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Demand for Plant-Based Omega 3 Set to Soar – vegconomist – the vegan business magazine

Posted on March 20, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

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A recent market research report from P&S Intelligence has stated that one of the biggest trends currently being witnessed in the omega-3 market is the growth of veganism and the resultant consumption of plant-based supplements.

The report states that in 2019, the global omega-3 market size (containing fish oil) generated revenue of $19.7 billion, and is further expected to reach $49.7 billion by 2030. Transparency Market Research released a different report that specifically examines the plant-based omega 3 market; that report estimated that the fish-free Omega 3 market is expected to reach almost US$ 1.3 billion by 2029.

The interest is shifting from the type to the source of omega fatty acids across the health-aware consumers around the world, meaning that the demand for plant-based supplements will witness a massive surge over the next decade. Consumers are increasingly concerned over the safeguarding of marine ecosystems and biodiversity.

Fish obtain omega-3 by consuming algae, so it seems logical to bypass fish and go straight to the original plant source. As such, the usage of algae as a new alternative source to fish is therefore anticipated to grow rapidly in the plant-based omega-3 ingredients market. As well as algal oil, manufactures are developing products from chia seeds, flaxseed oil, canola oil, hemp seeds, walnuts, and others, which are also growing as fish-free omega-3 ingredients.

The Transparency Market report says, Stakeholders are expected to continue to bank on the growing population of vegan consumers and preference for algae or plant-based omega-3 ingredients to maintain the momentum. However, slow regulatory approvals will remain a primary challenge for market players, as they will continue to make it difficult for manufacturers to offer competitive prices and delay their products from reaching the fish-free omega-3 ingredients market.

Nevertheless, the ongoing trend of substituting krill oil in omega-3 dietary supplements with vegetarian algae oil will continue to support the growth of the fish-free omega-3 ingredients landscape in the foreseeable future.

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Demand for Plant-Based Omega 3 Set to Soar - vegconomist - the vegan business magazine

Heres how to live like a vegan in Animal Crossing – according to PETA – Shortlist

Posted on March 25, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

Animal Crossing, as games go, is very non-brutal.

The deadliest weapon you own in the game is an axe, and even that can only be used to chop down trees or hit rocks in search of precious iron nuggets. GTA it isn't.

But according to animal rights organisation PETA, there's a way to make the game even more gentle by playing it like a vegan. The organisation has just written a blog post outlining exactly how to play the game with animal rights in mind.

As you might expect, they're not a big fan of fishing, which will disappoint you if you're after some Nook Miles from catching ten in a row.

They also caution against catching bugs and giving them to Blathers in the museum: "Your island should be a place where wild animals are free to live without being captured and exploited," they write.

Eating fruit, however, is okay. "The whole world knows the answer to the eternal question of what a vegan would eat on a desert island: fruit! In the game, it makes you strong," PETA writes.

As for Tom Nook and his extortionate payment plans? "Tom Nook is a tanuki, or a raccoon dog, who are often killed for their fur. Others like him in the real world are beaten, gassed or skinned alive. Cut him some slack." You can't really argue with that.

To be fair to PETA, the post is very lighthearted it's less an attack and more a topical way to get information out there about animal abuse and veganism.

"PETA hopes the game will encourage people to feel closer to the animals we share our planet with," they say and when you look at the huge success of the game's gloriously cute world, it's easy to see it's succeeded.

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Vegans & Vitamin B12: Everything You Wanted To Know (But Were Afraid To Ask) – Plant Based News

Posted on March 17, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

Vitamin B12 deficiency can have severe consequences (Adobe. Do not use without permission)

Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) is an essential vitamin, which means we cannot live without it and have to obtain it through diet.

It is needed for nerve cells maintenance, DNA formation and red blood cell production.

We only need a tiny amount but its crucial that we do get it. In the UK, the recommended intake is 1.5 g (micrograms) of B12 daily, in the US its 2.4 g and the European Food Safety Authority suggests an adequate intake of 4 g.

The liver stores B12 and this stock lasts up to three years. Therefore, you cannot become deficient in a week or even a month but theres no point in risking a deficiency.

When it develops, it can have severe consequences so its important to ensure regular B12 intake.

The main symptoms of B12 deficiency include fatigue, lack of energy, muscle weakness, pins and needles sensation, depression and cognitive problems (trouble remembering things, understanding and decision making).

Deficiency can also result in raised levels of the amino acid homocysteine in the blood, which can increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.

At the other end of the spectrum are high B12 intakes you can take a high daily dose of this vitamin without any side effects but it shouldnt be more than 2,000 g (2 mg), according to the NHS (2017).

Vitamin B12 is produced by bacteria in the soil and water. Before sanitation, we used to get it from contaminated fruit and vegetables, and other plant foods.

Not only do we wash produce nowadays (and for good reasons), but most fruit and vegetables are pre-washed anyway so there's not a trace of B12 left. In addition, thanks to intensive farming practices, even the soil is depleted and lacking in these bacteria.

Some foods like nutritional yeast are fortified withVitamin B12(Adobe. Do not use without permission)

Animal products contain Vitamin B12, whilst most plants do not, and some people use this as an argument against veganism - but things are not so clear cut.

Farmed animals are given vitamins with their feed, which is why their flesh and secretions contain B12. People who consume animal foods effectively consume recycled B12. Isn't it better to go straight to the source and just take the supplement?

Studies show that insufficient B12 intake is a worldwide problem, with some populations having 30-40 percent of people with inadequate B12 levels (Allen et al., 2018). *

The truth is, its hard to get enough vitamin B12 from foods alone, even if you eat animal products.

For us, vegans, there are two options fortified foods or supplements. Vitamin B12 is produced by growing bacterial cultures and extracting it from them (Fang et al., 2017). The process is the same whether its B12 for supplements or food fortification.

Fortified foods include some breakfast cereals (check the ingredients label), yeast extracts (eg Marmite or Meridian Yeast Extract), nutritional yeast with B12, vegetable margarines, some meat alternatives and plant milks and yogurts.

If you have these foods on a daily basis, it may be sufficient but taking a supplement is a safer bet. You can take it daily, every other day or a larger dose once a week. B12 supplements usually come with much higher amounts than the 4g we need so its easy to get enough.

Some vegans opt to take vitamin B12 in droplets form, which you can buy here(Adobe. Do not use without permission)

There are several forms of B12 and the debate over which is the best is rife. The most common forms are cyanocobalamin and methylcobalamin.

Cyanocobalamin is the inactive form of B12, which needs to be activated in the stomach by binding with a compound called intrinsic factor. Thats a natural process and most people can rely on cyanocobalamin to cover their B12 needs. Cyanocobalamin is used in the more affordable supplements and fortified foods.

Methylcobalamin is the active form of Vitamin B12 and doesnt require any activation. However, its less stable and more expensive.

Then, there are two other forms of active Vitamin B12 adenosylcobalamin and hydroxocobalamin.

All four forms of B12 are effective at topping-up your stores. If you are healthy, cyanocobalamin (the cheap one) is perfectly sufficient (Obeid et al., 2015). Some people prefer to take one of the active forms, as they are ready-to-use by your body and thats perfectly fine.

However, its best to combine them with cyanocobalamin once in a while your body can make any form it needs from cyanocobalamin, which is not the case with the active forms (Thakkar and Billa, 2015).

If you have a B12 deficiency, then a combination of cyanocobalamin with one of the active forms is advisable to increase your levels quickly (Obeid et al., 2015; Thakkar and Billa, 2015) and the same applies if you have a specific condition affecting your B12 metabolism (Paul and Brady, 2017).

Absorption of B12 may be hindered by several factors - tobacco smoking, kidney disease, older age, general anaesthesia, some medications - Metformin (for diabetes), anticonvulsants, antacids and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs).

In these cases, its best to take methylcobalamin and cyanocobalamin but your doctor may also suggest B12 injections. As for the age question, if youre over 50, you need some extra B12 as our bodies are simply not as efficient at extracting it from foods alone.

Heating food and drinks in a microwave or longer-than-very-brief cooking can also reduce the amount of vitamin B12 available from them.

For example, if you always heat your fortified plant milk in a microwave before using it, you may not be getting enough B12 if that's your only source of it. Its a good idea to supplement your B12 a couple of times a week if you normally only rely on fortified foods.

It is a type of B12-related anaemia, where the body doesnt have enough vitamin B12 to make red blood cells. It is not caused by a lack of B12 but rather by a deficiency of the intrinsic factor in the stomach needed for B12 to be activated.

This can happen if your stomach lining is weakened due to a condition like gastritis, autoimmune disease or when you have had a procedure that removed a part of the stomach.

In these cases, B12 injections or sublingual methylcobalamin sprays/powders are recommended to avoid deficiency.

The bacteria in our guts actually produce Vitamin B12 but unfortunately, its of no use to us.

These bacteria live in the colon, which is too far down the digestive tract for us to be able to absorb the vitamin.

There are lots of myths about seaweed and Vitamin B12(Adobe. Do not use without permission)

There is a lot of (mis)information about food containing Vitamin B12. There have been claims that certain seaweeds contain it as well as fermented foods such as miso, tempeh, kombucha and sauerkraut.

Spirulina - a popular green algae powder claimed to be bursting with nutrients. Thats true but it has one big problem - it contains something called B12 analogues. They are compounds with a structure similar to Vitamin B12 so they bind to B12 receptors in the human body but do nothing and block access for the real B12. It can become an issue if you have spirulina every day, as it can have a negative impact on your B12 levels.

Nori - seaweed that comes in sheets or as flakes to be sprinkled on meals. Research shows it may be the only non-animal source of Vitamin B12 (Watanabe et al., 2014) but more data are needed to confirm this.

Fermented foods - this is a broad category including tempeh, miso, natto, kimchi, kombucha, sauerkraut and more. Its true that the bacteria used for fermentation do produce some B12 so these foods may provide tiny amounts. However, the amounts can be so negligible that it is advised not to rely solely on these products for vitamin B12.

There are some emerging foods that may be natural B12 sources, such as a specific type of duckweed. However, they arent mass-produced yet and there isnt enough data confirming we can truly obtain enough of the vitamin from them.

