an impact on bee populations. Bees are widely considered to be the most important species on the planet. Approximately 250,000 species of flowering plants rely on bees for pollination. Without bees, fruit and vegetable stocks would deplete.

It takes more than 550 bees to gather 1 pound of honey from roughly 2 million flowers, according to the Apex Bee Company. Bees will fly 55,000 miles to make a gallon of honey. The average bee will make only 1/12 of a teaspoon of honey in its life, and bees rely on this as their primary food source.

Thankfully for honey-lovers, there are plenty of vegan alternatives out there. Bee Free Honee makes ethical honey out of organic apples.Dvash Organics is the producer of what it claims is the worlds first sweet potato honey. You can also use maple syrup or agave nectar.

Not sure where (or when) to start? How about Monday? Ditching meat for one day a week can help make the transition seem a little less intimidating. It allows you to try new foods and reduce your impact on the planet. The more Mondays you have meatless, the easier it may be to add more days each week.

Its 2019, so the media we consume has a large impact on the choices we make. Documentaries are some of the most popular mechanisms for motivating people to go vegan. It took just 15 minutes of Dominion to convince a caf owner in Idaho to turn her business vegan. Called the scariest movie ever made, the 2018 film features hidden camera footage and uncovers the dark side of animal agriculture.

Kip Andersens What the Health looks at the link between diet and disease, and his 2014 documentary Cowspiracy unravels the environmental issues tied to animal agriculture.

Theres a vegan-focused documentary to suit everyone. You can check out a list of them here.

Not a film buff? A thought-provoking book could be your ticket. How Not To Die by Michael Greger considers food medicine. The New York Times bestseller studies how diet can cause or prevent disease.

The China Study by T. Colin Campbell and Thomas M. Campbell II also highlights the health benefits of healthy, plant-based eating. Jonathon Safran Foers Eating Animals looks at what it means to eat animals in a modern, industrialized world.

The Sexual Politics of Meat by Carol J. Adams explores the role of feminism within the meaty, dairy, and egg industries. Gristle: From Factory Farms to Food Safety (Thinking Twice About the Meat We Eat) by Moby and Miyun Park opens a conversation about how our food choices impact the world around us, including animals, workers, public health, and the planet.

Theres no need to go hungry on a plant-based diet. For every food you loved as a non-vegan, you can make or buy an animal-free version. Get your hands on some plant-powered cookbooks, like So Vegan in 5 by Roxy Pope and Ben Pook. This book has more than 100 cheap and simple recipes, including jerk tofu burgers.

But I Could Never Go Vegan! by Kristy Turner smashes the stereotype that vegan food is bland and boring. Cathy Fishers Straight Up Food is bursting with plant-based and gluten-free recipes, made with whole, unprocessed ingredients.

You could also invest in a meal planner. LIVEKINDLYs vegan meal planner offers nutrition tips, chef-inspired recipes, guidance from expert food coaches, smart grocery lists, and grocery delivery in select areas, so all youll have to focus on is enjoying great-tasting food.

Surrounding yourself with supportive, likeminded people is a great way to keep motivated during your vegan journey. Jump online and join some local vegan Facebook groups, which are perfect for recipes, tips on vegan living, and sharing memes.

Subscribing to a plant-based publication is a great way to stay in the loop and hear about the latest vegan news. It could also offer you daily reminders on why going vegan is important to you and how your choices can have a ripple effect, helping the planet and those inhabit it.

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15 Vegan Lifestyle Benefits That Will Make You Never Look Back

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What is a vegan lifestlye? We take an in-depth look at celebrities who follow the diet, the benefits of going plant-based, and some tips to get you started.

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Jemima Webber

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15 Vegan Lifestyle Benefits That Will Make You Never Look Back - LIVEKINDLY

Gone are the days when plant-based food meant bland salads and disappointing burgers, when vegan leather was just an oxymoron, and the closest thing you had to a vegan friend was the quirky, meat-free songstress Phoebe Buffay.

