Vegan diets are rising, and more consumers are becoming aware of the health benefits of not eating animal products, as well as the ethical and environmental impact of animal agriculture.
More consumers are cutting out preservatives and animal products as a healthier option for their families.
As the buzz about plant-based meat continues to grow, you may have found yourself wondering whether you should try out a plant-based diet. Vegetarianism and veganism have been practised for thousands of years for a variety of reasons, and in recent years, it has become easier to give up meat and animal products, thanks to the excess of plant-based alternatives that are so close to the real thing.
In an interview with IOL Lifestyle, about how consumers are now cutting out preservatives and animal products as a healthier option for their families, the director at Fry’s, Tammy Fry, said South African consumers are understanding more and more that plant-based foods are an important part of a sustainable future, not just environmentally, but for their health too – and this is starting to reflect in the choices that future forward brands are making.
As much as people are getting on the bandwagon, many others are still hesitant to switch to meatless diets. They fear that the diet may not be as tasty or healthy as a non vegetarian diet, it’s too expensive, or that they will miss their favourite foods. Except for the mentioned reasons, what else is holding people from going vegan? This was a question raised this week by animal advocate, influencer, and social media professional, John Oberg and the answers from Twitter users are very interesting.
What do you think is holding the world back from going #vegan?
— John Oberg (@JohnOberg) July 22, 2021
Here are some of the responses:
Education at schools: Kids learn it is ok and necessary to use animals. They grow up thinking humans need cow milk and are not encouraged to think beyond this box. If we wanna change the world, we need to change what is tought at schools.
— Lina Z 🌱 (@linazu108) July 22, 2021
Education. Not being brought up with compassion taught, but instead brought up in a world of advertising and conditioning to eat animals and treat them like their lives don’t matter because they are “less” than us. I think advertising animal products will be abolished soon.
— Simon Naylor 🌱 (@Brooksidefilms) July 22, 2021
I honestly don’t get the Vegan movement. I can probably try becoming a Vegetarian but never Vegan. It’s way too many nutrients taken away from your diet. Humans actually do need the nutrients provided by animals sources 🤷🏻♀️
— FightTheSystem✊🏼 (@Socialist0215) July 22, 2021
Variety of meals available with meat that taste delicious
— BJ is not my PM, I've never voted Tory :) 👸🏽 (@Tinkerbell32112) July 22, 2021
Cooking vegan is very limiting and the alternatives are quite often awful - I try to eat a lot of veg/vegan meals and often end up throwing the vegan part out as it's disgusting
What are the benefits of plant-based diets?
Plant-based nutrition consultant and chiropractor, Dr. Paul Palmer said the main thing is the amazing ability to lose weight, and when he says lose weight he means to lose fat.
Dr. Palmer said the diet can also decrease the effects of heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.
“The main aspect for a plant-based diet to be healthy is decreased heart disease, diabetes, cancer, decreased weight and it improves the functioning of the bowel.
"The only diet ever shown to reverse heart disease is a strict vegan diet. For diabetes, I did this in my own practice with my patients with type two diabetes, and within a month the patient didn’t need medication anymore.”
The Durban-based doctor said while South Africans are becoming more aware of the benefits, we are lagging behind, compared to other countries.
“The education is improving and retailers are making more vegan products available.
“People are definitely exploring it a lot more but I (don’t) think it’s growing as fast as it is in America and especially in the UK. We are always a few years behind, however, we could start to lead on this front.”