vegan blog

Is Veganism Healthy for the Long-Term? Find Out What Experts Think

This article explores the pros and cons of a long-term vegan lifestyle.

With ongoing research there are a number of findings to show that with proper food combinations, a diet rich in vitamins and minerals and reduction of processed foods, a vegan lifestyle can yield positive long-term effects.

However, without proper attention to diet, statistics have shown there to be a likelihood of deficiencies as well as decreased bone density. 

Key Takeaways

  • A well-balanced vegan diet can improve body weight, reduce inflammation, and lower blood pressure with long-term benefits.
  • Vegans may face nutrient deficiencies like B12 and calcium, leading to health issues if not properly managed.
  • Vegans often adopt healthier lifestyle habits, though excessive focus on diet can cause anxiety and stress.

Is Veganism Actually Healthy?

While research is ongoing, the vegan diet has been shown to yield overall health benefits for individuals with the exception of a likelihood of decreased bone density and fractures, possibly due to lower calcium intake and b12 deficiencies. 

In order to avoid health concerns it is important to maintain a diet is heavy in fruits, vegetables, legumes, seeds, whole grains, B12 vitamins and less processed foods.

Like any diet, depending on the foods you eat, there can be the potential to either lower or increase your risk for disease.


A well-balanced vegan diet can offer a wide range of minerals and vitamins with beneficial effects to include promoting healthy body weight, reducing BMI, producing less levels of inflammation in the body, lowering blood pressure, maintaining blood sugar, encouraging insulin resistance and even reducing symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. 

According to DIRECT-PLUS trial by Green MED Diet Research, a 10 year study has shown that an enriched plant based and vegan diet, free of red meat, could be found to have long-lasting effects even compared to the Mediterranean diet. (1)

Unlike those who are consuming regular amounts of red meat, vegan diets have been found to increase antioxidant activity and reduce oxidative stress in people with diabetes.  In diets where animal protein is consumed more often, there can often be an associated and increased risk of hypertension or high blood pressure. 

To boot, It has been statistically proven that vegans tend to be more concerned with their health overall, drinking and smoking less and exercising more. These trends yield healthier results in the long run.

So overall can we assume that the vegan diet is superior to the other diets around? 

It would appear that while a well-balanced vegan diet has a number of health benefits, there are a number of health concerns one should be wary of.

The Downside

Veganism has been associated with negative health outcomes such as nervous, skeletal and immune system impairments as well as micro and macronutrient deficiencies.

Due to a lack of vitamin B12 and calcium, many vegans suffer more commonly from bone density and an increase in broken bones. 

One result many studies have yielded is that vegans are consuming far less protein compared to other diet groups leaving individuals commonly insufficient in protein levels.

Some studies have pointed out that plant proteins tend to be less digestible than animal proteins. Processed foods typically found in certain vegan products can also reduce digestibility. 

It is important as a vegan to consume various sources of amino acids regularly to provide adequate amounts of complete proteins. Soy products, quinoa and amaranth are excellent vegan alternatives offering all 9 essential amino acids resulting in a complete protein option.

Nuts, seeds, legumes, soy products and whole grains also offer adequate amounts of protein in  vegan diets.

Some other deficiencies vegans can experience include: iron, zinc, calcium, iodine, B12 and Vitamin D.

Good sources of these minerals for vegans include:
  • Iron: Wholegrains, legumes, tofu, green leafy vegetables, dried fruits
  • Zinc: Nuts, tofu, miso, legumes, whole grains
  • Iodine: Seaweed
  • Vitamin D: Sunlight exposure, some plant based milks (It has even been found that soy milk contains roughly the same amount of protein as cows milk)
  • Calcium: Plant based milks with fortified calcium, cereals and juice with fortified calcium, tahini, nuts, legumes, dark leafy greens

B12 is another vitamin that tends to show up as a significant deficiency in the vegan diet as most B12s are found in meat, poultry and eggs.

According to BBC, a recent study involving 48,000 people has shown vegans to have lower risks of heart disease but possibly higher chances of stroke due to a lack of B12. (2)

The vegan diet requires individuals to check their B12s regularly and supplement with minerals when necessary.  

Dietary concerns can be prevalent in any diet.

One negative concern revealed is that many vegans can suffer from orthorexia nervosa (ON) known as fixation on health-conscious eating habits. Obsessive food decisions have been shown to increase levels of anxiety in an individual. 

So Where Do Vegans Stand?

