A multitude of celebrities are ditching dairy and meat to follow a vegan diet. Beyonce, Ellie Goulding, Ellen DeGeneres and even Miley Cyrus have converted to a vegan lifestyle. But is being vegan just a popular diet trend or could these celebs actually be on to something? Beyonce couldn't be wrong, after all, she is Queen B. But just what exactly are the benefits of going vegan? A vegan diet consists of no animal products, including butter, eggs, dairy, meat and fish. Instead, vegans consume plant-based products, such as fruits, vegetables, beans and grains. I have been following a vegan diet for seven months and am excited to see my body and mind change is a positive way. Here are 10 reasons everyone should adopt a vegan diet!
1. Higher energy levels
Plant-based foods are packed with important amino acids and nutrients that nourish your body from head to toe. Plants are alive, and eating them makes you feel alive too!
2. Clear skin
All the fruits and veggies you eat on a vegan diet contribute to clear, glowing skin. Fruits and vegetables naturally contain lower levels of sugars, fats, oils and cholesterol which are all contributors to acne and oily skin. A vegan diet has also been shown to help other skin conditions such as psoriasis and rosacea.
3. You save the lives of countless animals
Every year, billions of animals are slaughtered within the meat and dairy industry. More often than not, these animals are abused for years, living in inhumane conditions. Dairy cows are pumped full of hormones and are forced to stand for the majority of their lives, constantly producing enough milk to fulfill the needs of millions of Americans. Chickens and pigs are violently beaten and abused their whole lives, living inside tight, cramped quarters.
4. Reduces your carbon footprint
The meat and dairy industries are the leading contributors to global warming.These wasteful industries produce immense amounts of pollution. Thousands of acres of rain forests are destroyed every year to be replaced with factory farming facilities. Adopting a vegan diet is more effective than driving an electric car.
5. Better for overall health
6. Weight loss
A vegan diet naturally helps contribute to weight loss. Most vegan foods are low in calories and high in nutrition.
7. End world hunger
If we were to give just a portion of the grains we feed to cattle, we could feed every single starving person in the world.
8. Meat is gross!
Often times, meat is contaminated with feces, blood and bacteria. Pus pockets are often found in meat, especially red meat. This is both unsanitary and extremely unhealthy.
9. Plants have plenty of protein
A single cup of beans has 41 grams of protein. All plants contain protein, and even a single potato has over four grams!
10. You can still eat junk food
Twizzlers, Fritos, potato chips and even Oreos contain no animal products. Vegans, rejoice!