The awareness of the need to watch Vitamin B12 in our diet is increasing. If youre worried about your intake, you can ask your GP for a blood test. Its nothing uncommon and when you mention that youre vegan, they wont object.

A varied vegan diet supplies almost all we need but theres no getting around the B12 issue we do need a little extra help from supplements or fortified foods. We are not alone, many other population groups have low intakes and the elderly may be deficient even if they eat meat three times a day.

As our food production systems change, so do our lifestyle habits and theres nothing wrong with accepting that we need to add a tiny amount of a bacteria-produced vitamin to our diets.

Allen LH, Miller JW, de Groot L, et al. 2018. Biomarkers of Nutrition for Development (BOND): Vitamin B-12 Review. Journal of Nutrition. 148(suppl_4):1995S2027S.

Fang H, Kang J, Zhang D. 2017. Microbial production of vitamin B12: a review and future perspectives. Microbial Cell Factories. 16(1):15.

NHS. 2017. Vitamins and minerals B vitamins and folic acid [online]. Available from https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/vitamin-b/

Obeid R, Fedosov SN, Nexo E. 2015. Cobalamin coenzyme forms are not likely to be superior to cyano- and hydroxyl-cobalamin in prevention or treatment of cobalamin deficiency. Molecular Nutrition and Food Research. 59(7):13641372.

Paul C, Brady DM. 2017. Comparative Bioavailability and Utilization of Particular Forms of B12 Supplements With Potential to Mitigate B12-related Genetic Polymorphisms. Integrative Medicine (Encinitas). 16(1):4249.

Thakkar K, Billa G. 2015. Treatment of vitamin B12 deficiency-methylcobalamine? Cyancobalamine? Hydroxocobalamin?-clearing the confusion. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 69(1):12.

Watanabe F, Yabuta Y, Bito T and Teng F. 2014. Vitamin B12-containing plant food sources for vegetarians. Nutrients. 6 (5) 1861-1873.

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Meet two Baton Rouge women who are transforming the vegan menu – Greater Baton Rouge Business Report

Posted on March 17, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

Vegan food has changed a lot in the past 30 years, but The Dish at White Star Market has still found something new to servemodern vegan food that tastes familiar.

Co-owners Domini Bradford and Jessica Kisling launched the all-vegan concept in September, in a whirlwind three days after being offered the space. Barely six months later, the female entrepreneurs say theyre busting at the seams.

The pair span two generations, Bradford with a 30-year career in vegan cooking, and Kisling with a brief background in engineering, yoga and a taste of running a vegan cafe out of the former Yoga Bliss. Thats where the two met, operating the small cafe at the studio, before quickly linking up to launch the new ventureequipped with a Walmart grill and all.

Bradford, as the sole chef at the restaurant, leads the menu research and development side of the business.

Domini is an incredible cook, Kisling says, adding her skills make The Dish what it is.

Kisling credits her first culinary job at the vegan cafe for taking that first chance on her, with no real culinary background to speak of.

When The Dish launched last year thats exactly what it was: just one (vegan) dish a day. Avid followers turned to the restaurants Instagram page every day to see what was being served up. But that concept took a heck of a lot of planningboth on the business side and the consumers. So The Dish launched a standing menu with rotating daily specials, including gluten-free pastries.

Yet the original new-dish-every-day concept is part of what helped The Dish grow its big online following. That, and their presence on the vegan website and app, Happy Cow, which helps vegans far and wide find places to eat at home and on the road.

At the end of February, they launched an app for mobile ordering; theyre staying out of the delivery game for now.

Bradford and Kisling say they want to expand beyond White Star, too and are now looking at brick and mortar optionspotentially following in the footsteps of White Star staple Chow Yum Phator other shared space locations, remote kitchens and the like.

I really hope that this is this restaurant that we can make into something really big, it feels that way, just because of the understanding that in the general world right now, even in the South, Bradford says.

Like any business, they want to maximize output. Sharing a kitchen space with all the other White Star vendors (not to mention the steps for preventing nonvegan cross-contamination) can limit that output. Bradford says the only thing really stopping them is a staffing need. Shed love to get another chef in the kitchen with vegan experience, but thats harder to find than meat substitutes.

Circling back to her roots in Jackson, Mississippi, Bradford says her dream is to turn The Dish into a co-op, where employees own the business. She stayed at the vegan restaurant in Jackson for 13 years in part because of the co-op atmosphere. Since she left, Bradford says shes been waiting to get back into that community atmosphere.

When employees have a stake in the business, it makes everybody put their heart into it at the best, Bradford says. Youve got people who really care, or they wouldnt be here.

While veganism, vegetarianism, pescetarianism and general plant-based eating are on the rise, The Dish is still reaching a niche market in Baton Rouge. Everybody knows a vegan, the duo says.

Their customer base is broad, they say, and bolstered by the food hall, divide-and-conquer atmosphere. Reflecting on her own struggles with wanting to be vegan as a teenager, Kisling says they now see a constant flow of families coming to White Star, giving kids the chance to split off and ascribe to a diet different from their parents.

Bradford has seen a lot in her roughly 30 years in the vegan culinary world. But the biggest difference has been in the availability of vegan products.

Products like Beyond Burger have completely changed the vegan game, she says. When she entered the vegan culinary world in Mississippi she was working at a cafe that followed a macrobiotic dietoften associated with Japanese cuisine and that some claim can treat cancer.

Her focus on making food that feels familiar, but is vegan goes back to the simple idea that being vegan isnt a massive sacrifice.

Read more about plant-based food in Baton Rouge from inRegisters March cover story.

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Taco Bell Adding Vegan Meat To Over 5,600 US Locations – Vegan News

Posted on March 5, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

In the fall of 2019, Taco Bell announced the addition of a vegetarian menu to their already veg-friendly standard menu that includes the ability to order an item as Fresco which removes the dairy products and adds a fresh pico de gallo in its place.

In early January of this year, Taco Bell said they were going to be providing the most vegetarian choices which involves changes to their menu and app that makes it even easier for customers to order vegan and vegetarian options.

As plant-based diets and veganism skyrocket in popularity setting both consumer demands, expectations and predicting where this new decade is headed Taco bell is embracing the meat alternatives as their new chief executive officer (CEO) announces their new plans.

The Yum! Brands Inc. owned company is adding plant-based vegan proteins in the next year said Taco Bell CEO Mark King in an interview with Bloomberg.

Thats a huge reversal from Taco Bells previous management strategy earlier that revolved around sticking to a vegetarian-only marketing strategy.

We definitely see that plant-based protein has a place on the menu, King said.

King has taken meetings with plant-based vegan meat manufacturers Beyond Meat Inc. and Impossible Foods in the past few months.

King and the company have yet to make a decision on what mock meat will be featured on the menu he explained in the interview.

Yum Brands is placing a lot of importance on Taco Bells growth as they are struggling to revive brands like Pizza Hut with store remodeling that focuses on takeout.

They also are looking to make Pizza Hut carbon neutral and dairy-free in the UK by 2030 they recently announced.

Along with capitalizing on delivery through apps, Taco Bell has also recently begun to use many more digital options to entice their customers.

That has helped the chain widen their customer base in the highly competitive fast-food industry with store sales jumping up 4% in their last quarter.

While Taco Bell weighs their decision on which alternative meat to choose competitors are also racing into the new exploding plant-based market as consumers choose more cruelty-free, healthier, and environmentally friendly options at the drive-thru.

McDonalds is testing their PLT Beyond Meat burger in Canada as is Wendys, while Burger King already had a blowout success last year when testing their Impossible Whopper.

So much so that Burger King launched it nationally in the U.S. at their more than 7,000 location to even more success.

Kentucky Fried Chicken is also getting in on the action with more than 70 cities in the U.S. testing their Beyond Meat Beyond Fried Chicken, followed by many restaurants like Dennys carrying Beyond Burgers.

King said he sampled Beyond Meats items just last week and hes a fan.

I tried all the food which was really exciting, and way beyond my expectation, said King, the former Adidas CEO who took over at Taco Bell back in August.

Monthly average searches for the word vegan with the name of a major fast-food chain included alongside it rose 12 percent from 2018 to 2019 according to Fast Company.

Checking Google stats show that the search term Vegan Taco Bell is ranked number one with 456,500 total searches from January 2018 to August 2019.

In comparison Vegan Starbucks came in second with 216,500 total searches, and Vegan Burger King came in third with 127,700.

Taco Bell bringing plant-based vegan meats to the U.S. comes hot on the heels of their Oatrageous Taco launch in Finland, Spain and other countries throughout Europe which actually came as quite a surprise after the company said they wouldnt be adding vegan meats to their menu.

The Oatrageous Taco is made from oats and beans with a marination in a sauce of secret Taco Bell spices. The oat meat can be substituted in place of any of the traditional animal flesh-based menu items.

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15 Vegan Women Activists of Color You Need to Know About – VegNews

Posted on March 5, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

Women have long been the heart and soul of the animal rights movement and a huge catalyst for the shift to mainstream veganism, and these brilliant and brave women-identified activists continue to make veganism more accessible, widespread, and approachable. From literary theorists to undercover investigators, and so much more, these fifteen incredible vegan activists are proving that in order to make history, you must first disrupt the status quo.

1. Aph KoDecolonial theorist, independent digital media producer, author, and public speaker are just a few of the many roles Ko holds. She founded Black Vegans Rock in 2015 to spotlight the voices and experiences of Black vegans after writing the first article that listed 100 Black Vegans, and she is a founding member of the North American Association for Critical Animal Studieswhich is a conference that takes place every other year for anti-speciesist research in human-animal relations. Her newest book, Racism as Zoological Witchcraft: A Guide to Getting Out (a combination of critical race theory, social commentary, veganism, and gender analysis), was published late last year.

2. Rubaiya AhmadThis Bangladesh-based animal activist was spurred to action more than a decade ago, after one of the dogs she cared for was killed by government cullers as part of an ineffective effort to control the countrys rabies problem. In 2009, she founded the countrys first animal welfare organization, Obhoyaronno (meaning Sanctuary), and started a program to sterilize and vaccinate free-roaming dogs against rabieseventually petitioning Dhaka city to end dog culling, which is now nearly nonexistent across the country. The organization has spayed or neutered more than 16,000 dogs to date. She also works continuously to help local schools adopt Meatless Monday and to get giant grocery chains to install vegan sections, and plans to focus on legislative reforms in the future.