While research is still conducted on a continuous basis, evidence of a vegan long lasting lifestyle is constantly being put to the tested. 

While there are numerous concerns to be had, according to a 2020 study reported by BBC, a vegan diet is still considered as one of the healthiest diets due to a wide range of fruit, vegetable and legume consumption. 

There are recommendations for veganism to support a thriving lifestyle. According to a study by Harvard health, in addition to a wide range diet of whole foods, chia, hemp and flax seeds all high in omega 3s should also be consumed regularly.

Final Thoughts 

As a vegan it is especially important to consume a wide range and complete diet of fruits, whole grains, legumes, vegetables and the necessary vitamins and minerals.

If we  choose mindfully to consume nutrient dense meals and maintain a healthy lifestyle, it is almost guaranteed we can increase our longevity.

How do you guarantee you're getting a full balance of vitamins and minerals? We'd love to hear from you!

References

(1) https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9523931/

(2) https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200122-are-there-health-benefits-to-going-vegan

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vegan blog

Plant Based vs Vegan: What are the Differences?

When I first discovered the vegan lifestyle, I thought there were only two ways that you could be: either vegan or vegetarian.

I didn’t realize you had a third category called plant-based. When you compare it to vegan or vegetarian, it often tends to be much less strict in terms of what you can eat, but this will also depend on personal values. 

Plant-based is more relaxed than vegan and vegetarian, and for some people, it may fit them better. If you’d like to learn what plant-based is and how it differs from veganism, keep reading as we’ll explore what it is and how it differs from veganism.  

Key Takeaways

  • The plant-based diet is a little more relaxed than veganism or vegetarianism.
  • How much meat a plant-based lifestyle has will depend on the person. 
  • Veganism and plant-based each have their own advantages that may be more suited to certain people.

What is the Plant-Based Diet?

The plant-based diet is a little more relaxed than either the vegan or the vegetarian diet.

Veganism has often been criticized as being too restrictive, and for some people looking to go vegan, they may find it easier to go either vegetarian or plant-based.

You can always go bigger into veganism or vegetarianism later.  

The plant-based diet largely consists of eating plant-based foods, and you normally avoid eating meats and animal-based products.

However, someone living the plant-based lifestyle will occasionally eat small amounts of meat and animal-based products.

This makes it a little easier when you go to parties or family events.

Plant-based was first used as a way to define those who would occasionally eat these products since they didn’t necessarily fit into the category of vegan or vegetarian. 

People on a plant-based diet may choose to identify as vegan or vegetarian, but when you identify as plant-based, you don’t necessarily exclude all meats or animal-based products.

However, the amount you eat will be much lower than what the average meat-eating person would consume. That’s the big difference. 

You may even find yourself shifting in the categories.

For example, you may start as a vegan but find that the plant-based lifestyle fits you better because you can still eat enough meat to where you don’t feel hungry all the time.

Some vegans report this as a common problem. 

  • A plant-based diet is more flexible than veganism or vegetarianism, allowing for occasional meat and animal product consumption while still focusing primarily on plant foods. This flexibility makes it easier for some people to adopt and sustain, with the option to shift toward a stricter vegan or vegetarian diet over time if desired.

How Much Meat is Considered Plant-Based?

This honestly has a big variability with some plant-based lifestyles including small amounts of meat daily.

Others will only eat meat once or twice a week. There’s also a category called flexitarian, and while there are differences between flexitarian and plant-based, they share many similarities. 

Fun Fact!

  • An estimated 19% of all Australians are flexitarians, according to survey research from YouGov (1). 

One of the keys of being plant-based is that you eat less meat than what the normal meat-eating person would. If you’re trying to eat more plant-based foods, but you’re still eating some meat, you’re probably plant-based. 

One of the great things about being plant-based over being vegan is that you can fail 1,000 times at being plant-based, and as long as you’re trying and eating less meat, you’re still succeeding. 

Veganism, on the other hand, you need to follow the stricter dietary limitations. Of course, you can fail at being a vegan, but it always leaves you feeling more defeated when you fail at it versus being plant-based. It’s much harder to fail doing the plant-based lifestyle.    

What are the Advantages of Plant-Based vs Vegan?

Let’s cover some of the advantages of living a plant-based lifestyle versus being a vegan. You could choose a lifestyle based on your own individual values.

I’ve summed it up here with a table:

Advantages

Plant-Based Diet

Vegan

Relieves animal suffering

Yes, it does but it has less impact than veganism.

Yes, it has the full impact of not contributing to animal suffering.