Now, veganism is everywhere. Burger King offers a Whopper with a vegan meat patty, Tesla cars come with cruelty-free leather, and when KFC UK launched a vegan chicken burger, it sold out in four days, performing 500 percent better than the average new product.

By now its likely you know a vegan, a vegetarian, or somebody whos trying to eat less meat. So what is the definition of a vegan diet? And why do people go vegan?

A vegan diet includes no animal products. Animal products can mean anything from meat (including fish), cheese, eggs, honey, and gelatin (a food ingredient obtained by boiling the skin, bones, or tendons of animals). If a food is made by or out of an animal, its not vegan.

A vegan diet, also known as a plant-based diet, can be rich in anything else fruit, vegetables, grains, nuts, and legumes. Dont be fooled; creatives in the culinary world use these ingredients to make everything from stretchy dairy-free cheese and vegan ice cream to meaty plant-based burgers. And you dont have to do the hard yards in the kitchen yourself (unless you want to). Most supermarkets stock a variety of vegan products and more and more major fast-food chains are jumping on the bandwagon to cater to the rising number of people eating animal-free.

More people are turning to plants for the good of their health. Health was the most popular motivator for the participants of this years Veganuary campaign, which sees people going vegan for the month of January. Forty-six percent of the 250,310 participants named health as their main reason for taking part.

A growing body of research is pointing to the harmful effect of meat, dairy, and eggs on the body. In 2015, the World Health Organization (WHO) named red meat a Group 2 carcinogen, meaning it is probably carcinogenic. WHO classified processed meat like bacon and pepperoni in the Group 1 category, signifying that it causes cancer in humans. Asbestos and tobacco smoking are in this category, too.

Meat consumption has also been linked to diabetes, liver disease, kidney disease, and arthritis.

While a meat-based diet could cause the onset of disease, research suggests eating plant-based could actually help you live longer. Vegan foods are rich in fiber, unlike animal products, which contain none. Researchers from the University of Otago studied the link between diet and disease earlier this year. Looking at data from 185 observational studies, they found that those who consume the most fiber are 15 to 30 percent less likely to die prematurely. They also discovered a 16 to 24 percent reduced incidence of type 2 diabetes, stroke, and colon cancer among those who follow fiber-rich diets.

Vegan foods also contain no cholesterol. Dietary cholesterol is only found in animal-based foods. High cholesterol can lead to plaque forming along the inside of the artery walls, causing the artery to narrow and blood flow to decrease. This raises the risk of stroke, peripheral artery disease, and heart disease. A study conducted by the Cleveland Clinic in 2018 suggested that red meat could increase the risk of heart disease 1,000 percent more than a plant-based diet.

A vegan diet is probably the single biggest way to reduce your impact on planet Earth, not just greenhouse gases, but global acidification, eutrophication, land use, and water use, Oxford University researcher Joseph Poore said in a statement last year.

Poore was the lead researcher on the worlds most comprehensive analysis of farmings impact on the planet. The analysis saw the researching team assessing the environmental impact of the 40 food products that make up 90 percent of the total food consumed around the world. To do this, they analyzed data from around 40,000 farms in 119 countries.

The study found that many environmental issues could be helped by reducing meat and dairy consumption. If those industries were removed, land use could be reduced by more than 75 percent. That would free up an area the size of the U.S., the European Union, China, and Australia combined all capable of feeding the worlds population.

Animal agriculture also uses vast amounts of water. Beefhas a particularly high water footprint at about 1,800 gallons per pound, while pork follows at 578 gallons and chicken with 468 gallons, says environment website Water Calculator. On average, the water footprint of a vegan or vegetarian is around half that of a meat-eater.

Animal-based food production is also linked to ocean dead zones, water pollution, deforestation, and species loss. Its a leading generator of greenhouse gas emissions, which drive climate change. Animal agriculture is responsible for more greenhouse gas emissions than the worlds entire transportation sector, a fact that prompted the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to name meat the worlds most urgent problem.

