The Answers to Your Top Questions About Veganism

Curious about veganism, but unsure where to start?

This article will answer all your questions about veganism and the vegan diet!

I’m starting with the top 6 vegan questions and answers, and will be continuously adding more questions and answers below to give you a complete veganism Q&A resource.

If you have a question I haven’t answered yet, feel free to drop it into the comments section below, and I’ll answer it there, or in the list above.

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What is a vegan?

Vegans practice and celebrate a way of living that doesn’t include any animal products or by-products. They follow the philosophy of veganism, which rejects the exploitation of, and cruelty towards, animals for any purpose.

In dietary terms, vegans don’t consume any meat, seafood, dairy, eggs, honey, and other animal-derived ingredients.

And, beyond their diet; vegans avoid animal products in clothing, like leather, wool, and silk, cosmetics that include ingredients derived from animals, and even entertainment like circuses or zoos that exploit animals.

If you’re interested in reading the facts and figures around veganism, the U.K. charity VIVA! has a great vegan statistics resource here on their website.

In terms of the numbers of vegans around the world, VIVA! says it is difficult to find accurate data about how many there are. But surveys put the number between three per cent of the global population – over 230 million people, and one per cent – about 79 million people.

Why do people become vegan?

Veganism is based on philosophies associated with human health, the environment and animal ethics.

People choose to be vegan because they believe a vegan diet is nutritionally better, and is less-damaging to health than a diet that includes animal-based ingredients.

Vegans also believe the vegan food production has significantly lower environmental impacts such as greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, water use/pollution and loss of biodiversity.

And they are motivated by there being no exploitation of animals and industrial farming practices.

The outcomes of becoming vegan are personal health benefits, a more sustainable food system, and compassionate co-habitation with all of earth’s creatures.

Here, the charity VIVA!’s website answers the questions; is veganism better for health, the environment, and animals.

What do vegans eat?

Historically, veganism was associated with the things vegans can’t eat–meat, seafood, dairy, eggs, honey, and other animal-derived ingredients.

But this didn’t convey the inspiration vegan cooks were finding in what they could eat as they filled their kitchens with plants.

So, along came ‘plant-based’, eating the rainbow became instagram-able, and more and more people around the world munched like herbivores!

Now the world can see that vegans can eat fresh, wholesome, unprocessed plants, combined into dishes with super-delicious flavours, amazing textures and vibrant colours. And they celebrate their diet from breakfast to night, for all occasions, and with their friends and family.

The ingredients that make up vegan recipes are fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, herbs, and spices.

These plant-based staples offer a world of possibilities for vegans to eat creative and flavourful meals; from hearty stews to vibrant salads, flavourful curries to zesty stir-fries, indulgent desserts to fresh fruity delights.

Here on my website, my super-delicious vegan recipes use these ingredients, and offer you a cornucopia of plant-based dishes for the tastiest, healthiest time of your life!

What is the difference between vegan and plant-based?

The terms vegan and plant-based are often thought of as the same. But there is an important distinction between them.

A plant-based diet is more about putting only whole plant foods on your plate, so not eating meat, seafood, dairy, eggs, honey, and other animal-derived ingredients. Eating a plant-based diet is primarily motivated by the potential health benefits.

Veganism, however, encompasses a broader lifestyle, and vegans avoid animal products in clothing, like leather, wool, and silk, cosmetics that include ingredients derived from animals, and even entertainment like circuses or zoos that exploit animals. Those that practice veganism are more motivated by environmental and animal-welfare concerns, and a compassionate and sustainable way of living.

In reality, people sit somewhere within this mix, depending on how strongly they believe and practice the full vegan philosophy.

What is great about the plant-based diet, is that it has moved veganism to the mainstream, which has to be the best thing for the earth and all its wonderful creatures.

Is a vegan diet healthy?

The most common reason people choose to eat a vegan, or plant-based diet is because of the potential health benefits.

The U.K. vegan charity, VIVA! present a fab summary of the potential health benefits of the vegan diet on their website, with scientific references, here.

The headlines are:

  • Plant-based foods, are more protective than animal food groups against chronic diet-related diseases such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease, kidney and liver disorders and cancers.
  • Vegans have the healthiest weight among all dietary groups and received the highest score on the healthy eating scale.
  • Vegans have more than sufficient intakes of protein, vitamins, and minerals – including calcium and iron – above recommended intakes.
  • Vegans have the highest intake of fibre and the lowest intake of fat.
    Vegan diets are associated with lower risks of heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, obesity, certain cancers and lower cholesterol levels.
  • Vegan diets have a cancer-protective effect, as vegans have a considerably higher intake of foods and nutrients protective against cancer.
  • And finally, compared to vegetarian diets (which include dairy and eggs), vegan diets offer greater protection from obesity, hypertension, type 2 diabetes and heart disease related mortality.

If you are interested in the aspects of a vegan diet and health, VIVA!’s Vegan Health Report here dives deeper into this topic.

This pioneering report is based on the latest scientific research that explores why vegan diets are the best for your health. It explains why a vegan diet improves or prevents many health conditions including asthma, cancer, diabetes, fibromyalgia, heart disease, digestive disorders, kidney problems and how it helps protect our mental health. The report also explains what a good vegan diet means and looks into the general health of people eating different types of diet from across the world.

It’s a great, original resource for one and all!

Is vegan food boring or tasteless?

Excitement in food comes from its taste, colours and textures, which are influenced by past associations we have with a particular ingredient or dish.

And, the idea that vegan food is boring or tasteless is a myth waiting to be devoured!

The cornucopia of tastes, colours, and textures of plant-based ingredients and the traditions and recipes of plant-based cuisines are fabulous and vibrant!

The ingredients that make up vegan recipes are fresh, wholesome, unprocessed plants; fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, herbs, and spices.

And vegans turn these plant-based staples into an array of dishes with super-delicious flavours, amazing textures and vibrant colours. From hearty stews to vibrant salads, flavourful curries to zesty stir-fries, indulgent desserts to fresh fruity delights, vegans celebrate all-things plant-based from breakfast to night, for all occasions, and with their friends and family.

Here on my website, you’ll find hundreds of super-delicious vegan recipes to create vibrant, delicious plant-based dishes packed with flavours and textures.

You won’t find anything boring or tasteless here!

Got a question about veganism?

If you have a question about veganism and the vegan diet that I haven’t answered yet, feel free to drop it into the comments section below, and I’ll answer it there, or in the list above.

Let me know what you think below…

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