Getting proteins and nutrients

Yes, it’s much easier to get your nutrients due to less dietary restrictions. 

You can still get nutrients, but planning your diet is even more essential.

Ease of sticking to it

Much easier to go plant-based and more beginner friendly for most people.

Some people will struggle to go totally vegan due to the greater dietary restrictions.

The lifestyle goes beyond food

No, the plant-based lifestyle is only about your diet. For example, you don’t have plant-based clothing or plant-based makeup.

Veganism looks at animal-friendly products as well like makeup, clothing, accessories, and household goods. The lifestyle extends far beyond the food.

Avoids animal testing

You can choose not to buy products that do animal testing, but plant-based doesn’t really focus on this. It mostly focuses on the diet. 

Veganism is totally humane and avoids all animal testing.

Healthy 

Yes, plant-based can be a very healthy lifestyle depending on what you eat. Many people are plant-based for health reasons

Veganism “can” be very healthy for you, depending on what kind of vegan food you consume, but some vegans are more ethical vegans than health-based vegans. 

Eliminates all or nothing thinking

Plant-based is more encompassing, and you don’t automatically disqualify yourself just because you ate meat. You can fail at this one and still be plant-based.

Veganism is far stricter than plant-based. You’re either vegan or you’re not, and it’s much easier to fail at being a vegan than plant-based.

FINAL THOUGHTS

None of this discussion about plant-based vs vegan is meant to divide people.

The goal of this article is to highlight the differences so that you can decide for yourself which one makes the most sense for you. You might find yourself starting out as a vegan but growing increasingly vegetarian or plant-based. You can move from one to the other, and that’s fine based on what works for you and your body.

There is no one-size-fit-all solution. Plant-based can be a great place to get into veganism from if you worry that you would miss eating meat since it isn’t as restrictive.

Share and follow along in the comments! Let me know what you think.

References

(1) https://au.yougov.com/consumer/articles/47583-world-food-day-australia-major-dietary-preferences-most-favourite-cuisines-2023#:~:text=Latest%20YouGov%20Surveys%20research%20shows,occasionally%20consume%20meat%20and%20fish. 

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vegan blog

Are Eggs Vegan? The Best Vegan Alternatives to Eggs

Whether you are vegan, have an egg allergy or eggs simply give you the ick, I’m here to share with you why eating eggs isn’t always ethical as well as 10 egg alternatives you can easily whip up in your kitchen!

Read along as I share with you my findings on the best vegan alternatives to eggs!

Key Takeaways

  • Egg Ethics: Most vegans avoid eggs due to unethical mass production practices, even if some eggs are ethically sourced.
  • Vegan Substitutes: The article offers 10 vegan egg alternatives, like aquafaba, flaxseed meal, and store-bought options like Just Egg.
  • Recipe-Specific Choices: Different substitutes work better for specific recipes, such as aquafaba for egg whites and bananas for baking.

First Off, Are Eggs Vegan?

A vegan lifestyle is all about causing no harm to any other living being.

In the process, all animal products including food, wardrobe and so on are not purchased or consumed.

Are animals technically being harmed in the process of collecting eggs?

Let’s dissect this question and discuss why most vegans would agree, eggs are not vegan.

If we look at factory farming, the average egg production company would look far from ethical.

In most factory farms where, let's face it, most eggs on the grocery shelves come from, chickens are being forced far beyond their natural means to produce eggs at an alarming rate. 

In a common hatchery, chickens are vaccinated, debeaked and placed into egg production barns. Chickens are then typically force fed artificially produced food or grains not naturally consumed.

The space is usually highly confined and hens will be manipulated to hatch around 1 egg a day. In nature, hens could produce just 12 eggs in a year.

There are of course cage-free, free-range eggs and even pasture raised (arguably the best option). However, unless you’ve developed a relationship with your local egg supplier and visited the farm yourself, there really is no telling how truly ethical the operation may be. 

While there are ethical practices in place, determining the best option for egg shopping is up to you. If you’re concerned with the ethics and uncertain the best practices in place, fear not, vegan alternatives exist and I’m here to share a few with you!

  • A vegan lifestyle is centered around minimizing harm to all living beings, avoiding animal products in food, clothing, and beyond. While some egg suppliers claim ethical practices, factory farming often involves inhumane conditions, making eggs a non-vegan choice for most—thankfully, plenty of plant-based alternatives exist!

10 Egg Alternatives

  1. 1
    Aquafaba: if you haven't read my article on aquafaba, check it out here.

