A recent study survey conducted by comparethemarket.com found that there’s been a huge spike in the number of vegans out there, at least in the United Kingdom. The numbers suggest more than 3.5 million Brits are quitting meat and dairy in favor of the vegan life — and think, that’s just in that part of the world. That’s a whopping uptick since 2016, when The Vegan Society and Vegan Life magazine revealed there were only about 540,000 vegans living in Britain.
So what’s compelling people to abandon animal products? You might think it’s all those uber-Instagrammable vegan fat bombs or smoothie bowls out there (and they are damn good), or maybe it’s all those posts claiming that veganism has completely transformed lives in a seriously positive way, but it’s so much more than that.
The survey found that environmental concerns were seriously driving people to veganism, and that’s because the food we eat — and how we get it — actually makes up about 20 percent of greenhouse emission (which is a lot) and thus, contributes significantly to global warming.
There are even awesome vegan clothing lines catering to trendy, chic clothes that don’t use unethical practices or animal products.
All of that sounds awesome, right? But here’s the thing: Vegans are, another survey found, apparently getting sick — and missing work — a lot more (like, twice as much) than the carnivores among us.
Apparently, vegans are taking almost five days off per year due to colds and cases of the flu (which is apparently double the time most folks use for similar ailments), and they’re making more appointments with their doctors as well. Note: This is just one study, so that doesn’t mean that these results are fact by any means.
Now, it could be that vegans are extra cautious about — or in touch with — their health and wellness, leading them to check in with their doctors more often. After all, they are cutting out whole food groups! On the flipside, vegans are also at risk of nutritional deficiency, which could compromise the immune system — leading to colds and the flu.
Science says that vegans are at major risk of deficiencies if they’re not supplementing well, especially in the area of vitamins B-12 and D, calcium, and long-chain n-3 (omega-3) fatty acids, iron, and zinc.
Fear not, vegan readers and aspiring vegans: There are also MEGA benefits to the plant-based lifestyle, evidenced by the many people who credit it for their physical and even spiritual wellness.
“Vegans tend to be thinner, have lower serum cholesterol, and lower blood pressure, reducing their risk of heart disease,” research says. Combined with the growing number of delish vegan recipes out there, that’s a win-win.
In short — eat well, supplement where necessary, focus on your metabolic health, and keep those sniffles at bay!