3. Angela DavisBest known for her racial justice and human rights activism, Davis is also a longtime vegan, saying in a 2012 interview with Grace Lee Boggs:

Her long history of social justice works includes being the author of over ten books on class, feminism, and the US prison system; co-founding Critical Resistance, an organization working to abolish the prisonindustrial complex; and working as the department director of the feminist studies department at the University of California, Santa Cruz.

4. lauren OrnelasAn animal rights advocate for more than 30 years, Ornelas is the founder and executive director of the Food Empowerment Project (FEP), a non-profit food justice organization that encourages consumers to choose compassionate food choicesboth for human workers in the food system, and for the animals. Shes been credited with making Whole Foods CEO John Mackey go vegan, and has campaigns against chocolate produced by labor of West African slavescreating a list of approved, vegan, truly cruelty-free chocolate. Through FEP, Ornelas also helps organize an annual school supply drive for the children of farm workers, as well as a food drive.

5. Aryenish BirdieBirdie is currently the founder and executive director of Encompass, an organization that works to foster greater racial equity and inclusion in the animal rights movement and support activists of color. She previously worked as the Research Outreach and Legislative Policy Manager at the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), promoting human-relevant alternatives to the use of animals in testing procedures, and helped secure legislative victories for lab animals. While part of PCRM, she was part of a four-woman team that worked to reform the Toxic Substances Control Act, ensuring that animal protection language was integrated into the law.

6. Dr. Amie Breeze HarperWith over 15 years of experience as a diversity, equity, and inclusion expertworking on everything from conference planning and publishing books and articles, to workshop design and facilitationHarpers experience is vast. Her work creating and editing Sistah Vegan: Black Female Vegans Speak On Food, Identity, Health, and Society, a series of literary reflections from North American black-identified vegans, brought to the forefront a diversity of voices not previously given a platform by the vegan community. Harper currently gives talks that encourage literacy around how systemic racism operates in even the most ethical spaces, and offers consultancy services to help organizations with inclusion, diversity, and equity.

7. Michelle CarreraThis queer Puerto Rican vegan food justice activist founded NYCs Chilis on Wheels, an organization that works to make veganism accessible to communities in need by offering free plant-based meals, and the organization has since grown to 14 chapters in various cities. After Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico in September 2017, Carrera traveled there to provide food relief through Chilis on Wheels and helped serve over 15,000 meals in nursing homes, orphanages, domestic violence shelters, and other institutions. But Carrera didnt stop there! In 2018, she also founded Casa Vegana de la Comunidad in Puerto Rico, a permanent headquarters for Chilis on Wheels, and a vegan sustainability-focused house which hosts a micro-sanctuary for rescued animals.

8. Brenda SandersSanders is the founder and president of Afro-Vegan Society, a non-profit organization that makes the vegan lifestyle accessible and approachable in predominantly Black areas and neighborhoods, and is also co-founder and co-coordinator of Thrive Baltimore, a community resource center that provides education and support to those interested in adopting a healthier lifestyle. Sanders also helped organize and start the first Vegan SoulFest, an annual festival that celebrates culture and veganism. She is a founding member of PEP Foods, now called A Greener Kitchen, a collective of vegan food activists who aim to produce healthy foods that offer an affordable alternative to animal products in the Baltimore area. And thats just a few of Sanderss many accomplishments.

9. Jaya BhumitraWith nearly 20 years of experience with campaigns and public affairs, Bhumitras work for animals is multifaceted. From serving as Director of Corporate Outreach for Mercy for Animals and Director of Campaigns for Compassion Over Killing (now called Animal Outlook), to her current role as the Managing Director for Animal Charity Evaluators, a non-profit whose mission is to find and promote the most effective ways to help animals, she has worn many hats. In 2016, Bhumitra also established the corporate outreach department at Animal Equality, and in just three years, led 24 people across eight countries to achieve 120 animal welfare policies from the worlds largest food companies. She currently also serves as an Advisory Council Member for Encompass, an organization focused on racial equity in the animal rights movement.

10. Toni OkamotoThis multi-time cookbook author, former Food and Lifestyle Coordinator for Vegan Outreach, and founder of Plant Based on a Budgeta website that creates free and low-cost resources for individuals on a budget that demonstrates easy, affordable, plant-based eatingis on a mission to make veganism accessible for everyone. Okamoto created the Plant-Based on a Budget Meal Plans, which have helped thousands of people greatly reduce the costs of their grocery bills. She currently co-hosts The Plant-Powered People Podcast and regularly speaks at institutions and conferences about ways to make a plant-based diet healthy and affordable.

11. Dulce RamrezIn 2013, the Mexico chapter of Igualdad Animal (Animal Equality) was founded, with Ramrez leading the charge. In the seven years since its founding, she has worked with her team to end the use of animals in circuses in the state of Jalisco, develop educational programs, petition for legislative changes, and work with companies encouraging them to adopt policies that benefit animalssuch as offering more vegan options. Ramrez is one of only a few female investigators in Mexico working to document the lives of animals on factory farms, turning that footage into public campaigns.

12. Pei-Feng SuSu is the Executive Director and co-founder of ACTAsia, an organization dedicated to humane education in Asia, who puts her focus on educating young people to help them understand the interdependence of all living things. Since the organization was founded in 2006, they have taught more than 65,000 students and trained over 1,000 teachers, in addition to having more than six years worth of humane curriculum being taught in 130 schools. In 2011 the organization launched Fur Free Life, an anti-fur campaign that has recruited 30 retailers in Asia to commit to using ethical alternatives to fur.

13. Dr. Charu ChandrasekeraDirector of laboratory science with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) and the Executive Director of the Canadian Centre for Alternatives to Animal Methods at the University of Windsor in Ontario, Canada, Chandrasekera is working towards a future without animal testing. Her early-on first hand experience in labs showed her how animals are ineffective as models for human disease and now she works on biomedical research, regulatory testing, and developing courses and degrees focused on shifting away from the use of animals in labs and finding human-relevant alternatives.

14. Sneha ShresthaSnehas Care is the shelter for Nepals street dogs that Shrestha founded in 2014 and runs outside of Kathmandu with a team of veterinarians and technicians, caring for more than a hundred dogs with varying degrees of medical issues such as paralyzation and missing limbs. Since she cant buy dog wheelchairs in the country, she imports them for dogs in need and works to educate the public and improve the perception of street dogs in their community, who are often subject to horrific abuse. Her work with street dogs encouraged her to adopt a vegan lifestyle and she has campaigned for many animal rights causes, such as getting the Nepalese government to adopt the countrys first ever animal protection law.

15. Seble NebiyeloulNebiyeloul co-founded International Fund for Africa (IFA) in her native Ethiopia, an organization that has a large vegan food and health program for school children which serves two vegan meals a day to hundreds of children, works to improve sanitation in schools, helps girls make reusable menstrual pads, provides mobile clinics for sterilization and vaccinations for street dogs, and so much more. Today the organization works with A Well Fed World, a food security and environmental advocacy organization, to continue their sustainability focused work. She hopes to expand her activism to one day open a vegan restaurant and a sanctuary for unwanted and abused donkeys and horses.

Sarah McLaughlin is the New Products Editor at VegNews who is endlessly inspired by these incredible activists.

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What happened to quality control?’ Vegan passenger served butter and cheese on British Airways flight – The Independent

Posted on March 5, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

A British Airways passenger who requested a special vegan meal was served it with butter and cheese.

Markwas travelling on British Airways flight BA288 on 1 March from Phoenix, US, to London Heathrow.

He tweeted a picture of his VGML vegan meal, which had a special meal sticker on it, next to a butter sachet and cheddar cheese triangle.

Sharing the full story, not just the headlines

He captioned the image: 15 years ago I would have expected it, but youre *still* serving cheese and butter with VGMLs at a time when veganism has never been so popular and well catered for elsewhere.

What happened to quality control and crew awareness?

A cockroach was found in an Air India breakfast meal.

Twitter/Manoj Khandekar

Avianca's idea of a vegetarian meal was an apple and a pear on board one flight.

Twitter/Steve Hogarty

Emirates served this disappointing Cajun chicken and cheese sandwich on a flight to Dubai

Paul Carlin

Martin Pavelka was handed this banana, complete with "gluten-free" label, as his inflight meal on an ANA service from Tokyo to Sydney.

Martin Pavelka/Evening Standard

Oman Air's finest: presenting something approximating a mushroom sandwich on a flight to Heathrow.

Nick Boulos

Aegean Airways served up some raw pepper and carrot sticks as its veggie option on one flight.

musterknabe

An Air India passenger wasn't impressed when she found this in the business class lounge.

Twitter/Harinder Baweja

Not everyone turns their nose up at plane food - this Urumqi flight attendant was suspended after a video of her eating leftovers went viral.

Viral Press

A cockroach was found in an Air India breakfast meal.

Twitter/Manoj Khandekar

Avianca's idea of a vegetarian meal was an apple and a pear on board one flight.

Twitter/Steve Hogarty

Emirates served this disappointing Cajun chicken and cheese sandwich on a flight to Dubai

Paul Carlin

Martin Pavelka was handed this banana, complete with "gluten-free" label, as his inflight meal on an ANA service from Tokyo to Sydney.

Martin Pavelka/Evening Standard

Oman Air's finest: presenting something approximating a mushroom sandwich on a flight to Heathrow.

Nick Boulos

Aegean Airways served up some raw pepper and carrot sticks as its veggie option on one flight.

musterknabe

An Air India passenger wasn't impressed when she found this in the business class lounge.

Twitter/Harinder Baweja

Not everyone turns their nose up at plane food - this Urumqi flight attendant was suspended after a video of her eating leftovers went viral.

Viral Press

British Airways responded: Were sorry you were given dairy products with your vegan meal, Mark. Were grateful youve made us aware of this.

A British Airways spokesperson told The Independent: We take pride in delivering thousands of special meals daily to our customers across the globe to the highest of standards. We are extremely sorry that our customer has had a negative experience. The reported issue is being investigated with our catering partner and we will take action to ensure this does not occur in the future.