    Aquafaba is that liquid you’ll find at the bottom of your can of chickpeas, save this! On average, 3 tablespoons of aquafaba equates to about one whole egg

    2 tablespoons of aquafaba equate to one egg white 

    1 tablespoon of aquafaba equates to 1 egg yolk

    If substituting an egg you can use aquafaba as is. No need to blend or mix. The work is already done! If you’re seeking a stiff peak egg white consistency you’ll need to hand mix your aquafaba for anywhere from 3-6 minutes depending on the recipe. 

  2. 2
    Flaxseed Meal: Using flax meal as an egg substitute is my favorite egg substitute. I think it makes an amazing emulsifier, it’s tasteless and you’re adding beneficial fiber to your chosen recipe. Simply mix 1 tablespoon of flax meal to 3 tablespoons water to replace 1 regular egg in any recipe
  3. 3
    Chia Seeds can be used similarly to flax meal. A chia egg is the same ratio 1:3 chia to water. You can grind the chia seeds or use as is mix with water in a bowl and allow to sit for 5-10 minutes. The mixture will transform into a gel-like consistency and can replace an egg in any recipe. 
  4. 4
    Tofu: Tofu scramble is a tried and true vegan egg alternative. The texture, and resemblance to a real egg is as close as you can get using minimal ingredients. Simply add turmeric, garlic and onion powder and crumble on the pan. I’d recommend a firm tofu for a scramble and a blended silken tofu for baked goods.
  5. 5
    Ripe Bananas: Best to use a soft and ripe banana as an egg substitute. Typically measure ¼ cup of mashed banana per egg. Ripe bananas work perfectly in any baked good recipe as you can reduce the amount of sugar called for. The downside is you would only use bananas in baked goods, not as an every recipe egg alternative.  
  6. 6
    Applesauce works great in recipes such as muffins, brownies and cakes. Simply substitute ¼ cup of applesauce for one egg. I’d go for unsweetened to yield a more neutral taste in your recipe. To add less denseness and create a lighter and fluffier product add ½ tsp of baking powder to your mix.
  7. 7
    Pumpkin Puree can work interchangeably as a banana in a vegan baked good recipe. Typically ¼ cup equals about 1 egg in any standard recipe. The pumpkin works as an excellent emulsifier in most recipes, leaving the finished product dense and delicious. The downside is your product will taste significantly like pumpkin, make sure to use it appropriately. 
  8. 8
    Garbanzo Bean Flour is a popular vegan egg alternative. Again, mix the powder with some water and add your additives such as garlic powder, black salt and turmeric. The consistency is a bit more doughy and less fluffy like a traditional egg. However, if you have a soy allergy, chickpea flour is an excellent option! Not to mention a certainly cost effective alternative as you will spend far less for a bag of flour and yield a considerable amount more of vegan scramble.
  9. 9
    Just Egg is as easy as it gets. Made primarily from mung bean protein isolate, Just Egg simply requires a shake and pour. This vegan egg replacement can be found in most health food stores. It is easy to cook and a comparable egg alternative. Downsides: The price is relatively high at $8/ 12oz bottle. Another downside I have found about this product is because it is mass produced it contains preservatives and emulsifiers, such as tetrasodium pyrophosphate and seed oils such as expeller-pressed canola oil.
  10. 10
    Follow Your Heart Vegan Egg is a powder mix made primarily from soymilk powder, gellan gum and cellulose. The brand boasts to be eco friendly and one package yields around 12 servings of eggs for about $13. Simply blend with water and saute. I haven’t tried this brand personally. I’ve read mixed reviews. Some people appreciate the convenience but most people have complained about the strong black salt taste, the texture, and the smell. Certainly worth trying if you’re looking for a similar egg substitute without having to do the work of adding in your own ingredients.

Final Thoughts

Just because you’re vegan doesn’t mean you have to say goodbye to an egg salad sandwich nor does it mean you can’t create scrumptious and fluffy desserts.

There are countless vegan egg alternatives that exist depending on your preferred recipe! Whether you choose not to eat eggs for ethical reasons or for an allergy, I hope you’ll try out some of these egg alternatives and share with us your favorite recipe!

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Guides, vegan blog, Wellbeing

Quitting Veganism: Why Some People Quit and How to Get Back on Track

Have you ever considered quitting veganism after you went vegan? You’d be surprised at how common this actually is. Faunalytics (1) conducted a study that found how 84% of vegans and vegetarians abandoned their diets.

