London is always going to be a hub of embracing change and as part of this alternative living has never been so popular. With a diverse population the size of London’s, there are always going to be different fads and trends popping up, but few quite so popular as veganism. The lifestyle that shuns all animal products in diet and daily living has racked up a staggering 3.5 million people in the UK, but there are also other ideas out there. Another option is a plant-based diet, for example, what is that all about? Isn’t plantbased the same as vegan? In a word, no.
It means that there are dozens of vegan restaurants, cafes and readily available supermarket products which means that it’s as easy to keep to your philosophy outside the home as it is in it.
PLANT BASED And now we come to this one, a hybrid of diets, if you like. it’s got one foot in the vegan world. This plant-based diet dresses up similarly to a vegan one, they’re in the same ballpark, butthey aren’t the same. Followers of this method of eating consume more plants, and plant proteins, but don’t cut out meat altogether. In fact, it’s up to the individual how much meat, dairy, etc. they combine into their diet. Plus, there are no restrictions on wearing or using animal products. This is a type of diet, not a type of lifestyle.
IS ONE BETTER THAN THE OTHER? They are both healthy ways of eating, per se, but plant based just about has the nutritional edge on veganism. The former encourages consumption of more whole foods, whereas the vegan market has expanded to include things like cake, ice cream and biscuits which means it’s easier to over-indulge on the bad bits.
How far should you extend your vegan family? The humans in your family are one thing, but pets are quite another. Leaving aside the ethical issue of whether vegans should own carnivorous animals at all, it’s important to identify what is necessary in their diet, rather than your personal feeding preferences. It’s absolutely natural and normal to worry about whether letting your pets eat animal products is compromising your lifestyle. But if you’re looking for a swift yes/no answer, it has to
be no. Despite this, there is a worrying trend among some vegans to try and include their pets in their lifestyle. A global survey identified 3,673 owners of cats and/or dogs and 35% of this number wanted to change the animal’s diet to a vegan one. But here is why this isn’t such a good idea: Dogs are facultative carnivores, which means that if need be, they will technically be able to survive on a plant-based diet. But it’s very far from a dog’s best interests to go down this route; their natural diet is full of meat, which along with the obvious health benefits, helps to keep their teeth in good condition. Plus, it’s not only their physical health that at risk of being compromised, dogs adore a good bone to chew on which helps maintain good mental health. Catsare obligate carnivores. So, while they can eat plants, removing meat entirely from their diet poses grave health risks such as blindness and a higher chance of premature death. In fact, the only reason why a cat on a vegan diet would survive long term is if they’re out there, doing what cats do, and catching their own prey. Furthermore, in the UK you can face criminal charges under the Animal Welfare Act, which requires pet owners to make sure all their pets’ needs are being adequately met.
IN ITS SIMPLEST TERMS, VEGAN = HUMANS – YES, ANIMALS – NO.
If you’re interested in shifting your diet towards either of these, then there’s plenty of readily available information on the internet to help you get started. If it’s a way of improving your health that you’re after, then there are plenty of sources out there to get stuck into. This article contains some useful information and links.