Our use of animals as a food-production technology has brought us to the verge of catastrophe,it added.

Global food-related emissions could drop by 70 percent before 2050 if the world went vegan, according to a study published today in the journal Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences in 2016.

A survey by Vomad asked nearly 13,000 participants why they went vegan. Most 68.1 percent named animal welfare as their main reason.

The decision to stop eating animal products helps some align their behavior with their beliefs. Many people would call themselves an animal lover. Forty-five percent of Brits have an animal living with them. Most (93 percent) pet owners claim that having a pet makes them happy and 88 percent say it improves their overall quality of life.

Social psychologist and author Dr. Melanie Joy has researched the concept of carnism, a set of beliefs that lead people to eat some animals but not others.

Joy believes that although most people do not want animals to suffer, social conditioning steers many toward animal-based diets. She claims that this can cause cognitive dissonance, mental discomfort experienced by those who hold contradictory beliefs.

To prevent this discomfort, people subconsciously shift their views on animals to see them as food rather than sentient beings. The meat industry does well to further this by marketing cow meat as beef, pig meat as bacon, and calf meat as veal.

Documentaries like Dominion uproot this way of thinking. The 2018 film uses hidden camera and aerial drone footage to expose the dark side of animal agriculture.

Many people subscribe to the belief that farm animals live out happy lives before being sent to slaughter. However, an analysis from the Sentience Institute found that approximately 99 percent of animals in the U.S. meat industry live on factory farms.

Factory farming, also called intensive animal farming, aims to maximize production. Some factory farms keep hens in cages the size of an A4 piece of paper. Others confine mother pigs to sow stalls so small that they cannot turn around. The industry permits workers to remove parts of animals bodies without pain relief; chicks have their beaks cut off and calves have their horns, tails, and testicles removed.

The meat, dairy, and egg industries also cut animals lives drastically shorter than their natural ones. The natural lifespan of a chicken is eight years. But chickens bred for meat are killed as early as six weeks old. Cows can live to be 20 or older. But those raised for meat are sent to slaughter at just 18 months old. Lambs are killed at six months even though many will naturally live to be 14 or older.

The Daily Mail called Dominion the scariest movie ever made. Many say they cant make it past the 10-minute mark due to the confronting nature of the footage. High Note Cafe in Idaho stopped serving animal products and went completely vegan after its manager watched just 15 minutes of Dominion.

Adopting a vegan diet also supports human rights issues.

Experts say we are growing enough food to feed 10 billion people. Yet almost 795 million or one in nine people suffer from chronic undernourishment. Between one-third and one-half of the worlds crops are fed to livestock. Eighty-two percent of starving children live in countries that grow crops for animals raised for Western consumption.

A study published by the National Academy of Sciences last year found that we could feed an additional 350 million people by swapping animal-based foods with vegan alternatives.

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What Is the Definition of a Vegan Diet?

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What is the definition of a vegan diet? All your questions about meat, eggs, dairy, and even honey answered once and for all.

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Jemima Webber

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What Is the Definition of a Vegan Diet? - LIVEKINDLY

Vanessa Percher, head chef at Chef Veganessa, with her vegan Thanksgiving dish, lentil and mushroom loaf with roasted walnuts, miso gravy, roasted butternut squash mash, string beans and orange cranberry sauce in Beaconsfield on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019.Dave Sidaway / jpg

This long weekend, you can give some turkeys something to be thankful for by trying a meat-free feast for Thanksgiving.

With the growth in popularity in veganism and vegetarian diets, it seems every family now has one or several members who have adopted meat-free eating, either for ethical reasons, health or environmental concerns.

Its not foreign anymore; were definitely in the age of plant-based food, said le-Perrot resident Vanessa Percher, the owner of Chef Veganessa.

Thanksgiving is a favourite time of year for Percher, and not only because she does brisk business selling vegan holiday meals, but because she loves preparing a traditional meal with all the trimmings.

