The first of November is World Vegan Day! This is a day to celebrate veganism everywhere and raise awareness of the benefits of a vegan lifestyle. You don’t have to be vegan to celebrate; you only have to be open to the possibility of what a vegan lifestyle can bring to your life and the lives of those around you.

This day was first celebrated and recognized in 1994, the year that marked 50 years since the term ‘vegan’ was created. Since then, vegans and those curious about the lifestyle have come a long way and the movement has gained acceptance and even praise in society. Veganism is more than just eating a plant-based diet, although this is a great start! There are vegan businesses, which maintain values of preventing animal cruelty and protecting the planet, vegan clothes, which don’t use animal products in fabric or material, and even vegan films, which bring awareness to animal cruelty or focus on animal rights.

What are the benefits of being vegan?

Being vegan, or just trying it out, can have many positive impacts on your individual life and on the entirety of the world. A vegan lifestyle is healthy, environmentally conscious, and supportive of animal welfare.

A balanced vegan diet, or a diet that does not include meat or animal products, has many associated health benefits. These include lower cholesterol levels and improved heart function, which help to lower the risk of certain chronic diseases.

The environmental impact of animal agriculture and other animal intensive practices is significant and often understated by businesses and companies that profit off of these operations. Based on EPA estimates, livestock emissions account for a large portion of total agriculture greenhouse gas emissions, or the release of gases that increase the rate of climate change. Animal agriculture also generally requires more land than crops, and an increasing number of crops are being grown for livestock consumption rather than direct human consumption. Living a vegan lifestyle supports a more sustainable food system and reduces one of the notable contributors of greenhouse gas emissions.

Veganism inherently supports animal welfare, since its practices involve reduction in animal harm. This goes beyond abstaining from eating animals or animal products, but also using vegan products that did not involve animal testing or experimentation. These can include cosmetic products, cleaning products, and clothes. An easy logo to spot for cruelty-free products is the bunny ears that resemble a heart, or the heart with a V in the center if you are looking for vegan food products.

How can you celebrate it?

Anyone can celebrate World Vegan Day! Educating yourself on veganism or trying out a vegan lifestyle are important ways to advocate against animal cruelty. If you aren’t already vegan, you could try a new vegan recipe, support a vegan business, watch a vegan documentary, or get involved with other environmentally friendly organizations like Wild Virginia!