Five Reasons Why You Should Try Vegan This Year

Dec 26

It’s nearly 2022 - and it’s now easier and tastier than ever before to try delicious vegan food. With the leading brands and retailers racing to meet the consumer demand for plant-based food, going vegan is a whole lot easier than you might think.

Whether it’s for ethical, environmental, or health reasons, a record number of people are choosing to eliminate animal products from their lives. And in 2022, switching to a vegan diet will be easier than ever - there are vegan versions of almost everything, from plant-based bacon to dairy-free cheese, and more and more restaurants are offering delicious vegan options.

Here’s five reasons why you should try going vegan this year:

1. You’ll Be Saving Animals

Every year in the US, more than 10 billion land animals are slaughtered for food, but by simply leaving animals off your plate, you’ll be taking a powerful stand against the exploitation of animals. As an individual, that’ll mean you will be saving nearly 200 animals every year.

2. You’ll Help the Environment

Did you know that farming animals for food plays a huge role in land and water degradation, deforestation, and biodiversity loss, and is responsible for more greenhouse gases than the world’s transportation systems combined?

The devastating effect that animal agriculture is having on our planet is leading wildlife experts and climate change campaigners - from Greta Thunberg to David Attenborough - to urge us all to reconsider our habits and diets to help prevent climate catastrophe.

In fact, a global shift towards a vegan diet is necessary to combat the worst effects of climate change, according to the United Nations, and research from the University of Oxford shows that going vegan is the “single biggest way” to reduce your impact on the planet.

3. You Can Help Improve Your Own Health

As well as being kinder to animals and the planet, eating vegan can also have numerous benefits for your health.

The science is clear that following a plant-based diet is associated with a lower risk of illnesses including heart disease, cancer, and other serious diseases. Rich in nutrients and significantly lower in saturated fat than animal products, a vegan diet can also boost your immune system, reduce inflammation, and help you maintain a healthy body weight.

And, it’s our collective health at stake, too: the United Nations warns that global demand for meat consumption, and intensive animal farming, are among the seven major factors responsible for the increasing threat of new animal-to-human diseases, such as COVID-19, Ebola, and MERS.

4. It’s Delicious

Chances are that lots of your favorite foods are already vegan, can be easily adapted to be vegan, or have tasty vegan alternatives available.

Love eating a whole tub of Ben & Jerry’s to yourself? Try their many dairy-free flavors - our favorite is “Milk” & Cookies.

Like meaty meals packed full of protein? Try the realistic Beyond Meat brand that has all the texture and taste of your traditional animal products. We love their famous ‘bloody’ Beyond Burger that’ll convince even the most ardent meat eater.

And like cooking up a storm in your kitchen? Famous faces from Tabitha Brown to Natalie Portman are showing online audiences how exciting vegan cooking can be - just have a look at our recipes for proof.

5. It’s Easier Than You Think - and We’re Here to Help You

When you know that going vegan is helping the environment, the animals, and your own health, it’s pretty easy.

But when you realize just how tasty vegan food is too, it’ll be even easier!

Species Unite is here to make your vegan journey as simple as can be. Let us give you the tips, recipes, and inspiration to get you started on your way. Sign up to the Species Unite email list for a weekly dose of animal news, vegan podcast episodes, recipes, and advice on living in line with your animal-loving values.