World Vegan Day was created in 1994 by the Vegan Society in England, marking the inclusion of “Vegan” in English. November 1 was declared as its commemoration date to avoid clashing with Halloween. Since then, people globally have adopted this way of eating and is considered healthy. What more should you know about World Vegan Day?
Benefits of Veganism
When you decide to adopt a vegan diet, you will shed off mainstream products like meat and animals and feed more on whole-grain wheat, fruits, vegetables, grain, peas, nuts, seeds and more. This change has numerous benefits for your health, as outlined below:
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Substantial Weight Loss
A vegan diet has been on trend for a while now. While some people shifted due to climate change, animal welfare concerns, and health improvement, some have reported significant weight loss. According to Healthline, many vegans tend to be thinner and have lower BMIs. This is attributed to the low-fat, higher-fibre diet, low-calorie intake, and feeding on whole foods instead of processed foods.
Lower Blood Sugar Levels and Improve Kidney Function
Relying on plant-based foods lowers your blood sugar level, averting the risk of Type 2 diabetes. Consequently, they also enjoy better cholesterol management and cardiovascular attacks.
Prevent Cancer
The World Health Organization states that most cancers can be prevented by the foods we eat. Most vegans eat fruits, vegetables, and legumes, which is reported to result in a 15% lower chance of getting cancers such as the colon, pancreas, and prostate. Additionally, the amount of soy in a vegan diet might shield women from breast cancer.
Lowers Risk of Heart Disease
Consuming more legumes, fibre, and vegetables reduces your chance of heart disease. This is because most vegan diets help with the reduction of blood sugar levels.
Help Your Gut Health
Eating plant-based foods encourages the good microbiomes in our gut to flourish because we are feeding them. Thus, the number of these microbes increases, leading to a healthy gut.
Vegan Meal Recipe Ideas
If you want to try out some vegan meal recipes, here are some ideas for you
Chickpea and Veggie-Stir Fry
This is a quick recipe you can make for lunch or dinner. The ingredients you will need include mixed vegetables (from yellow pepper, broccoli, mushroom, and baby corn, among others, depending on your preference. Additionally, you can have this with rice or noodles.
Vegan Burrito Bowl
To make this beginner-friendly recipe, you must cook rice, beans, diced tomatoes, red bell peppers, letters, spinach, and toppings, including avocado or cilantro leaves.
Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Roast your sweet potatoes in the microwave until they are soft. Stuff them with beans, salsa, and corn, and then add avocado.
Chickpea Salad Sandwich
Combine mashed chickpeas with onions, pickles, celery, and vegan mayo, then sprinkle with salt, mustard, or pepper. Serve with bread or sliced lettuce.
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Tips For Transitioning to a Vegan Lifestyle
Change is hard, and there is no exception when it comes to food. When you go vegan, you will forfeit desserts and processed foods for whole foods. This can be hard, particularly when you crave or live with people indulging in such foods. That notwithstanding, it is possible and here’s how you can do it.
Start With Small Changes
It is important to have a plan for your transition. Start by reducing the quantities of meals. For example, you can start with meat and move on to dairy products when you adjust well to that. Alternatively, you can add vegan meals to your diet plan as you phase out non-vegan meals.
Do Your Research
People adapt differently to vegan diets to avoid falling sick or having a bad experience; study what going vegan entails. Talk to healthcare professionals, family and friends who’ve gone vegan to discover what might happen.
Understand Your Reasons For Going Vegan
Telling people you’re vegan sounds cool but you need a personal reason for doing it. This will keep you on course and allow you to learn more about the vegan lifestyle; looking forward to adjusting.
Find a Vegan Community
You will need support doing this, so it’s important to have a supportive community around you. They will give you meaningful advice, such as what you can buy and how you can combine meals.
How Can You Contribute to World Vegan Day
You can join the World Vegan Day celebrations in many ways including:
- Educating yourself on veganism and what it is about. Attend workshops, food sampling events, and watch documentaries about veganism to learn more about this lifestyle.
- Host a vegan party. This can be a way to celebrate the vegan community and introduce newbies to the lifestyle. It can also be a way to let others who have always wondered about veganism try it out.
- Cook a vegan recipe. We have listed some beginner-friendly vegan recipes above. The ingredients are widely available, so you can make and try them out in support of the vegan community.
- Support vegan businesses. You can visit a restaurant and order vegan food to promote the lifestyle. Alternatively, you can buy your vegetables at a vegan or plant-based business.
- Social media advocacy. To further support World Vegan Day, you can post your best recipes or ideas about the lifestyle to your followers on different social media platforms. Also, engage in conversations about veganism online to educate others.
Conclusion
World Vegan Day is a time to celebrate those who practise veganism and create awareness about it. Although the practice has gained traction in the last few years, it’s been around since the 90s. Its renaissance demonstrates people’s desire to live a healthy lifestyle.
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