About one-third of vegans and vegetarians maintained the diet for three months or less.

Still, an estimated 37% said that they planned to readopt the vegan lifestyle at some point. If you fall off track with veganism, what can you do to get back on track?

Let’s take a look at some of the things you can do. 

Key Takeaways

  • People have different reasons for why they give up on veganism with some being harder to get around than others. 
  • Get rid of perfectionism and be willing to fail to learn your style of veganism.
  • Connect with veganism in a positive way to help keep it going.
  • Sometimes, veganism is too hard and vegetarianism or plant-based may fit your lifestyle better.

Reasons People Give up on Veganism

Here are some of the reasons that people give up on veganism.

Many times, you may have multiple reasons for giving up on veganism: 

  • Lack of support
  • High costs
  • Social pressures 
  • Greater convenience
  • Feeling hungry all the time
  • Nutrient deficiencies

Any one of these things can contribute to you not wanting to continue as a vegan with some of them being more serious than others.

For example, high costs can make it impossible to be vegan if on a lower income, but there are cheaper vegan foods you can buy. 

Nutrient deficiencies are also another serious one where you might buy supplements to ensure that you receive all the essential nutrients that you need.

Throw Away Perfectionism: It Works against You

There’s something about when you fail in veganism that leaves more of a psychological scar than other failures. It cuts deep.

You might compare it as similar to failing a diet. One of the problems with veganism is that this lifestyle can be more restrictive than many other eating habits. 

Especially if you go cold turkey on meat and look at veganism as an exercise in discipline, you may struggle to pull this off consistently.  

One of the things you can do is to look at veganism as less of an act of discipline. You’re allowed to fail as you figure it out. 

When I first started in the plant-based lifestyle, I would pick out the most enjoyable vegan recipes I could find.

If I didn’t like a vegan recipe, I’d never eat it again. Doing this goes a long way toward helping you to keep your discipline strong since you will struggle less with willpower.

You can fail when learning how to be a vegan. Don’t make it too hard on yourself with the discipline or with failing. Just get up and try again.

  • Failing at veganism can feel more personal and restrictive than other lifestyle changes, but it's important to view it as a learning process rather than an act of discipline. Choosing enjoyable plant-based foods and allowing yourself to make mistakes can make the transition easier and more sustainable.

Let Veganism Become a Healthy Asset to Your Lifestyle

Like many, I had a moment where I started dropping back on the plant-based lifestyle, and as soon as I did that, I saw my health start giving me a few more problems.

Not many due to my younger age but enough to notice that I was healthier on the plant-based diet. 

For me, that was more than enough motivation to go back and keep the plant-based lifestyle going.  

I can see that it clearly has a positive impact on my life—my relationship with plant-based is a positive one and that’s what draws me back to it. 

One of the reasons that people quit veganism is because they don’t connect with it in that way. 

If you view veganism as this difficult or expensive activity that only serves to restrict your lifestyle, you may struggle to keep it going. You won’t connect with it in as positive of a way as what you could. 

The right mindset in veganism is critical to going forward with it and keeping it going. High cost is obviously a hard problem to get around, but if you buy straight vegetables, rather than vegan branded processed foods, this is one of the ways to lower the cost of veganism.

TIP:

  • Focus on the Benefits – Keep a journal of how you feel physically and mentally to track your progress, invite a friend on the journey to have a companion and accountability, or simply record yourself in voice memos of your experiences. Instead of viewing veganism as a list of restrictions, focus on what you gain—better health, more energy, ethical alignment, and delicious new foods. 

Keep Going: Don’t Exclude Other Plant-Based Alternatives

If you want to be a vegan but you struggle to keep your discipline, you could try being a vegetarian or plant-based.

These choices are less restrictive than vegan, and especially if you’ve failed many times at being vegan but you don’t want to give up, vegetarian or plant-based is another way of keeping yourself going. 

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to living a plant-based lifestyle. For me, I’ve found that being plant-based was a little easier to maintain than being a vegan, but I’ve been a vegetarian at different points as well and a vegan. 

Plant-based is where you eat some meat and dairy, but you largely maintain eating plants as much as possible. This is also a good solution if you constantly feel hungry all the time on veganism, which is a common complaint. 

Never ignore this one if you get it.

It can be dangerous—people have wound up in the hospital. Then they really resented veganism afterwards, swearing off it forever, but this is all about listening to your body and what it needs. 

Vegans often need to track their nutrient intake better than others to ensure that they have all their nutrients. 

