According to The Telegraph, a new survey shows people
are avoiding animal products in record numbers. In fact, the number of vegans
in Britain is up 360 percent from 10 years ago.
The survey, conducted by Ipsos MORI for the Vegan Society
and Vegan Life magazine, polled
nearly 10,000 people and was the largest of its kind.
Around 542,000 people aged 15 and over — more than 1 percent
of the total population — have adopted a plant-based diet. This is up from
150,000 in 2006. The Vegan Society cites the survey as proof that veganism is
one of Britain’s “fastest growing lifestyle movements.
Health
benefits are believed to be the force driving people to ditch animal
products and live a more natural lifestyle. Studies have shown that people on plant-based
diets typically have reduced risk of death from heart
disease and cancer and lower blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and body mass indexes.
People are also motivated to go vegan by environmental
and animal
welfare concerns.
Jasmijn de Boo, chief executive officer of the Vegan Society,
states:
To have over half a million vegans in Britain is fantastic. More people than ever are now acting upon the health and environmental benefits of veganism, and finding out what really goes on in the meat and dairy industries and deciding they do not want to contribute to the pain and suffering of animals.
Britain is yet another
place where troves of people are embracing a healthy and compassionate
vegan lifestyle.
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