Its my favourite dish, said Percher, who has been running the Beaconsfield-based meal delivery business for the last 10 years. Its a lentil loaf with nothing artificial. Its got brown rice, mushrooms and walnuts. Its a very savoury loaf, and it comes with roasted butternut squash mash. Its comfort food, whether youre (on a plant-based diet) or not.

Percher found out she had celiac disease about 10 years ago when working as a pastry chef at Bich restaurant, now known as Ristorante Beatrice. She adopted a vegan diet for health reasons around the same time and realized there was a need for healthy gluten-free and vegan meal options.

When I found out that I was not able to taste the food I was making, I had a problem, Percher said. I realized there was a rise in allergies, so I decided to focus on cooking for people who are limited in what they can eat.

Chef Veganessa delivers weekly gluten-free and vegan meals ready to reheat or freeze for later, it also has a small takeout counter at the storefront in Elm Plaza. Saturday was a busy day for Percher, delivering special holiday meals, as the store is closed Sundays and Mondays.

For those who are trying to cut back on meat, or hosting a vegetarian or vegan in their family for the first time, Percher recommends going to the organic section of a grocery store, or visiting a specialty grocery store to find plant-based alternatives to turkey. They include a Tofurky loaf, made with soy, or the Gardein Holiday Roast. Percher said cooking for vegetarians doesnt have to be overly complicated and can be as easy as buying vegetarian ground beef, which is available in most grocery stores and substituting that for the real thing.

The website of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals also has recipes and suggestions for meat-free products. They include ordering a vegan loaf from Rosemont-based Caf Dei Campi.

If youre going out for dinner, some popular vegan restaurants are Lov andLola Rosa. At Westmount and Mile End-based Aux Vivres, you can either dine in or you take home their products either from take-put counters attached to the restaurants or at partner distributors like Metro, IGA, Rachelle Bery and Tau grocery stores. Montreal-based Gusta also offers plant-based sausages and seitan loaves. It has a counter at the Jean-Talon Market and products available at many grocery stores and retailers throughout the country. For dessert, Sophie Sucre on Pins Ave. at the corner of De Bullion St., is another option. Its products are also available at cafs and restaurants throughout the region. On its fall manu, the bakery features a brown sugar spice cake with pumpkin icing, among other treats.

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The vegan movement is on fire. From soaring IPOs to vegan fried chicken launching at KFC, 2019 has seen some of the biggest mainstream breakthroughs in the plant-powered universe. And where better to celebrate those vegan wins than at the UKs leading vegan festival? Set to take place on Londons picturesque Southbank this November, Vevolution Festival will treat you to a day packed with inspirational and thought-provoking talks, workshops, and panels.

Speakers include pro skateboarder Kenny Anderson, Wicked Healthy co-founder Derek Sarno, LIVEKINDLY founder and CEO Jodi Monelle, and restaurateur Loui Blake.

We are so proud that Vevolution Festival has become a global event with attendees and speakers traveling from all over the world to be a part of it, the festivals co-founder Damien Clarkson told LIVEKINDLY. Together with Judy Nadel, Clarkson created Vevolution to push the vegan movement forward. It aims to raise awareness and educate the masses about veganism, creating free educational content for people around the world to access.

Vevolution supports vegan entrepreneurs, businesses, and hosts major events around the world, including its annual London festival. The event is sponsored by a number of vegan brands, including BOL, Follow Your Heart, Wuka, and Bute Island Foods. Environmental organization Greenpeace has also partnered with the festival, as has Animal Equality UK, and community kitchen Made in Hackney.Clarkson explained, when we started [Vevolution Festival] we didnt ever envision it would grow to be such a big global celebration of the plant-powered movement and positive change-makers. Each year, the festival gets bigger and better. This year, it will unveil a new Positive Futures stage.

