It’s that time of the year, the first of the months for change, learning and resolutions. Right! We are a huge believer that Veganuary kicks it off well for not only our own wellbeing but also for the planet too. Who knows your body might start thanking you for it! We once lived in a world where smoking was advertised by athletes as a new ‘health kick’. We have come a long way since then, we have learnt to always keep adapting and growing in new ways.
Let’s dive in!
Living a Sustainable lifestyle does not just mean living a “Vegan lifestyle or diet” but to live a way that is not manipulating the ecological balance. This is where veganism plays a big part in living a more sustainable lifestyle. Veganism is adopted by people for many factors, whether that be for the animals, healthy living, reducing carbon footprint, or the whole list. There are in fact many pros rather than cons, but is it easy to make the switch? Most human diet already contains a balance of fruits and vegetables, other groceries such as lentils, beans, tofu etc however as we have all seen “beyond meat’’ hit headlines with “tasting authentically like meat without the murder’’, finding alternative options have never been easier!
When contemplating protein in a vegan diet as many omnivores do and enjoy egg meals, where a large egg (50G) contains 6.5 grams of protein, seitan (50G) contains : 12 grams of protein and can be a great egg alternative!
Surprisingly Vegan
2022 is the most accessible year to adopt a vegan diet, however not all vegan food will state “suitable for vegans” on their labels. Reading the ingredients carefully which are found at the back of a food item will help in being mindful about what we are putting in our body. Those highlighted in bold will usually be ‘eggs, MILK, Milk powder, nuts’ etc.
Other ingredients that may not be in bold are “gelatine & carmine” which are found in most sweets, are ingredients made from cows and female bugs.
Luckily there are always the surprisingly vegan choices such as Oreo biscuits and Jammy Dodgers which may already be in your diet that are welcome to stay!
So now we know that we can keep our favorite snacks and it's not all boring!
How is being vegan sustainable?
As we know, not all of the water on Earth is drinkable. Agriculture uses 70% of the 1% drinkable water we have available. When switching to a vegan diet a person can save 219,000 gallons of water yearly, the difference just one person can make. Agriculture and farmland misplaces most scenic routes around the world, such as most British countryside farmland. This leaves native species of animals very little chance of survival due to habitat loss and interference. Agriculture is responsible for up to 91% of the Amazon rainforest deforestation.
Vegan Movement
With many celebrities such as Russell Brand, Billie Ellish, Lewis Hamilton, Will.i.am and even the world's strongest man Patrik Baboumian, lives on a vegan diet.
Let's hope that 2022 brings more improvement to the world's current crisis of coronavirus and restrictions so we can all appreciate the value of clear seas with fish before it is too late due to the climate crisis; as Scientists expect fishless oceans by 2048 unless more sustainable diets are adapted. Not eating fish and other sources of meat (beings), will improve this as greenhouse gasses from agriculture are raising the sea temperatures.
Luckily in 2022, there are many sources, documentaries, including “Cowspiracy” and “Seaspiracy” news reports and of course ‘Vegan Influencers’’ allowing us to have the information we need to make conscious diet changes for centuries to come, in a world that we call our home and deeply care about.
Tip: Tofu, a great protein source, along with kale and a pinch of salt can make a great fish replacement - ‘VISH’.
Give it a go, find Vegan Recipes on Instagram and other social media channels as well as our Instagram page @Palmlifeltd, on more secrets to sustainable living!
Written by a former non-Vegan.
PALM LIFE ®️
Building a world without plastic.
Deisa Pearl
For extended information on sources of this article, please read below.
September 12, 2020 - Ishan Khare To Save the World's Rainforest, Eat Plant-Based — Plant Powered Youth
March 22, 2017 - Tariq Khokhar Chart: Globally, 70% of Freshwater is Used for Agriculture (worldbank.org)
March 22, 2016 - Michelle Kretzer What Can You Do to Save 219,000 Gallons of Water a Year? | PETA