World Vegan Day is celebrated on November 1st every year. This day is an opportunity to reflect upon the benefits of a vegan diet. Vegans eat delicious food, they stand for saving animals, and because of their diet, they reduce their impact on the environment. However, several myths still surround veganism. This blog looks at the significance, myths, benefits, and future. The blog also explores specific plant-based alternatives that vegans can go for without compromising the taste and nutrition of meat and dairy products.

World Vegan Day is about awareness in all things related to being a vegan - from the ethical treatment of animals, environmental impacts around eating meat versus eating soy products versus eating nuts, etc. People also share tips for other vegans and people contemplating about becoming vegans. On this day, people also encourage and inspire others to take action and benefit animals and their environment.

Myths About Being a Vegan

For centuries people have been told that they need to eat meat for a complete diet, and they shouldn't be vegans. However, there is a lot of research and data that shows that vegan and plant-based diets can improve your overall health and wellness.

Here we will dispel the top 5 myths and give you an entirely new perspective:

1.   Being vegan is expensive

Vegan diets can often seem a bit pricey because it is common for vegans to completely abstain from meat, which happens to be one of the priciest grocery items. However, considering that a vegan diet includes none of this pricey meat and instead one opts to eat wholesome grains, rice, legumes, vegetables, and fruit. In that case, these basic staples might almost always prove their worth by being friendly to a tight budget. All in all, vegan diets can be budget friendly as long as a person is willing to adapt to the menu accordingly!

2.   Vegan foods don’t give much protein

Vegans can often get the same level of protein, if not more, than bodybuilders as far as the amount of protein they can consume during a day. Vegans primarily rely on beans, tofu, quinoa, and lentils to provide them with their daily dosage of protein.

3.   Being a vegan restricts food options

For most people, all plant-based food may seem restrictive. Instead of focusing on what people can’t eat, people need to focus on what they can eat—one might be surprised at the variety that vegetarianism or veganism has to offer. In fact, vegetarianism or veganism can open a person’s mind to so many more food options and possibilities, which could include trying new flavors, spices, and cooking methods.

4.   Vegan diet is not healthy

Plant-based dieting is often hailed as the healthiest way to eat. Registered dietitians and nutritional scientists alike have repeatedly touted the numerous benefits associated with consuming large amounts of plant matter. Plant-based eating patterns focus on vegan foods like fruits, veggies, nuts, seeds, grains, legumes, and beans. A plant-based diet can lower cholesterol and help maintain a healthy weight.

5.   Being a vegan is hard

Starting a vegan diet can take some time to get used to and fall into a routine. The best way to make a successful transition is by investigating vegan diets beforehand. The more research a person does, the more familiar she or he becomes with recipes and meal plans options. From there, it won't be long before one develops a routine and a healthy diet!

Benefits of Being a Vegan

Being a vegan can immensely support the immune system. It’s healthy to consume plants because of the vital nutrients that one can’t get from other foods. A plant-based diet contains essential vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals, antioxidants that are extremely important in fighting off sickness and disease.

It is said that a vegan diet can help one reduce the risk of suffering from heart disease, certain cancers, type 2 diabetes, arthritis, lung and kidney diseases. One of the main contributing benefits of a vegan diet is that it's high in fiber and low in cholesterol which contributes to a healthy heart. Many celebrate World Vegan Day by going on plant-based diets for at least a day with their family and friends who are vegans as a form of solidarity.

Popularity of Veganism and Growth of the Market

An industry analysis by BIS research states that the plant-based food and beverage market will grow at a significant CAGR of 13.82% during the forecast period from 2019 to 2024. This makes it evident that people are turning to plant-based foods as alternatives to meat and dairy products.

A rise in consumer awareness of the importance of ensuring the health, coupled with investments by large food and beverage corporations, is driving growth in the plant-based alternatives market globally.