We live in an economically, politically unstable time, said Clarkson. We think we are clearly seeing the very real impacts of man-made climate change on our planet. This stage will be discussing how we re-imagine and transform our food systems, our health, and creative positive change-making businesses.

Its been a huge year for vegan food; 2019 has seen major fast-food chains including Papa Johns, KFC, and Burger King add new animal-free options to their menus. But the biggest leap forward for the plant-based movement? Clarkson says its got to be the Beyond Meat IPO.Based in California, Beyond Meat has taken the world by storm with its vegan bleeding beef-like patties, which look, cook, and taste like their animal-based counterparts.

The burgers arent just kinder to the animals, but theyre good to the planet too. One Beyond Burger produces 90 percent fewer greenhouse gases than its beef equivalent.In May, it became the first-ever vegan brand to IPO. Initially, its value was $25 a share. By the end of its first day, its value was $65 a share. By June, it was valued at $99.9 a share. Its success has changed the future of food, says Clarkson. We speak to so many investors and big companies who are now waking up to the potential of the plant-based products to generate profit.

He added, the Beyond Meat IPO has led to so many more big companies, banks, and investors contacting us about the future of plant-based business and this is really exciting.

Positive change is happening around the world, and Vevolution will inspire you to get involved, says Clarkson. Even if youre planning on going solo, you wont be disappointed.

We always have people attend our festivals on their own, he said. Every year we hear stories of people who have made new friends and come away from Vevolution feeling like they are a part of how we are going to create a better world.He added, our ultimate wish is that attendees leave feeling positive about the future and the role they can play in transforming the planet and making it a better place to live.A renewed sense of hope and passion arent the only souvenirs attendees will take home. For every ticket purchased, guests will receive a goodie bag worth 25, packed full of the best new vegan products. If you want to go all-in, theres also the option of an Extra Entry Ticket. Youll get access to the festival, entry queue jump, and access to the venue 15 minutes before the doors open.

Youll also be able to access to breakfast 15 minutes before the doors open. Youll get a free lunch and a WIP goodie bag, packed with vegan products worth more than 45. But if youre not interested in filling up your home with new things you may not necessarily need, Vevolution understands. It is also offering the choice of a low impact ticket, which simply grants access to the festival alone.Free continental breakfast which includes muffins, fruit pots, and cookies will be on offer on a first-come, first-served basis, and free coffee will be available for all throughout the day.

For those there for the food (who isnt), Vevolution is offering the best vegan street food you can find in the country. The venues internal caterers Benugo have also cooked up a special plant-based menu for the occasion. Vevolution is for everyone, said Clarkson. It is a place to come and discuss the future of the plant-based economy, meet your new best friend, and hear a positive vision for the future.

Vevolution will take place on November 16 at BFI Southbank. To choose your ticket, click here.

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Vevolution Is the Must-Attend Vegan Festival of 2019

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London's Vevolution festival will treat you to a day packed with vegan food, inspirational and thought-provoking talks, workshops, and panels.

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Charlotte Pointing

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Vevolution Is the Must-Attend Vegan Festival of 2019 - LIVEKINDLY

When we decide what to eat or drink, we're making choices that go beyond flavor. What we consume can be a tool for social change, a connection with generations past, and a major influence on our well-being.

In this lively episode, WPLN's Emily Siner talks to Chris Carter of Porter Road Butcher, Tiffany Hancock of The Southern V, and Leah Larabell of High Garden Tea three food entrepreneurs who are merging innovation and tradition. How did they start down the paths of local meat production, veganism and herbalism? And how do they navigate pushback from skeptical customers?

Support our podcasts by donating at wpln.org/give and noting that you listen to Movers & Thinkers. Hear previous episodes of Movers & Thinkerson our website,Apple PodcastsorGoogle Play Music.

Leah Larabell grew up close to the land, and she began studying herbalism over a decade ago. She opened High Garden in East Nashville with her husband Joel in 2012. Through running the tea shop and offering classes, she is able to reintroduce many people to their forgotten green friends and a way of life full of joy, support and connection.Leah considers it her purpose to bring person and plant back together in the bonded relationship that it once was and can be.