Veganism is not just a diet, but a deeply held ethical conviction that harming animals is wrong, so it can be really upsetting for a vegan to be given animal products when they have specifically ordered a vegan option, Matt Turner, spokesperson for The Vegan Society, told The Independent.

Vegan meals often have to be ordered in advance and sometimes dont make it on board the plane. We are campaigning to see a vegan option added to standard inflight menus across the board so that everyone has the choice to order them.

Vegan passengers should always be able to fly with ease and confidence that they will be catered for.

Its not the first time a passenger with dietary requirements has been served an inadequate inflight meal.

Last November, a newlywed returning from his honeymoon was left hungry and disappointed after Tui failed to provide a gluten-free meal for him on the 10-hour flight home.

James Howe had paid for premium seats and pre-booked special meals as he suffers from coeliac disease, meaning he cant process gluten.

However, the 39-year-old from Watford was given just popcorn and crisps to survive the long-haul flight from Cancun, Mexico to Gatwick airport on 18 October.

In 2018, a vegan passenger was left feeling distressed and humiliated after it transpired there were no vegan meals available onboard her flight from Manchester to New Yorks John F Kennedy airport.

Trilby Harrison, 54, was given nothing but nuts and crisps to eat during the seven-hour Thomas Cook flight on 15 October, despite having prebooked a vegan meal through tour operator Gotogate.

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What happened to quality control?' Vegan passenger served butter and cheese on British Airways flight - The Independent

Is the vegan diet as sustainable as promised? – Times of India

Posted on March 5, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

A dietary trend that caught wind over the last few years, veganism, is believed to be the most environment friendly among all diets. Even though the production of meat and dairy does produce a large percentage of greenhouse gases responsible for the global climate change crisis, veganism, does not pose as the most effective solution. The vegan diet, limiting the intake of all animal produced foods, leaves a large number of resources unutilized. The diet might not be as sustainable as the world thinks.Diets with meat can feed more peopleThe most pressing puzzle faced by man, today, is ensuring the production of enough food for everyone. However, the amount of agricultural land on Earth may not suffice for everyone. In such a scenario, if a majority of the population convert to veganism, agriculture might not be able to provide for everyone. Diets which have a component of meat or dairy mean more amount of food for more number of people.

Providing vegan food all year longFollowing a vegan diet is a yearlong commitment to consuming only plant based food like fruits, vegetables, nuts and soy. A privilege provided to modern man allows us to get the same produce all year round. With the rising popularity of veganism, the world need to be producing all kinds of fruits and vegetables all year-round. However, unprecedented amounts of energy is used to grow these produce when they are not in season, which when coupled with packaging and shipping waste, have the same deteriorating effects on the environment.

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Is the vegan diet as sustainable as promised? - Times of India

Veganism is now protected by law following a row over pensions – The Canary

Posted on March 5, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

Veganism is now protected by the Equality Act 2010. The change has come following an employment tribunal involving anti-bloodsports organisation the League Against Cruel Sports (LACS). And it could have significant effects on workplaces, schools, and other public spaces in the UK.

On 3 January, Jordi Casamitjana won the first part of an employment tribunal against LACS. The case established that ethical veganism is a philosophical belief deserving protection under the Equality Act 2010. BBC News reported at the time that the tribunals judge agreed ethical veganism fulfilled several criteria:

including that it is worthy of respect in a democratic society, not incompatible with human dignity and not conflicting with the fundamental rights of others.

The BBC report also pointed out that, although an employment tribunal ruling isnt a binding legal precedent, the judges decision would have far-reaching impacts.

HR sector news website Personnel Today quoted Casamitjanas lawyer Peter Daly, who said:

The recognition of ethical veganism as a protected characteristic will have potentially significant effects on employment and the workplace, education, transport and the provision of goods and services.

Protection under the Equality Act means people with vegan ethics will be afforded the same legal protections as those with religious beliefs.

The court case was prompted by LACS dismissing Casamitjana in 2018 following a row over pension contributions. As vegan news website Plant Based News explains:

Casamitjana told the tribunal that he asked for his personal contributions to be stopped in January 2017, and LACS said this would be arranged. However, by October, he discovered that his contributions had not been stopped, and he had personally contributed 1,766.

At this point, he alerted his colleagues, saying ethical vegans should promote ethical consumption in others. As a result, he was dismissed on the grounds of gross misconduct.

LACS pensions at the time were invested in companies that test on animals including GlaxoSmithKline. The pension fund also invested in tobacco firms and Royal Dutch Shell. Casamitjana claimed from the outset that LACSs dismissal amounted to discrimination. However, the company denied this and said it fired Casamitjana because of gross misconduct. LACS maintained this in a statement on 2 February 2020, saying:

The only reason for the dismissal of Mr Casamitjana in 2018 was his communications to his colleagues in relation to our pension arrangements.

However, the second half of the employment tribunal on 2 March saw LACS admitting that Casamitjanas sharing of information wasnt wrong. As a result, the two parties agreed on an undisclosed settlement.

Following the 2 March result, Casamitjana said he feels totally vindicated. This outcome shows that even an apparently ethical organisation such as LACS can fail in applying its ethics throughout its infrastructure. And it will provide better footing for the UKs growing vegan community to stand up in workplace disputes.

Were in a period when the animal industry needs to take a long, hard look in the mirror for its contributions not only to animal abuse but also the climate crisis. So Casamitjanas victory couldnt have come at a better time.

Featured image via YouTube Cuecard

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Veganism is now protected by law following a row over pensions - The Canary

Veganism row breaks out after Joaquin Phoenix is told: be kinder to farmers – The Guardian

Posted on February 27, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

He has been called a diva and pretentious, and there are even those who dont like his acting but never before has Joaquin Phoenix been accused of causing mental health problems for British livestock farmers.

On Tuesday, the National Farmers Union (NFU) president, Minette Batters, changed all that, opening a new front against the US actor by claiming that he and other celebrity campaigners for veganism had played a part in demonising the UKs meat producers and doing enormous damage to their wellbeing.

Days after the Joker actors Oscars speech attacking the meat industry, Batters said farmers fearing the imminent loss of their livelihoods and family holdings were in a state of stress and anxiety.

Asked at the unions annual conference who she thought was driving the view that meat was bad and plants were good, she said: A lot of people who seem to hit the red carpet at the Bafta awards.

She added: Celebrities have to be careful [because] there are real-life consequences for others Joaquin Phoenix, hes had a really challenging life, and you really feel for him and a lot of the things he was saying, but he has to remember there are people at the end of this, there are small family farms and they get hurt too.

Her comments were immediately criticised by vegan and animal rights groups, who accused Batters of making claims without evidence and ignoring the ethical problems posed by meat production.

Veganism is something of an easy target at the moment and Im not sure that we are the cause of farmers problems, said a spokesperson for the Vegan Society. There are many causes of mental health issues and stress in farming and I havent seen evidence, a piece of research, showing that veganism is one of them.

Phoenix, who has been a vegan since he was three, made a plea for tolerance and equality in his acceptance speech for the best actor award at the Oscars, saying no race, gender or species had rights over another.

I think weve become very disconnected from the natural world, he said. We go into the natural world and we plunder it for its resources. We feel entitled to artificially inseminate a cow and steal her baby, even though her cries of anguish are unmistakeable. Then we take her milk thats intended for her calf and we put it in our coffee and our cereal.

Veganism continues to grow in popularity in the UK, with supermarkets clearing shelf space for plant-based ready meals, and meat-free dining in restaurants and pubs now commonplace.

Other celebrities who have spoken about the health benefits of plant-based diets are Benedict Cumberbatch, Ellie Goulding and Beyonc, with their support credited with aiding a rise in veganisms popularity.

Batters said she was not saying veganism is wrong, but argued that the debate around animal products had become so binary that meat was being put in the same category as tobacco.

I remember the interview I did with Evan Davis on PM to talk about the governments new food strategy and he said: Is eating meat the new smoking? He compared us with the tobacco industry and you think, Whoa, just think about all of this.

But the Vegan Society questioned whether its members were really so influential, pointing out that the total number of vegans in the UK was still only 600,000, and saying: The fact is 99% of the population are still eating animal products. There might be a lot more meat reducers, but this is not an industry that has been threatened by veganism.

Dawn Carr, the director of vegan corporate projects at People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta), said farmers were not the only ones feeling anxious.

We cant turn a blind eye to the visible fear and distress shown by animals raised for their flesh, milk and eggs, she said. They have no choice, but farmers do: instead of sending sentient animals to slaughter, they can sow oats or soya beans or grow vegetables, grains, nuts or fruits instead, depending on the quality of their land.

Batters called for kindness to be shown to farmers and an understanding that they were human too. Its very polarised and its doing enormous damage to the mental health of livestock farmers, she said.

Its just about instilling this philosophy and being kind and farmers need we all need to think that too in this world of social media, we just need to take a step back sometimes.

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Veganism row breaks out after Joaquin Phoenix is told: be kinder to farmers - The Guardian

Five Reasons Why Sport Is Going Vegan – Forbes

Posted on March 2, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

Veganism is on the rise worldwide and pop culture, retail and sports have taken notice.

Scientific evidence shows that diets high in unrefined plant foods are associated with beneficial health outcomes, including general health, immune function, cardiovascular health and lifespan. It would appear logical that plant based diets have the ability to enhance performance in a variety of areas, including sports.

LONDON ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 02: Vegan strongman world record holder Patrik Baboumian poses for ... [+] portraits after talking about his veganism and the documentary Game Changers during Plant Powered Expo 2020 at Olympia London on February 2, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Ollie Millington/Getty Images).

Many critics have dismissed this shift in sports culture to a fad with no concrete scientific evidence to back it. And whether the merits can be substantiated or not, one thing is for sure plant based is a growing trend in the sports world with an increasing number of athletes advocating for its game changing qualities.

Here are five reasons why sports are going vegan.

Many plant-based products have more protein than meat

Traditionally athletes believed that the only way to meet their daily protein requirement was via meat consumption, but with increased awareness around nutrition, this has changed.

Many plant-based foods are actually richer in protein than meat. One ounce of meat protein contains 7 grams of protein, which is comparable to many plant based sources.