The popularity of plant-based alternatives is attributable primarily to the rise of flexitarian populations and the increasing number of vegan and vegetarian consumers. It's also largely due to increased awareness about the health benefits, animal welfare implications, environmental sustainability, and ethical issues closely tied with food production.

Plant-Based Alternatives for Vegans

Plant-based meat alternatives aren't just about sparing animals; it's also about reducing carbon footprint and caring for the Earth and all the other people and creatures that live on it. When a person eats vegan, they're reducing their personal effects on climate change and becoming more aware of the amount of waste they produce and the amount of energy they use.

Vegetarian meat alternatives are great for those looking to eat healthier and those who want to eat more sustainably. As more and more people switch to plant-based diets, there is likely to be a significant change in how food is produced and consumed.

Some vegan protein substitutes are eggplants, mushrooms, tofu, seitan, lentils, beans, tempeh, jackfruit, and cauliflower.

Soy as An Alternative To Meal Replacement Drinks

Soy can be a great vegan meal replacement drink that provides a lot of plant-based protein. You can mix it with delicious flavors like strawberry, mocha, vanilla, and more to make shakes an essential part of your day.

Soy is an excellent source of high-quality protein. Soy protein’s bioavailability rating is one of the best, meaning the digestive system quickly absorbs it. It's on par with milk, eggs, and meat but without high cholesterol and fat levels.

Fermentation Leading the Way For Next-Generation Plant-Based Products

Consumers are demanding a lot from brands these days. As a result, plant-based brands have been using a range of fermentation processes to meet their needs. Brands are trying to solve the problem of how to make plant-based products more palatable to meat and dairy lovers by using traditional techniques, and their success has revolutionized the plant-based food industry.

Traditional fermentation uses live microorganisms to process plant-derived ingredients, resulting in products that have different flavors, textures, and nutrients. Cheese and beer are obvious examples of traditional fermented products, but the process can also be used to make meat alternatives for vegetarians. Several start-ups are capitalizing on conventional fermentation processes to improve the sensory aspect of plant-based products.

Fermentation is a centuries-old process that uses microbes, such as yeast or fungi, to break down a compound, such as sugar, into alcohol or protein. Traditional practices aided it in the past, but with today's modern technology, biotech companies have created proteins that rival those found in animal products. Some even claim they are even more diverse and healthy, which is poised to seriously undermine large-scale meat, egg, and dairy industries as consumers look toward more ethically sound alternatives.

Yogurt, traditionally made with dairy products, is on the rise. Plant-based yogurt is booming in popularity due to its ability to be enjoyed in multiple flavors while also providing all of the probiotic bacteria that people's bodies need.

Fermented products are a blessing for vegans who miss the taste of meat. It can be challenging to give up things like meat when changing your diet, but some people feel they don't want to let go of that yummy, savory meat taste. Today scientists can make plant-based products using fermentation, which tastes exactly like meat.

Vegans and the Future

Veganism is likely to be the new lifestyle in the future. And why not - it's healthy, affordable, environmental-friendly, and animal-friendly. However, being completely vegan might not suit everyone globally due to specific health, medical, or economic reasons.

The World Vegan Day helps bring awareness, and vegans can think more about how they can promote smarter consumption methods.

For example, Meatless Mondays have an interesting way of helping people set aside one day a week to try eating less meat and more vegetables. This initiative encourages people to stop and think about the environment and animals by reducing their intake of meat products.

A healthy diet is the most crucial part of living a healthy lifestyle. When it comes to making smart choices, vegans are always at the top of the list. While giving up meat, dairy products, and eggs can be challenging at first, it's something that most people get used to with time. One of the best things about veganism is that people will often find themselves eating healthier versions of dishes they used to eat before. For example, vegan versions of scrambled eggs are made out of tofu. Eggs are even made out of soy milk! That's just one small example of the fantastic vegan foods one can eat. If someone is on the fence about being a vegan, trying it out is strongly recommended.