Tiffany Hancock craved the flavors and seasonings from her past. She couldn't find them after she transitioned to veganism. But Tiffany loves a challenge, so she went to the kitchen and made magic. Now, you can find her sprinting back and forth, cooking and baking all the items for The Southern V in North Nashville. Her Southern take on vegan/plant-based dishes has provided many customers with a new perspective on the lifestyle, as well as given a nostalgic experience to longtime vegans.

Chris Carter made his entry into the restaurant industry as a busboy in high school and later studied culinary arts at Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Institute in Arizona. It was after culinary school, however, working at Flemings Steakhouse, where Chris came to appreciate high-quality meat and decided to create Porter Road Butcher. While not driving all over the region to pick up animals, processing and cutting meat in Princeton, Ky., or serving customers in the East Nashville shop, Chris enjoys going to a good concert, drinking several cold beers while fishing, roaming the aisles of Bass Pro Shop at Opry Mills and finding his center in a hot yoga class.

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Movers & Thinkers: The Butcher, The Vegan Baker, The Potions Maker - WPLN

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Love Earth gives a big, green hug to Staten Islanders, fresh on the food scene as the boroughs first and only dedicated vegan eatery.

Veganism is on the rise, said Danielle DiLillo with a broad smile. She owns the business along with Renee Raia and Anthony Gerardi.

Were just here to raise consciousness and awareness of high-vibration foods, said Di Lillo, over a mason jar of just-pressed, potent celery juice that the kitchen normally blends with lime. Its one of several Healing Nectars on the menu highlighted as Farmacy.

Love Earth, in Richmond Valley, also blends concoctions like Miracle Red Juice --- beets, carrots, apples, celery, limes and ginger -- and Anti Cancer elixir -- cucumber, celery, kale, spinach and lemons.

High-vibe foods are loaded with nutrients and very important ones that can heal physical and mental health, explained Di Lillo.

When you put dead animals in your body, youre legitimately killing your vibe, said Di Lillo. And out of respect for the Mother Earth, the business uses no plastic.

Love Earth vows a brand of bakery thats gluten-free, peanut-free, soy-free, dairy-free and egg-free. Food is baked, not fried. Cupcakes, chocolate chip cookies, muffins and cookie dough balls, part of its initial line of sweets, use organic sugar. Regular sugar, Di Lillo pointed out, uses animal bone char in the processing, which gives the granules their clean, white color.

Sugar is so bad for you. Here we do all these allergen-friendly desserts but what Im looking to do next is to bake everything with coconut sugar, said Di Lillo.

Although considered healthy, Raia said that food is not prepared with honey. It just is too controversial of a food among vegans, as the insects can be compromised and exploited by human harvesting. So the restaurant avoids using it.

(Staten Island Advance/Pamela Si

Burgers are made with veggies like spinach and artichoke. Earth Love Cafe is a vegan-friendly restaurant that caters to various diet regimens because they use no animal products like dairy and eggs. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)

Also on the menu are five salads with various beds of greens and house versions dubbed Loving Kale, Love Spinach Salad and the Love Salad, the most basic with greens, cucumbers, red onions, olives and tomatoes with a roasted pepper vinaigrette.

Veggie-based burgers come on a bun (not gluten-free) with chips and a tussle of lettuce. Patties are made from portobello mushrooms, pea protein, chickpeas, black beans and sweet potato. An artichoke-spinach version is blended to toothsomeness with gluten-free flour, rice and nutritional yeast. It comes with a tomato and creamy pesto, one of Di Lillos signature sauces.

Soups on this inaugural menu include Coconut Thai Butter Bean, Vegetable Minestrone with red beans and Santa Fe, a chunky brew of garlic, onions, bell peppers, beans, sweet potato, cilantro and Ayurvedic spices.

