Celebrated every year on 1st November, people are encouraged to adopt a vegan lifestyle on World Vegan Day. You! takes a look...
world vegan day
It is common knowledge that the vegan lifestyle enhances human health and aids in environmental protection. Every year on November 1, World Vegan Day is celebrated with zeal. It is a day to celebrate the custom of embracing an all-green diet that excludes dairy and animal products. This plant-based diet includes the wealth of vegetables, grains, fruits, herbs, nuts, seeds, legumes, salads and the thousands of products made from them.
On World Vegan Day (WVD), people take time to look at the current world situation and raise awareness of many issues that the world is facing regarding our food supply and its impact on the environment. WVD encourages people to understand why veganism is important.
Vegans tend to be thinner, have lower cholesterol, and have lower blood pressure, and there are additional health benefits that can lead to longer life expectancy. Here are some great reasons to switch to a plant-based diet:
Vegan foods are rich in the nutrients your body needs: You can get all the nutrients you need from a healthy, balanced vegan diet rich in wholefoods including fruits, vegetables, pulses, grains, nuts, and seeds. Several studies have reported that people who eat vegan tend to consume more fibre, antioxidants, potassium, magnesium, folate, and vitamins A, C, and E.
It lowers your blood pressure: Hypertension can make you vulnerable to serious health conditions like heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes etc. People who are already suffering from this condition are advised to avoid meat. Going for a plant-based diet will reduce the risk for you by keeping your blood pressure in control.
Eating vegan helps reduce our risk of suffering from heart attack and other diseases: A vegan diet is naturally low in saturated fat and cholesterol and high in fiber and antioxidants, found in fruits and vegetables. It can lead to lower rates of heart disease and diabetes.
Studies have shown that a diet high in healthy vegan foods can help reduce the symptoms of arthritis.
The vegan glow: Who doesn’t want a glowing complexion? When it comes to skin issues, one of the worst culprits is dairy - multiple studies have shown that dairy consumption exacerbates acne in both men and women. Aside from ditching dairy, vegans typically eat more fruit and vegetables, which means they get more of the good stuff that’s needed for healthy skin, such as antioxidants and vitamins.
Weight loss: Vegan diets are usually high in fiber, magnesium, folic acid, phytochemicals, and vitamins C and E. On the other hand, they tend to be lower in calories, saturated fat, cholesterol, omega 3 fatty acids, calcium, zinc, and vitamins B-12 and D. Therefore, people eating a low-fat, high-fiber vegan diet lose more weight than those eating a conventional low-fat diet.
Improved productivity: Healthy diet helps improve focus, concentration, and energy levels. It has been found that being vegan can increase your energy because your body doesn’t have to use as much energy to digest food. Also, there are no additional sugar, saturated fats, or carbs that can slow you down.
It is estimated that veganism has probably been around for at least 2000 years, and the idea of vegetarianism was perhaps around for even 500 years prior to that! That was when Greek philosopher and mathematician, Pythagoras of Samos, made it part of his life’s work to promote acting with benevolence and care for all species. Many followers of Buddhism are also promoters of vegetarianism.
It wasn’t until 1806, however, that the concept of veganism as a lifestyle was really beginning to take shape. It took more than 100 years or so, but finally, the vegan folks bonded together and created the UK Vegan Society in 1944. The term Vegan was coined by Donald Watson, an English animal rights advocate who founded the Vegan Society, derived from the word Vegetarian.
World Vegan Day was first celebrated in the year 1994 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the UK Vegan Society and the term ‘Vegan’. World Vegan Day was created by Louise Wallis, a British animal rights activist and the chair of The Vegan Society, to raise awareness about animal rights.
Today, vegans are known as people who do not consume foods like meat, fish, and poultry and do not use animal products or even by-products such as eggs, dairy products, honey, leather, fur, silk, cosmetics.
The Vegan Society and other vegan organisations hold a variety of events to mark this day. Some of these include vegan yoga retreats, vegan winter festivals, and healthy food markets featuring vegan foods. It’s not uncommon for new vegan restaurants to hold their grand opening on this day.
Arrange a vegan party: Set up a group chat and make some phone calls to pin down a weekend where all your best friends can come together for an all vegan party! From vegan canapés to mini plant-based burgers and pizzas, the options for a vegan party are endless.
Share/try vegan recipes: You can easily participate in World Vegan Day by checking out the website and trying some vegan recipes. Or you could share some of your favourite plant-based recipes with the rest of the world by posting them on Facebook or Instagram. Even seasoned chefs could get some inspiration from your creative plant filled dishes!
Watch a vegan documentary: Netflix and chill…vegan style, anyone? There are lots of new documentaries showcasing the wonders of adopting a plant-based diet and lifestyle, from the health advantages to the ethical reasons and the smaller environmental footprint you’ll leave behind. November is the perfect month to learn a few new facts related to veganism.
