Vegan Pledge
How to lose 5 stones in a month!
Would you like to improve your health this year? Vegan Campaigns, who've recently helped 25 volunteers to give up meat, dairy products and eggs for a month, think you can.
18 participants of the "Vegan Pledge" were weighed before and after the month and found they'd lost a total of 5 stones - averaging 4lb each. Vegan Campaigns say that, as being vegan is sustainable unlike many "fad" diets, avoiding animal products is an easy and safe way for us to lose weight and become healthier.
Changing to a vegan diet is not without its challenges. Student and participant Miriam Mallalieu complains, “Finding lunch at university was most challenging as there are not any vegan options. The tomato and lentil soup apparently had milk in it! Even the crisps have milk”.
Conversely participant Mary Jane Newman had this to say: “I enjoyed experimenting with new recipes. This has been great fun, and tasty”.
Vegan convert, Kaaren Dean says, “It made me think more about what I eat - when you have to scour ingredients, you realise the amount of rubbish you normally put into your system.”
Those who took part had a health check by GP, Dr. Mike Hooper at the beginning and end of their vegan month; the results are impressive. Dr Hooper explains, “It was surprising how quickly switching over to a vegan diet improved people’s health. Most participants lost weight, and their average for two important health indicators – BMI and Waist:Hip Ratio – came down from an “at risk” level into the ideal range, as well as an overall reduction in blood pressure. “Pledgers” also reported more energy, better sleep, better digestion, fewer pre-menstrual symptoms, and healthier skin, nails and hair. The Pledge month has been an enormous success, and suggests a range of health benefits from a vegan diet.”
Stephen Walsh PhD, author of Plant Based Nutrition, says, "Studies show that vegans and vegetarians are at less risk of heart disease and obesity than those who eat meat and fish. Vegans can easily obtain all their nutritional requirements by following simple guidelines and given the right choices vegan diets support good health and long life."
A vegan diet is best for the environment too. A varied vegan diet uses
half the amount of land used to produce a typical vegetarian diet and one fifth of that used for a typical European omnivorous diet . In addition, animal farming contributes more to global warming than all transport combined, according to the UN.
And it’s good news for the animals: participants saved the lives of 137 animals from the meat, dairy and laying industry. Almost half of the participants plan to stay vegan, and almost all the rest are planning either to become vegetarian, or to cut down on animal products.
Actress and participant Emma McMorrow reasons, “Once you know the facts, how can you not be vegan?”
Please download the full report here: Vegan Pledge Evaluation Report
Thanks to the following companies for sponsoring the Vegan Pledge:
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