(Staten Island Advance/Pamela Si

The kitchen crew (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)

There are veggie-centric sandwiches like the eggplant-driven ELT and apps like the fiery Buffalo Cauliflower, hummus and guacamole with chips. Raia is a two-time Staten Island Advance Cookbook and one of her award-winning dishes lands on this menu -- the mojito bean and plantain salsa served with tortilla chips.

Di Lillo and Raia are passionate about their vegan lifestyle.

Di Lillo introduced a vegan and Paleo-diet menu at a former venture, the now-closed Dominicks Bakery. Raia has self-published a book in 2017 on the subject, Heal the Planet. Heal Your Soul: Awaken Through Veganism." The restaurant has been years in the works. Di Lillo admitted it was hard to find investors who believed in the project. But Gerardi understood what the pair was trying to do. And the concept hit home since his son suffers from severe food allergies.

Love Earth will roll out cooking classes, yoga and Broga, a yoga tailored for men.

We have a space downstairs for anyone who wants to help humanity on a collective scale, said Di Lillo.

There are so so so many benefits when you eat from the sun and from our mother, she emphasized, adding, Love earth! Love your mamma!

Love Earth is located at 4916 Arthur Kill Rd., Richmond Valley; 646-960-6411. In the works is the website LoveEarthCafeBakery.com. The cafe is kosher certified.

(Staten Island Advance/Pamela Si

Burgers are made with pea protein, mushrooms, black beans, sweet potato or artichoke and spinach. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)

(Staten Island Advance/Pamela Si

Celery juice with or without lime (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)

(Staten Island Advance/Pamela Si

Roasted red pepper pesto can to burgers (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)

(Staten Island Advance/Pamela Si

A chandelier at the front of Earth Love (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)

(Staten Island Advance/Pamela Si

Some of the greens in the decor (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)

(Staten Island Advance/Pamela Si

The dining room features sit-down service (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)

(Staten Island Advance/Pamela Si

Cookie dough balls and chocolate chip cookies (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)

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WILKES-BARRE, Pa. -- Dairy-free pizza, meatless burgers, and veggie buffalo wings are just some of the offerings at a new vegan restaurant that opens Tuesday in Wilkes-Barre.

Eden A Vegan Caf opens this week on South Main Street in downtown Wilkes-Barre and the owner tells us it's not like your typical vegan restaurant.

"We take traditional comfort foods that people already love and we veganize them, so we just use different proteins, so instead of animal products and dairy and eggs, we use proteins like soy, wheat, pea protein, and we make burgers and pizza and wraps and wings," Christian Pilosi explained.

"It's such a big trend right now," said employee Emily Brodhead. "A lot of people are into the whole veganism thing. A lot of people don't understand what it is, so it gives people a really prime opportunity to come in here and eat their everyday foods that they would usually get anywhere else to have it here."

Pilosi has had a location in downtown Scranton for more than a decade. He says he's thrilled to bring this option to people in Wilkes-Barre and excited to be so close to Wilkes University.

"It's all student apartments on the second and third floor. There's student apartments behind us, and they just wanted one storefront. They talked to a few people and they chose us and we couldn't be happier about it," Pilosi said.

Students at Wilkes University tell Newswatch 16 they think new restaurants and new businesses opening up nearby adds flavor to life on campus.

"I think it's a great opportunity. Obviously, it's a little bit more of a condensed campus and it's smaller, so it allows the students to go off and have more opportunities to enjoy different cuisine and enjoy different things to entertain themselves, so I think it's just one of those things to make their college experience more enjoyable," senior Eric Beideman said.

"I think that there's going to be a lot of people that come in just to see what it is, just to get the experience and kind of test their curiosity. I think we're going to get a lot of people really hooked on it. I think it's going to be a really, really, really busy day, a busy week, and just a busy future for us at Eden," Brodhead added.

Eden A Vegan Cafe opens Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. on South Main Street in Wilkes-Barre.

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