Probably more than you think!

Me!

Let us start by looking back 4 years, to 2015. A survey conducted in America revealed that about 3.4% of the population would consider themselves vegetarians, and only about 0.4% of the population called themselves vegan.

Fast forward to 2019, now almost 3.5% of the American population (roughly 7.9 million people) identify themselves with veganism. Looking at the Google search term “vegan”, we can see a steep increase of 550% over the past 5 years.

But what about some of the other countries? India, thanks to the Hindu religion, is the most vegan-friendly country in the world. Estimates suggest that a whopping 360 million people (~34% of the population) are vegan, making it the country with the most vegans. Next comes China, with 60 million vegans, that’s 4.5% of the population. Brazil boasts 15.2 million vegans followed by the U.S. with 7.9 million vegans.

Most other countries have also seen an explosive growth rate in “vegan” numbers, fueled by the discovery of the innumerable positive effects that a vegan diet can have. Not only for oneself, but for the world. Veganism is currently the world’s fastest-growing trend. It is estimated that over the next 10 years, at least 1 in 10 will become vegan.

At this point, I would like to clarify the term “vegan”, which usually refers to someone living a vegan lifestyle. What does that mean? A vegan not only carefully considers what he eats, but what he buys. For example, a vegan would not buy leather shoes, or use cosmetic products containing ingredients derived from animals. In short, being vegan affects all aspects of daily life.

On the other hand, someone who only focuses on the food aspect of veganism is considered to be on a plant-based diet. Strictly speaking, you would not call him/her a vegan. But more on labels and other fun descriptive terms in a future post.

Yummy!

How can you explain the growing popularity of veganism? More and more people realize that once they start reducing their meat intake they become much healthier. But you’re not just helping yourself. By reducing your meat intake, you also massively cut down on water pollution, water consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions. Not to mention that you reduce your contribution to the suffering of countless animals.

Where can you start? I realize that change can be difficult, especially if you’re trying to change a habit that was practiced over many years. Many people find themselves forced to change their eating habits from one day to the next, after having received bad news from the doctor. Don’t let that happen to you. Decide to reduce your meat-intake now, and start living a healthier and more fulfilled life today.

Take the first step now by joining me in my Facebook Group here. I will gladly answer any questions or concerns that you may have and help you reduce your meat intake gradually. Together we will work out a strategy that fits your lifestyle and circumstances and that ensures a lasting change in your eating habits.

I’ll see you on the other side!

With Love ❤️

Maz