A 2019 German study, reported in the journal Nutrients found that athletes following a plant based diet with B-12 supplementation actually had marginally higher nutrient adequacy than athletes who were meat eaters.

With 15g of protein per serving, black beans for example, have more protein than a chicken drumstick and one cup of lentils has 18g of protein more than a hamburger. The need for other nutrients, such as calcium, iron, and vitamin B-12, can be met via plant based sources such as edemame which provides 27.6 per cent of the daily requirement of calcium, one cup of fortified orange juice which meets one half of the daily calcium requirement, spinach which carries more than twice the amount of iron than meat and dark chocolate which carries more than six times the amount of iron as meat. As for B-12, fortified foods and supplements can be used to ensure good health.

Sports drinks and performance enhancers are going plant based

According to research from Lumina Intelligence, 21 per cent of online bestselling protein powders in the USA are plant-based (March 2019).

A sharp increase in the availability of plant-based, performance enhancing products has made it easier and more enticing for athletes to embrace a plant-based lifestyle.

The sector is booming and is intensely competitive. Lumina reveals that there is an innovation race, as brands chase the elusive perfect plant protein with pea protein currently taking the number one spot.

Vegan sports nutrition is also coming in the form of pre-prepared meals and nutritional programs. In 2016 Tom Brady teamed up with Purple Carrot, a vegan meal delivery service to create a meatless, dairy-free TB12 performance meal plan.

Plant based gives endurance athletes an edge when it comes to heart health

In a 2019 review entitled, Plant-Based Diets for Cardiovascular Safety and Performance in Endurance Sports, it was reported that the elevated cardiovascular risks faced by endurance athletes, such as atherosclerosis (plaque building up inside arteries) and myocardial damage (decreased blood flow to the heart) can be reduced by a plant based dairy free diet.

Researchers at the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine have also suggested that a vegan diet can enhance athletic performance due to enhanced cardiovascular health, reduced blood pressure and cholesterol and weight loss.

Plant based diets are more conducive to recovery

Armenian-German strongest man in the world and former body builder, Patrik Baboumian credited his body building success to a vegan lifestyle. My recovery time was so much faster so I could train more, he said.

Evidence from Harvard Medical School shows that plants antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties help to shorten recovery times, reduce delayed onset muscle soreness, lessen joint pain, and enable quicker healing from injuries. Plant based diets also improve blood viscosity, which helps to efficiently deliver oxygen around the body, promoting healing. All of these factors can also contribute to career longevity.

Pro athletes are endorsing the plant-based link to performance

The plant based shift in sports culture is evident in the Netflix documentary, The Game Changers produced by Arnold Schwarzenegger, that uses first hand testimonials from elite athletes to depict how a vegan diet improves athletic performance.

Venus Williams opted to transition to a raw, vegan diet when she was diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder called Sjgrens syndrome that caused her to suffer from joint and muscle pain. In an interview with Health magazine, Williams revealed that her new diet was life changing, allowing her to return to tennis. I feel like Im doing the right thing for me," she said.

BEIJING, CHINA - SEPTEMBER 26: Venus Williams of the USA learns to make tanghulu (candied fruit) at ... [+] the 2019 China Open on September 26, 2019 in Beijing, China. (Photo by VCG/VCG via Getty Images)

Pro athletes are increasingly adopting vegan or vegetarian diets, while advocating for their overall health benefits, improved performance and enhanced recovery. Footballer, Tom Brady eats a predominantly plant based diet, the Williams sisters are vegan, elite rock climber, Steph Davis is vegan Lionel Messi, Novak Djokovic, Colin Kaepernick, Lewis Hamilton The list goes on.

According to Barny du Plessis, the worlds first vegan bodybuilder and Mr Universe 2014, These days I train half as much, do half as much but get better results. Why? Only one answer, going vegan, GMO free, and organic. My body is running perfectly."

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Five Reasons Why Sport Is Going Vegan - Forbes

The top 6 reasons people go vegan, explained – CNET

Posted on November 10, 2019 by Prof Baldwin

More and more people keep hopping on the vegan diet train. But why?

As the buzz about plant-based meat continues to grow, you may have found yourself wondering whether you should try out a plant-based diet. Vegetarianism and veganism have been practiced for thousands of years for a variety of reasons, and in 2019, it's become easier to give up meat and animal products, thanks to the plethora of plant-based alternatives (like the Impossible Burger, Beyond Meat burger and various cheese substitutes) that are so close to the real thing, they can turn the stomach of a years-long vegetarian.

If your last visit to Burger King has you wondering why you should should swap a beef Whopper for an Impossible Whopper, I'm here to dive into the various reasons people choose to go vegetarian or vegan and the impact those practices have on our bodies and our planet.

Read more: The best vegan fast-food options at KFC, Taco Bell, Burger King and more

A cross section of a Beyond Meat Burger

There's no shortage of evidence that eating lots of fruits and vegetables contribute to a healthy body and brain. In fact, some research suggests that vegans and vegetarians generally have better health markers than omnivores. In fact, many health experts recommend plant-based diets to people who have heart problems, high blood pressure, diabetes and other health conditions.

One big reason people give up animal products involves health concerns about animal protein, particularly red meat. For decades, public health officials and health practitioners urged consumers to eat less meat, especially beef and pork. They cited health concerns such as heart attack, stroke, cancer and more.

However, recent research revealed that people may have held the wrong conviction toward red meat for all these years, noting that the evidential ties between red meat, processed meat and illness were weak at best. Another long-held belief about red meat that its saturated fat content clogs the arteries -- was also recently debunked.

Read more: Essential kitchen tools for vegans

That said, no dietary recommendation is appropriate for every person, so take the evidence and do with it what you will. If you have poor reactions to animal protein, that's reason enough to try plant-based meat. And whether real beef or faux meat is healthier, well, that's the question of the decade (and probably the next one).

A vegan diet is worth trying out, especially if you're interested in the health benefits, animal welfare or potential environmental benefits.

This is a key reason for many people in their decision to start and continue a vegan diet. Many vegans strongly believe that all animals, including those that have long been staples in diets all over the world, have a right to life and freedom. That's certainly a fair standpoint, and having emotional attachments with animals often contributes to that view.

For example, research about the motives behind eating a vegan diet shows that having more pets early in life (and a larger variety of pets, e.g., not just cats and dogs) increases the tendency to avoid meat consumption later in life.

Read more: 9 vegan YouTube cooking shows you can't miss - CNET

If you're not ready to go full-out vegan but want to cut down on your consumption of beef for animal welfare reasons, replacing your typical beef burger with an Impossible Burger or a Beyond Burger the next time you eat out is a good start. Here's a list of places that have the Beyond Meat Burger on their menu, and a list of restaurants that serve the Impossible Burger.

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If you ask a vegan why they decided to eat vegan, there's a good chance they'll mention something about the environment. Many people who eat plant-based diets are passionate about protecting the environment, and that's all with good reason -- we should all strive to do our part for our Earth.

Many consumers and even environmental experts attribute current environmental issues to animal agriculture, citing flashy statistics about greenhouse gas emissions, water and land usage, waste, labor costs and transportation involved in raising livestock.

But animal agriculture may not be as bad for the environment as you think. Some research suggests that even if everyone on the planet went vegan, greenhouse gas emissions would only drop by 2.6 percent. The earth would probably be better off if people focused on reducing food waste, minimizing single-use plastic, and using public transportation, walking or biking more than using cars.

Many people think that plant-based meats are the answer to current environmental problems.

Some people choose to eat a plant-based diet because they don't believe that humans need animal sources of food to survive and thrive. While there is some truth to that statement -- you can certainly meet your daily nutrient requirements on a vegan or vegetarian diet, even if you exercise a lot -- anyone on a plant-based diet should take steps to ensure they consume enough nutrients that come largely from animal sources. Those include vitamin B12, vitamin D, omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, calcium, zinc and iron.

Fortified plant-based foods, like the Impossible Burger and Beyond Burger, offer similar nutrient profiles to that of real beef. So if you're looking for plant-based alternatives but don't want to risk nutrient deficiencies, give one of these faux meat burgers a try.

Swapping faux meat in for real meat is a good way to enter the world of plant-based eating.

Some people choose plant-based diets for all the reasons on this list and some choose to eat plant-based simply because they don't enjoy animal protein and dairy products, or they have sensitivities to them -- like lactose intolerance.

At the end of the day, you don't really need a reason for choosing a plant-based burger over a regular burger -- you shouldn't feel obligated to explain your food choices to other people if you don't want to.

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The top 6 reasons people go vegan, explained - CNET

Is a vegan diet really as healthy as we think? – Telegraph.co.uk

Posted on February 27, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

If youre among Britains 600,000 vegans or the estimated 400,000 more who signed up for Veganuary this year the chances are you stopped eating animal products for the sake of the environment and your health. But is it possible the worlds fastest growing consumer trend could actually damage, not improve, your health?

No one disputes that eating more fruits, vegetables, wholegrains, and nuts is good for us and reduces the risk of chronic diseases. But scientists and nutritionists are concerned that increasingly popular fake meats and vegan fast foods may be less healthy than their meaty alternatives.

British shoppers spent 474 million on meat-free groceries including burgers, sausages, ready meals and cooking ingredients in 2019,according to consumer analysts Kantar Worldpanel -an increase of eight per centon the previous year. This doesnt include sales of vegan fast food, which are also skyrocketing.

There are also fears that vegan diets may be causing deficiencies in crucial nutrients that could lead to serious health problems.

The whole issue of plant-based food products is highly contentious. Scientists at a farmers conference in London last week hit back at veganism, suggesting that eating tofu a key protein source in many plant-based diets might be worse for the planet than consuming some meats. The theory is that per unit of protein absorbed, tofu production may cause more greenhouse gas emissions than rearing lamb, pork and chicken for the table. The fact that Almond Milk production requires vast amounts of water in drought afflicted California is also well documented.

But whatever the environmental pros and cons, the booming meat-free food market has prompted some doctors and scientists to question whether some of these products can be considered part of a healthy diet.

