2. Going green

Many switch to veganism to reduce their impact on the environment. Vast swathes of land are required to support and feed livestock, making it a significant contributor to deforestation. And the water used by animal agriculture, mostly as irrigation for feed crops, accounts for around 8% of global human water use. Enormous crops of corn or grain also require pesticides and fertilisers, leading to pollution of our waterways. Some vegans argue that if we grew plants merely for human consumption, rather than for supporting livestock, many of these problems would be solved.

On top of this, the farmed animals themselves generate waste and pollution (with cows belching out enormous amounts of methane every day) and animal agriculture is responsible for around 14 to 18% of human-caused greenhouse gas emissions. That’s higher than transportation!

3. Health

Many vegans choose the diet for its health benefits. Although veganism requires supplements and careful planning, they’d argue that it’s a bit of a myth that we can’t get all our necessary nutrients eating outside of animal produce. Whole grains, vegetables and fruits are naturally low in fat and cholesterol and rich in fibre, magnesium, potassium and many vitamins.

Advocates of plant-based eating say vegans typically have lower levels of cholesterol and blood pressure, a lower body mass index, and reduced risk of death from heart disease and cancer.