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Sure, you’re not going to get that pang of guilt when you're out walking in the spring and come across a field of newborn lambs, and of course, you no longer need to feel like a hypocrite when you’re at the McDonald’s drive-thru in your electric car. But aside from the obvious moral, environmental and health benefits from eating less meat, there are other perks of being vegan that you might not have considered…
Better Skin and Brain Function
Consuming more plants almost guarantees you’re going to be getting higher levels of crucial nutrients than if you were following a meat eating diet. Most plants are rich in vitamins C and E, plus polyphenols and phenolic acids which act as antioxidants and have an anti-inflammatory effect. This means they can help with skin conditions such as acne and dermatitis.
Some of the best sources of polyphenols are cocoa powder and dark chocolate, berries and red wine so look no further than our Cherry and Almond Goupie paired with your favourite merlot for an evening treat that doubles up as a wellness treatment…
Better Athletic Performance
The anti-inflammatory properties of plant based foods also mean you’ll be able to recover quicker from that post-leg-day soreness that usually lasts for a good 72 hours. In fact, Venus Williams was put on a vegan diet by her doctor to combat an auto-immune disease which affected her energy levels and joints. She bought into the benefits of veganism so much she even launched her own plant-based protein shake company!
Plus, the high in complex-carbohydrate foods which are staples of a vegan diet are great at releasing energy over time, meaning they can improve your endurance. Carbohydrates are crucial for keeping your body’s glycogen stores topped up, and providing slow release energy. What we’re trying to say is…we’re so over Keto, and carbs are firmly back in fashion.
Save Water
Agriculture is THE biggest water consuming global industry, and 41% of water used goes into growing feed for livestock (which will end up on your plate). According to the World Economic Forum, it takes 2000 litres of water to produce one burger (the equivalent of 25 baths)! A soy based burger, in comparison, uses 15 times less water in its production (plus it goes without saying we’d have 25 baths over a burger any day).
Save Money
People often jump to the conclusion that vegan diets are more expensive to follow than a regular meat eating diet, but this isn’t necessarily true. Protein rich, staple vegan foods such as beans, lentils, oats and tofu are more cost effective than meat alternatives. A packet of tofu costs around £2 and can stretch to 2-3 meals, while £2 worth of meat is barely even one (unless you’re buying meat out the back of a van, from a bloke with a face tattoo). When you’re eating out, vegan options tend to be priced around the same as their beefy counterparts. At Pizza Express, their meat based classic pizzas cost between £12.45 and £14.45. The Vegan Giardiniera comes in at £13.45 so sits bang in the middle.
Vive le vegan!
This piece was written for Goupie by Olivia Connor, an independent content creator. You can contact her at: [email protected].
References:
Phenolic Acid: Benefits and Where to Get Them in Your Diet (verywellfit.com)
What Are Polyphenols? Types, Benefits, and Food Sources (healthline.com)
14 Environmental Benefits of Veganism: Can It Save The Planet? (thehumaneleague.org)
13 benefits of a vegan diet you may not have considered (veganfoodandliving.com)
Venus Williams Says Veganism Transformed Her Health In Major Interview (plantbasednews.org)
Does A Veggie Diet Help Gym Performance? | 24/7 Fitness (247fitness.co)
This is how much water is in your burger | World Economic Forum (weforum.org)