From meatballs and burgers to goujons and bacon, imitation meats are everywhere. Some have been around for years. Seitan, traditionally used in Chinese cookery, is a form of wheat gluten. Many people are familiar with Quorn, although perhaps not what its made from: mycoprotein, a protein derived from fermented fungi, bound with egg albumen or potato protein. And soy products like tofu and tempeh have long been used in Asian cuisine as a plant-based substitute for meat.

All these products are good sources of protein and are nutritious to varying degrees. But some, like tofu and seitan, are not complete sources of protein, that is, they dont contain all the essential amino acids our bodies need. And seitan and Quorn are also highly processed. Seitan would not be suitable for anyone with gluten or wheat sensitivity.

In recent years, a new generation of high-tech products made from plants has been developed to recreate the exact taste, texture and appearance of meat. Most are also highly processed, made with a long list of unfamiliar ingredients and sometimes new production methods. The Vegan Butcher range, for example, lists soy structure as the main ingredient in its Chickened Out Burger and Good Karma Shawarma. According to Unilever, which owns the brand, this is an amalgam of water, soy protein, wheat starch and wheat protein.

Beyond Burgers, which are sold in over 25,000 food outlets worldwide and found in the meat section of some British supermarkets, are among the new fake meats made with pea protein isolate. Impossible Burgers, widely available in the US but not yet approved for sale in the UK, are made with soy leghemoglobin. This is a protein that carries heme, an iron-rich molecule that gives the futuristic patties their realistic colour, aroma, and flavour of meat.

Last year, Harvards School of Public Health researched these novel meats to determine whether they could be considered part of a healthy diet. They concluded that the answer was far from clear as studies are currently inconclusive.

However, Chair of the Department of Nutrition, Dr Frank Hu, said it couldnt be assumed that the health benefits of fruits, vegetables, wholegrains and nuts were the same as meat alternatives made with highly processed plants. Food processing can lead to the loss of some nutrients and phytochemicals naturally present in minimally processed plant foods, he said.

Dr Hu added that a recent study by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive Kidney Diseases found a link between highly processed foods and weight gain, although the study did not focus on meat substitutes.

Other ingredients going into industrially processed vegan food are also causing concern. To make these products taste as similar as possible to their non-vegan counterparts, manufacturers include many additives, notably salt and sugar. Recent research by content agency JBH revealed some vegan fast food contained much more salt and sugar than their non-vegan equivalents. Subways Meatless Meatball Marina, for example, clocked in with 3.6g of salt (more than half the recommended daily intake of 6g) and 19.3g of sugar. Its Meatball Sub contained much less of both, with 1.9g and 13.5g of salt and sugar respectively.

Many popular brands of meat-free burgers, sausages and bacon sold in supermarkets also contain high levels of salt, according to Mhairi Brown, a nutritionist and policy co-ordinator with campaigning group Action Against Salt. She says the main problem with these products is the perception encouraged by food manufacturers that vegan food is healthy simply because its made from plants. They often use green or orange packaging, and also the term plant-based, to create a health halo, she says. People think these products are healthy when that might not be the case at all.

Registered dietitian Sophie Medlin agrees. Many people think that if a food is vegan its healthier, she says. The truth is there are some really great vegan alternatives to meat and dairy but there are plenty of food manufacturers simply chasing the vegan pound. Fast food outlets that have questionable animal welfare standards and poor environmental practices are selling vegan alternatives that are often deep fried carbohydrates in a bun.

Although vegan advocates insist its perfectly possible to eat a well-balanced plant-based diet, nutritionists are concerned that many people simply dont manage it. Medlin reports a rise in cases of anaemia at her clinic caused by vitamin B12 deficiency. Essential for brain and nervous system function, B12 is naturally found in animal products but generally not in plant foods unless theyre fortified, putting vegetarians and vegans at particular risk of deficiency. Untreated, vitamin B12 deficiency can cause irreversible nerve damage.

Its not surprising that demand for B12 injections and intravenous drips at high street vitamin salons is rising. We administer 20% more B12 shots now than we did two years ago, and around 30% of our customers are vegetarian or vegan says Richard Chambers, founder of Get A Drip. In December alone we administered 528 B12 products. (Medlin strongly advises against going to high-street providers for injections or IVs).

Another cause for concern is the risk to bone health caused by calcium and vitamin D deficiency, says Professor Ian Givens, director of the Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health at Reading University. Research shows vegans have lower bone mineral density and fracture rates nearly a third higher than the general population, with teenagers and post-menopausal women were particularly at risk. Vegetarian and vegan diets can increase the risk of reduced bone strength and special care is needed to ensure adequate intake of the key nutrients, Prof Givens says.

We also think there may be a lot of new food allergies issues emerging due to the ingredients being used in some vegan foods, adds Professor Chris Elliott, from the Institute of Global Food Security at Queens University Belfast. It is too early to say this for sure for we are watching this closely. We doubt very much about how well nutritionally balanced many of these are and will only add to the issues were already concerned about. He says long-term studies into these foods are needed.

Heather Russell, a dietitian for the Vegan Society, says anyone considering opting for a plant-based diet needs to educate themselves about good nutrition and healthy protein sources(nutrition information is available on their website). Whether youre vegan or not, its a good idea to use food labels to keep an eye on added fat, salt and sugar and limit highly processed foods, she says.

Experts do agree that the healthiest diet includes an abundance of minimally processed plant foods, and limited amounts of the highly processed stuff. But just because food is made from plants doesnt mean its good for you -that bag of crisps might be vegan, but its not health food.

Read more from the original source:
Is a vegan diet really as healthy as we think? - Telegraph.co.uk

Veganism: Common myths and misconceptions about the lifestyle – Republic World – Republic World

Posted on November 10, 2019 by Prof Baldwin

If you are a vegan, you are probably surrounded by random assumptions about veganism coming from all corners. But, some of these concerns and assumptions are as mythical as the story of our grandparents used to tell us about seeds,If you swallow a seed, a tree will grow inside you.Here are some of the most commonmyths about veganism. Empower yourself with the knowledge that youre doing the right thing.

ALSO READ:World Food Day: Five International Sports Stars Who've Turned Vegan

It is not true. Rather, on the contrary, a vegan diet can be far healthier. Vegan diets have numerous advantages over others. They are far more likely to reach the recommended 10 portions of fruit and vegetables a day. Also, they havelower rates of obesityand reduced risk ofcolorectalandprostatecancer.

Some people believe that it is unfair to serve children only healthy vegan food. Butthe British Dietetic Association says that a well-planned vegan diet is suitable forallages. With the right planning and proper knowledge, a child can get everything they need from a vegan diet.

Veganism is not more expensive than a meat-eating lifestyle.The price of organic foods and cosmetics might be higher than the commercial animal-based ones in the market, but this is because of the demand-supply ratio. Even if you have the money but not the time, in todays world you can ordergreat vegan groceriesto your door.

ALSO READ:Bollywood Celebrities: Actors Who Have Adapted The Vegan Lifestyle

This argument is completely untrue because it all comes down to your choice. Although the dairy industry has indeed penetrated the F&B section, there are plenty of options available for those who do not want to consume animal-based products. Organic food is on the rise and plenty of plant-based nutrition is available in urban and rural areas.

The common misinformation that people follow is that humans gain protein only from animal products. But this is false. Plant-based protein sources are aplenty such as soya, lentils, pulses, broccoli, seaweed, peas, and spinach. Also, the animals consumed for so-called protein are fed on the above plant-based protein diet. So youre basically consuming the same plant-based protein.

ALSO READ:All Facts You Need To Know About World Vegan Day Celebration

ALSO READ:Hollywood Celebrities Who Chose To Go Vegan, Bidding Farewell To Meat

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Veganism: Common myths and misconceptions about the lifestyle - Republic World - Republic World

With veganism on the rise, vegetarians are becoming an afterthought – The Irish Times

Posted on November 10, 2019 by Prof Baldwin

As a teenager, back in the 90s, I watched a harrowing documentary on battery farmed poultry. In that moment, a decision was cemented which would accompany me into adulthood and remains with me to this day.

Eating meat was not a dietary requirement for me and I did not want to contribute in any way to this industry: I was becoming a vegetarian.

Being vegetarian in the meat-loving Ireland of that era was challenging. As very much part of a minority, I did not feel catered to by supermarkets or restaurants. In fact, the choice to abstain from meat made me feel somewhat of an inconvenience. Eating out at a large gathering, such as a wedding or corporate event, was uncomfortable. The meat-free option, more often than not a vegetable lasagne, trailed behind its meaty counterparts on arriving at the dinner table. Awkward conversations about what I did or did not eat and why would inevitably ensue, as fellow diners would wait with curiosity to see what I would be served.

Aside from some stand-out exceptions, eating out as a non meat-eater was generally quite banal. Menus would be scanned for what could be eaten rather than perused for what would be chosen.

In time though, vegetarianism became a more popular lifestyle choice, menus improved, awkward dinner conversations about whether or not I eat chicken became unnecessary and life was good.

Now, however, I find myself with a new beef.

In recent years, a new contender has entered the arena of stretching the imagination of the menu planner: The Vegan.

Veganism is admirable, stoic and increasingly widespread. Aside from the health benefits a vegan diet can offer, the benefits to the environment and the reduction of ones carbon foot-print are undeniable. My problem with this new generation of non-meat-eaters is nothing personal and I respect the discipline those who adhere to it require.

Veganism is a strong and constantly growing industry and it is being treated with gravitas. Supermarkets and restaurants alike go to great lengths to cater for those who will only consume foods which are meat, fish, poultry and dairy free. They have identified a growing market and are supplying suitable produce. These businesses make money, vegans eat well, everyone is happy.

Well, almost everyone.

There was a time when I could recommend to anyone, be they vegetarian or otherwise, the most delicious vegetarian options in town. I had favourite restaurants which I would frequent when the hankering for a scrumptious halloumi burger, a delicious aubergine and feta bake or a mouth watering goats cheese tart would strike. I, like the meat-eating diners, would enjoy browsing the menu and choosing courses that I knew I would enjoy eating dining out was a pleasurable experience.

Lately though, I am noticing quite a radical shift in the menus of many restaurants. While a patron is still perfectly welcome to eat a chicken, the consumption of an egg has become questionable. You can feast on the flesh of a cow with the greatest of gusto without turning a head, but the desire for milk, cream or cheese seems to be rather taboo.

