Could you eat only plant-based foods for 31 days? That’s the idea behind Veganuary—an annual campaign that challenges individuals to go vegan for the month of January. Jane Land and Mathew Glover of the UK started Veganuary in 2014 to inspire people to try veganism for their health, the environment, and animal welfare. Since then, it has grown into a global phenomenon, with millions participating yearly.
Veganuary aspires to make it easier for people to explore veganism. It focuses on providing resources, support, and motivation for individuals and organizations interested in adopting a plant-based lifestyle, even if only for a short period.
Choosing January as the month to promote plant-based eating was clearly a no-brainer. It is the month of New Year’s resolutions and a time when many people are open to trying new things or making healthier lifestyle choices.
Will you be eating more plants this January?
Five Reasons to Focus on Veggies
Research continues to reveal the benefits of a plant-based diet, including boosted immunity, reduced cancer risk, and a healthier brain. Here are five proven reasons to pile on the plants:
1. Reduced Inflammation—Eating more plants while cutting back on things like refined sugars and saturated fats can reduce inflammation in the body and lower cancer risk.
2. Improved Cardiovascular Health—Consuming less meat, which contains saturated fat, and adding extra leafy greens and whole grains will keep your heart healthier for longer.
3. A Healthy Weight—Avoiding junk food and replacing it with fresh vegetables makes it easier to maintain a healthy weight.
4. Helps Prevent Type 2 Diabetes—A quality plant-based diet can significantly reduce the chances of developing Type 2 diabetes. Rates among vegetarians and vegans for Type 2 diabetes are vastly lower than those for meat eaters.
5. A Stronger Brain—Some studies show that eating more fruits and vegetables can reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia and combat cognitive decline.
Read more about these benefits and others, along with the evidence to back them up here and here.
One Step at a Time
Although it was God who originally prescribed a plant-based diet for humanity (Genesis 1:29), it’s probably not best for most to go full veggie mode all at once.
The benefits of a whole foods plant-based diet are many, but for those who didn’t grow up eating that way, the transition can be daunting. Newcomers face an array of questions such as: Where do I find plant-based options such as meat and cheese substitutes? Which ones should I choose? (Some aren’t much healthier than the real things.) How do I prepare the new foods that I’m exploring? Will I still get enough protein? Are there any supplements that I should be taking? And so on.
Here are a few ways to make the change to a meatless life more manageable:
● Remove one thing from your diet at a time. Maybe start with red meat.
● Go without meat one day a week by trying meatless Mondays.
● Intentionally explore a larger variety of fruits and vegetables.
● Double the size of your vegetable portions while cutting meat portions in half.
● Incorporate more vegan sources of protein like legumes, nuts, and seeds into your diet.
● Experiment with veganizing your favorite meat dishes.
● Focus on changes that you can manage and go at your own pace.
● Continue to educate yourself along the way.
Now and Into Eternity
Jesus came “that [we] may have life, and that [we] may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). The abundant life begins now with a personal relationship with Him. But it is not just spiritual healing that Jesus offers. He intends that we “prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers” (3 John 1:2). The apostle Paul expressed God’s desire for each of us well, saying, “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:23).
Spiritual, mental, and physical health are intertwined, each one affecting the others. God knew what He was doing when He told Adam and Eve, “I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food” (Genesis 1:2). Our wise Creator gave us a plant-based diet to keep our bodies and minds in peak condition.
It is fascinating that, according to their website, the founders of Veganuary envision “a world without animal farms and slaughterhouses. A world where food production does not decimate forests, pollute rivers and oceans, exacerbate climate change, and drive wild animal populations to extinction.” The movement has “the aim of ending animal farming, protecting the planet and improving human health.”
Veganuary’s vision sounds a lot like the future home of the redeemed, where “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, … and the lion shall eat straw like the ox” (Isaiah 11:6,7). It will be a new earth (Revelation 21:1) where no one eats the animals because sin and death no longer exist (1 John 3:8; Revelation 20:14). “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4).
It would do us well as Christians to each ask ourselves, “Does the way that I treat my body, the animals, and the environment glorify God? Would my behavior be acceptable in the new earth?” And then, ask God to lead us in making the appropriate changes.
While we cannot turn this earth into heaven, we can, by the grace of God, live the lifestyle of heaven now as we look forward to dwelling in our eternal home.
Get a free copy of our Amazing Facts Health magazine.