In the quest to satisfy the growing vegan market, many restaurateurs are making their vegetarian options not just meat free but also vegan.

Yes, there are plenty of meat free options and yes, I enjoy an avocado toast as much as the next person but I cant help feeling that the vegetarian has enjoyed their moment in the sun and is now once again being resigned to the bottom of the culinary list of priorities. Offering a vegetarian vegan food ticks a box for the restaurateur in the same way that keeping the emergency vegetarian lasagne in the freezer did back in the 90s. Meat eaters are being well catered for, vegans are being well catered for and the vegetarian can, once again, just make do.

I am well aware, of course, that this gripe of mine is a first world problem. There are leagues of people the world over for whom dining out is something they will never have to get worked up about. But from my position of privilege I just want to raise a voice for the long suffering vegetarian.

We are still in circulation.

Admittedly we are not as fashionable as we once were but we are still worthy of some attention. It is disheartening to see menu listings and supermarket space increasingly be given over to vegan choices while my options grow narrower and my favourites disappear. Being vegetarian is turning full circle as we once again become an afterthought.

And for the record, I dont even like vegetarian lasagne. I dont like it with dairy cheese, I dont like it with vegan cheese, I dont even like it with a side of avocado.

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With veganism on the rise, vegetarians are becoming an afterthought - The Irish Times

7 Ways This Vegan Teenager Wants You to Use Self-Quarantine to Change the World – VegNews

Posted on April 30, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

Erin Ersoy first caught our attention after pledging to spend 12 hours in a bathtub to protest SeaWorlds confinement of sealife. However, this 14-year-old cancer survivor has lent her time and efforts to a number of causesfrom establishing herself as a leader for youth activists to utilizing her compelling Instagram page to create awareness around animal cruelty. Her fresh, Gen Z perspective opened our minds to the possibilities of activism at home.

How Im Changing the World During QuarantineAnd How You Can, TooBy: Erin Ersoy

When your ability to keep calm and carry on is stifled by the Stay-at-Home mandate, some may be at a loss for what to do. For those of us who find purpose and fulfillment in activism, were experiencing major withdrawal. It may make seem difficult or even impossible to take action while practicing self-isolation, but speaking up for the voiceless is still entirely possible; we just need to take a creative pivot. Here are seven ways you can take action today.

1. Hold an online documentary screeningPeople are holding online movie screenings using the Google Chrome extension Netflix Party, which allows friends to gather virtually, watch the same movie on Netflix, and chat at the same time in a text box. People have also started screen-sharing movies on Zoom. You can hold a screening of conversation-sparking documentaries such as The Game Changers on Netflix and Dominion on YouTube, amongst others. Its an awesome way to educate your friends and family members on the benefits of a vegan lifestyle.

2. Sign online petitionsMany organizations already offer online petitions, but now that people are home and looking for online action options, even more organizations are bringing their causes online. Taking action and making an impact is as simple as filling in your contact information and clicking submit. To start, consider asking the US Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee to remove dairy as a food group from the upcoming 2020-2025 recommendations. This form included a pre-filled comment, just add your name and contact information.

3. Give your friends and family a callA lot of us now rely on making phone or video calls to connect with our family and friends. During your next check-in, spark a casual conversation about veganism. Ask what theyve been cooking at home, and if they complain of meat or egg shortages at the store, gracefully land a comment about the abundance of produce or frozen vegan meat options. Having a nice, calm, and polite discussion about the benefits of a plant-based diet is a great way to get people to consider going vegan. Its not like they have social obligations or any of the other typical excusesnow is the time to give vegan a try!

4. DonateRight now, many vegan organizations and animal sanctuaries are having difficulty generating the funds they need to continue operations. Its certainly tough when competing with the charitable efforts related to the current pandemic (which are also worthy causes). If you have the means, a simple donation can help necessary nonprofits continue their work to promote the vegan message. Similarly, many vegan restaurants are offering donation options for their pickup and delivery customers. These extra dollars are put toward providing free meals for first responders or the hungry, or ensuring that staff can continue to receive a living wage.

5. Get socialStuck at home, bored, and perhaps alone, social media might be the only thing keeping you connected to the outside world (thats okay; were all going through it). However, social media can be used for so much more than drooling over vegan food photos and watching animal videos; its also a terrific tool for activism. Instagram has been a hot spot for new virtual activism challenges such as Greta Thunbergs #ClimateStrikeOnline, the Save Movements #CoronavirusConfinementChallenge, and PETAs #SeaWorldBathtubChallenge. Let the tagging and hashtagging begin!

6. Make a piece of artHave you ever heard of artivism? Its a trending form of activism that involves using a creative approach to serious issues. Make a poster with a fact about veganism and tape it to the window for people outside to see, create a symbolic painting and post it on social media, or embrace your inner six-year-old and make meaningful chalk drawings. Let your creativity feed your activism.

7. Educate yourselfDo you know how much water it takes to produce a gallon of cows milk? What about the meaning of CAFO and how these operations are creating a hazardous living environment for low-income communities in North Carolina? Now is the time to equip yourself with this information in order to be a more effective vegan advocate. Listen to an audiobook of The China Study while enjoying your ritual afternoon walk, watch vegan-themed TedTalks (try Pat Brown and Melanie Joy), or read up on vegan nutrition (Brendan Braziers Thrive offers a solid foundation). The more you know, the better you can represent the vegan movement.

Erin Ersoy is a 14-year-old vegan activist from New York who leads the Raven Corps Long Island and the Youth Climate Save New York.

Please support independent vegan media and get the very best in news, recipes, travel, beauty, products, and more.Subscribe now to the worlds #1 plant-based magazine!

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7 Ways This Vegan Teenager Wants You to Use Self-Quarantine to Change the World - VegNews

Why ‘vegan’ is a dirty word: is it time to come up with a better term for the animal-free life? – HeraldScotland

Posted on November 10, 2019 by Prof Baldwin

Now, the high priests and priestesses of veganism have decreed that the whole month will be World Vegan Month.

Theres real wind in the dried pineapple-leaf sails of the not-actually-radical idea of not eating or using animals, and I suppose Im a case in point, having joined the meatless party last August after reading a Guardian article (how very millennial of me).

The only thing possibly holding veganism back now is the name. Because when even Linda McCartney buries the word vegan on its vegan supermarket bonanza, emblazoning them all with vegetarian instead, you know the term is seen as dead weight.

Maybe they should go with plant-based. To vegans, it's clear code for the green light to put the sausages straight in the basket without having to scour the ingredients list. For everyone else the cerebral warning sirens induced by the fear of the dryness that beset vegan products of old (so, around 10 years ago) seem to stay silent. Everybody wins.

Of course, the vegan police will remind me that is all well and good for food, but what about leather, Saharan camel rides, fur coats? And theyll have to haul me to the cells because I dont have much of an answer for them. Other than that, vegan leather can be made from things like apple peels. Aka plants.

But I know not all of veganism is about plants, and the word wont always suit. So, what else?

The best potential answer I can come up with is that the vegan movement should remember the elephant in the room. That just like our tried-and-tested approach towards elephants, we dont think its very nice to eat cows, pigs or chickens either.

Maybe if we labelled food animal free, more people would reach their own conclusion that they arent entirely at ease with eating animals either.

It would paint a dichotomy that reinforces the simple truth that pork is a word for pig that distances itself from the idea of it being one, and beef is an actual dead cow. Quite where those euphemisms came from, frankly I have no idea. Presumably "cow" sounded too unedifying in peoples minds.

But if the animal eaters can craft words that gloss over what it actually is theyre eating, Im sure vegans can find some new term that sounds less hideously vacuous.

The word vegan needs changing not least because no-one seems to know what it means. I

t contains veg but then so does vegetarian, and thats the full sum of the information that can be gleaned. Research for cake brand Bells & Whistles found that the second-most common Google search for When can vegans is eat eggs?. A popular finisher when researching Is veganism is a religion?. For the removal of doubt, the answer is err, never? for the former and no for the latter.

But for the dairy-free icing on the eggless cake of how meaningless the term is, some people even search Do vegans eat meat?, to which the obvious answer is, of course, only very rarely when we really, really want to and when precisely no-one is watching. Im glad we cleared that up.

The word will naturally have come about in order to have a pithy term for a concept with clear parameters. Unfortunately, the succinctness it offers also forms a stick with which to beat veganisms adherents. My family and I stumbled upon a restaurant calling itself a Vegan hebab center in South Carolina this summer, and much of social media relishes a bit of vegan-bashing too.

It may just be that an animal product-free hebab center would start to show how silly the hostility is.

If veganism is to continue to take off, we have to ditch the dirty label its come to be, even among the foremost vegan businesses. Vegans should remember it must be the concept behind it that were loyal to, not the V-word itself.

Theres something Ill call the Schrodingers cat of veganism. Its that non-vegans simultaneously hold vegans to be super healthy to such levels that what they eat could only possibly be void of any of the joy and comfort of eating and worryingly unhealthy.

I get my protein from plants, in case you are wondering its really that simple. Did you know two slices of bread have eight grams of it? Now you do. The word simply puts people off, that much even the most hardcore vegan can surely admit.

Far better we focus on winning people over through blended cashew-nut-and-almond-milk cheesy pasta sauce and juicy vegan steaks than cling to a tainted word.

There are healthy vegans and there are unhealthy vegans, just like in the rest of the population. How liberating. You can have a diet consisting purely of Oreo cookies and still be vegan, but I wouldnt recommend it.

The key to a persons heart is through their stomach. If vegans are going to get a groundswell of regular meat-eaters to view the idea with fresh eyes neither as inherently unhealthy nor healthy to the point of joylessness they need only focus on the love affair with food that many experience when first overhauling their diet to focus on the versatility of plants.

A rose by any other name would smell as sweet. Just dont eat one.

Five fantastic animal-free treats ... just don't mention the V-word

1. Oreo: Lick it, twist it, dunk it in milk ... almond, of course.

2. Most spirits: While wine and beer can be a label-free non-vegan minefield to navigate, the hard stuff has you covered. Cheers!

3. Betty Crocker Devil Cake Mix: Just mix with a can of coke and a dash of baking powder. It sounds outlandish but it works.

4. Salt & Vinegar crisps: You may have to fall out of love with the cheesy crisp flavours, but at least this national favourite has your back.

5. Penne arrabbiata: If you steer clear of some of the more costly pastas, which sometimes include egg, this simple dish with its tomato and chilli sauce will fill you up.

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Why 'vegan' is a dirty word: is it time to come up with a better term for the animal-free life? - HeraldScotland

The Pros and Cons of Veganism, According to a Dietitian – Yahoo Lifestyle

Posted on March 29, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

If the surplus ofvegan-friendly restaurants, dishes, and meal kits are any indication,veganism has gone mainstream. But dietary changes largeand small should never be taken lightly. Your body, brain, and lifestyle will undergo seismic shifts as you add and remove foods from your diet. It's always best to conduct your own research and consult a doctor or nutritionist before taking the leap.

We tappedTracy Lockwood Beckerman, a registered dietitian and the author ofThe Better Period Food Solution, about the pros and cons of veganism. Before we dive in, keep in mind that a vegan dietisn't for everyone. "People who have a history of disordered eating or a disordered relationship with food are not good candidates for a vegan diet," Beckerman said. "Also, those with food allergies or intolerances, or thosewho are low in nutrients like iron, B12, and zinc, should talk to their doctor before going vegan."

Below, start your research phase by reading up on the pros and cons of veganism, according to Beckerman.

1. Community. Roughly1.6 million adultsin the U.S. follow a vegan diet. "The social aspecteither online or in-personallows people to connectwith one another and share tips, meal ideas, and advice throughout their vegan journey," notes Beckerman.

2. Environment. Many people choose to adopt a vegan dietfor environmental reasons. "Because animal products generate more greenhouse gas emissions than plants, going vegan helps decrease the amount of these harmful substances in the atmosphere," she explains.

3. Water conservation."It takes a substantial amount of water to produce beef, as compared to grains, legumes, fruits, and vegetables," explains Beckerman. "Animal agriculture is a more water-intensive process, so going vegantremendously reduces the amount of water used."

4. Health. Generally speaking, it can't hurt to increase your intake of plant-based proteins like beans, legumes, and tofu while reducing meat consumption. "Cutting back on red meat, in general, has been linked to a bevy of health benefits, like reduced risk of chronic disease, cancer, and cardiovascular illness," she notes.

1. Nutrient restriction. Like any diet, veganism restricts your intake of certain foods. This isn't ideal for someone with a food intolerance, as your nutritional profile may already be limited. Furthermore, someone with aniron or calcium deficiency may struggle to meet their nutritional needs without animal products. "Because veganism requires an all-or-nothing approach, I have hesitations about recommending it to clients," adds Beckerman.

2. Physical health. We currently lack convincing, long-term researchabout the health benefits of veganism. "Of course, it's better for the environment short- and long-term, but the short-term health benefits uncovered in recent research do not speak tothe diet's long-term effects," she explains. "For that reason,I wouldnt recommend following a vegan diet indefinitely."

3. Psychological health.As with any diet, you risk placing too much emphasis on appearance and not enough on health. "The healing benefits of a vegan lifestyle may not be applicable to all," says Beckerman. "Veganism or dieting, in general, can disconnect someone from the health benefits of eating and redirect their attention to body image."

4. Lack of education. "Without proper education and guidance, it may be difficult to get all of the wholesome nutrients found in a non-restrictive diet," she explains. "Because you're excluding the vitamins and minerals found in animal products, like zinc, vitamin B12, iron, calcium, and vitamin D, its important to find equivalent plant-based sources elsewhere."

If you're still on the fence about adopting a vegan diet, you can always test the waters with a few substitutions. "Even if you dont want to follow a 100% vegan lifestyle, you can try more plant-based options and vow to go animal-free on certain days of the week," she suggests. "For example, you can eliminate red meat and supplementthat protein, zinc, and iron with plant-based products, like chickpea pasta or lentils.

Palouse Brand Pardina Lentils ($14)

Banza Chickpea Pasta ($22)

Nut Harvest Lightly Roasted Almonds ($20)

Healthworks White Quinoa ($20)

The Good Bean Organic Chickpeas With Sea Salt ($12)

Explore Cuisine Edamame Spaghetti ($25)

Viva Naturals Organic Chia Seeds ($11)

Next up: The Biggest Food Myths Nutritionists Want You to Forget

This article originally appeared on The Thirty

Why are women more likely to go vegan than men? – Euronews

Posted on April 10, 2020 by Prof Baldwin

There has been an extraordinary upsurge in the number of people deciding to go vegan over the past 10 years. What with concerns about the impact of animal agriculture on the environment, combined with claims that the diet can be beneficial to our health, the number of vegans has doubled across Europe and the US.

One factor, however, seems to significantly increase our chances of abandoning animal products altogether. That factor is being a woman.

In the UK in 2016, the Vegan Society found that twice as many women as men were vegan. Its not just the UK though, with statistics showing an incredible 79 per cent of vegans in the US identify as female. Perhaps this isnt a surprise as animal rights and feminism have long gone hand in hand, with activists seeing the refusal to eat meat as a form of rebellion against the patriarchal status quo.

Whether or not you subscribe to this way of thinking, the figures certainly seem to suggest something must be going on. So why do fewer men adopt a plant-based diet?

There are a couple of possible reasons. Meat and gender have likely been linked since the beginning of our time on this planet. Hunting was important to early humans with food gathering tasks split into gendered roles. Men went out to kill large game animals while women typically ate smaller portions of meat and collected plant foods. For chimpanzees, the more successful a male is at hunting, the better his social status. This was probably also true for our hunter-gather ancestors where studies have controversially suggested meat may have meant a bigger brain.

Men in most western societies today arent likely to be out tackling game to feed their families, but are still more likely to associate meat with ideas of health and strength. A 2018 study found that concepts like virility and power were a part of the relationship we as a species have with eating meat and conventional ideas of what it means to be a man.

If millennia of social conditioning causes us to associate meat and masculinity, its inevitable, perhaps, that men who go vegan dont always get a positive reaction from those around them.

Lecturer in Human Geography at Newcastle University, Dr Michael J Richardson, is currently researching the link between meat and masculinities and says that the way people react to this apparent challenge to masculinity can vary. It really depends on who you speak with regarding which defence mechanism they'll draw upon - as in young men who already consider themselves as fit, gym goers and into health and fitness tend to defend their meat heavy diets more adamantly.

He is publishing a book on the topic later this year entitled Redefining Masculinity: feminism, family and food but reactions from people he knew brought the topic closer to home. As a vegan for almost three years, when he first made changes to his diet, he saw some of these defensive responses from his friends.

My experience, as a sport-loving, football playing, fit, young, heterosexual white man was entirely expected within the friendship group, Richardson explains. Like any other challenge to the structures of hegemonic masculinities, once 'outed' as vegan, the immediate accusations of weakness and homosexuality come to the fore.

Insults like soy boy, defined by urban dictionary as a phrase to describe males who completely and utterly lack all necessary masculine qualities, are clear indications of this attitude in popular culture. Widespread a few years ago on sites like Twitter and Reddit, the term gained traction with far-right commenters seeking to distance themselves from anything deemed feminine or weak.

These negative responses could be a part of why more women identify as vegan in surveys on the subject. Even if men are interested in eating less meat, without acceptance it can still be a difficult choice, explains a study from the University of Southampton. The more men that take the leap, the easier it gets, researcher Dr Emma Roe told a conference when the paper was presented. Eating meatless meals in a group removed pressured and normalised plant-based choices for the men who took part in the study.

What we have discovered is that many men are interested in eating less meat, they just need social permission to do so and as more men make vegetarian and vegan choices, that permission is becoming more readily available.

Documentaries like Game Changers are beginning to change the tune as well. I do think that the different routes into veganism matter however and can provoke very different responses, adds Richardson. Gym-goers and health enthusiasts are particularly receptive to these newer vegan insights, he says.

What's important to note about veganism is that the health and fitness angle is only one prong of a trident approach. The other two, of environmentalism and animal rights, carry different weight within these discussions.

Mark Hibbitts, an ex-commercial fisherman and copywriter, was one of those men who changed their mind. About 7 years ago my long-term veggie wife decided to go vegan, and I wasnt happy about it, says Mark Hibbitts. After a while, I decided to do my own research so I could find a way to talk her out of this silly phase.

But, in doing his own research, Hibbitts managed to do the opposite and eventually ended up convincing himself to join his wife in her newfound veganism. Instead I discovered animal agriculture an industry so cruel and environmentally damaging that even I couldnt support it any more.

At first, he found that friends resorted to the usual bacon jokes but Hibbitts has used his own experience to help change a few minds. All in all people understand why Im doing this and ask for advice on cutting meat and dairy from their diet, he explains, So many people have chosen to either reduce their intake of animal products or go completely vegan since speaking with me.

As Dr Roes paper states, unravelling this mystery is an important task if we are to meet environmental targets for a reduction in meat-eating set by organisations like the IPCC. Those like Mark Hibbitts who choose to take the leap could, if the research is correct, help to encourage a sense of social approval that starts to balance out the vegan population.

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Why are women more likely to go vegan than men? - Euronews

6 Celebrities Whove Gone Vegan, From Miley Cyrus to Ariana Grande – Refinery29

Posted on November 12, 2019 by Prof Baldwin

"When you come down to it, it just depends on what your diet is made up of," Jen Bruning, MS, RDN, LDN, a registered dietitian nutritionist in Chicago and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, previously told Refinery29. The idea that [veganism] an automatic improvement in health or nutrition is probably one of the biggest myths.There's also evidence that meat such as fish and chicken are good for you. And a recent recommendation in The Annals of Internal Medicinenoted that red and processed meat isn't as bad for us as previously believed. With that said, plenty of people have tried going vegan or are vegan including some of your favorite celebrities. November is World Vegan Month, according to The Vegan Society, and many may take this as an opportunity to reaffirm their allegiance to the vegan community or try it out for the first time. So if you need some inspiration to give up your favorite burger spot, here are a few stars who've tried it for reasons ranging from the environment to their health.

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6 Celebrities Whove Gone Vegan, From Miley Cyrus to Ariana Grande - Refinery29

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