Also, a plant-based diet stops you from feeling excluded when you go to a family gathering or an event where no one else is vegan, so you experience fewer social pressures. 

This feeling of exclusion was one of the reasons many vegans would resent their diet over time, but to get around this, it’s all about keeping the right mindset. You want to keep a healthy relationship with veganism, vegetarianism, or plant-based since this will help you to keep it going. 

FINAL THOUGHTS

Hopefully this article has shown you how to get back on track with veganism. In some cases, changing your course slightly could be the better option if you don’t think you’ll have the discipline to keep being a vegan.

One of the keys here is that even if you fail, keep going with it. Don’t give up or beat yourself up. 

Try to form a positive relationship with veganism because one of the biggest reasons people quit is due to them developing a negative relationship with it over time. You need to have a real reason for keeping the vegan lifestyle going that matters to you. 

References

(1) https://faunalytics.org/a-summary-of-faunalytics-study-of-current-and-former-vegetarians-and-vegans/#:~:text=84%25%20of%20vegetarians%2Fvegans%20abandon,former%20vegetarians%2Fvegans%20was%20health.

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vegan blog, Ingredients, Nutrition

What Is Aquafaba and How Do You Use It?

Aquafaba is relatively new in the exploratory world of vegan cooking.

You’ve probably heard of it and maybe you’ve been wondering how to use it! In this article, we discuss what exactly aquafaba is, how to use it and some recipes to get your creative juices flowing.

No more wasting precious aquafaba down the sink! It’s time to transform and elevate your vegan cooking game!

Key Takeaways

  • Aquafaba is the liquid leftover from cooking chickpeas or legumes, used as an egg substitute in various recipes.
  • Aquafaba can replace eggs as a binder or be whipped into peaks for meringue and other recipes.
  • Aquafaba is low-calorie, cholesterol-free, and can be stored in the fridge or frozen, though BPA in canned beans is a concern.

First off…What is Aquafaba?

You’ve probably heard of aquafaba before and if you’re here, perhaps you’re looking for ways to use it!

Aquafaba is the leftover viscous liquid found in your can of chickpeas or rather cooked chickpeas, legumes, and beans. Usually discarded, this liquid has many uses and can be transformed in a number of ways. 

The typical egg replacement in most vegan recipes includes flax or chia eggs as well as bananas, applesauce and pumpkin. 

There’s no telling when aquafaba hit mainstream but the earliest reports on the internet only date back between 2010-2015 where forums came to life with the vegan alternative to egg whites in a homemade meringue. In 2015 the name aquafaba was coined, as recipes, tips and tricks were developed to create marshmallows, nougat, cakes, mayonnaise, ice cream and vegan cheese to name a few. 

Due to this leftover liquid’s unique combination of starch, protein and plant solids, the legume cooking process yields a thick, gelatinous, emulsifying and binding liquid that when whipped up acts as an excellent alternative to egg whites. 

If seeking a simple egg binder, aquafaba can be used as is. 

On average:

  • 3 tablespoons of aquafaba equates to about one whole egg
  • 2 tablespoons of aquafaba equate to one egg white
  • 1 tablespoon of aquafaba equates to 1 egg yolk

If desiring to create a recipe with whipped egg whites follow these simple directions.

Directions + Tips:

  • Drain your canned chickpeas over a bowl to preserve liquid. Alternatively drain water from soaked and boiled chickpeas. Depending on what you’re making will determine how long you whip your aquafaba for.
  • For a whole egg substitute mix your aquafaba for 45- 60 seconds until the consistency is aerated and foamy. 
  •  For a stiff peak use a hand or stand mixer and whisk aquafaba for 3-10 minutes until desired peak is reached.
  • (Option to add ¼ tsp cream of tartar to create firmer peak and shorten whip time

  • (Another tip is to use cold aquafaba for a faster formed peak when whipping)

  • 1-15 oz can of chickpeas yields around ½ cup of liquid which can whip to 2-3 cups of aquafaba

  • If using aquafaba from home cooked beans, the liquid tends to be more liquidy and will need to be reduced into a thicker consistency before use. Many culinary websites state homemade aquafaba doesn’t typically produce the best whipped final product. 

Recipes

I scoured the web to find some unique recipes using aquafaba and even tried a few myself!

I recommend getting creative in the kitchen and trying your hand at some!

Vegan Mayo: This 5 minute, 6 ingredient recipe for vegan mayonnaise by minimalist baker is easy and delicious.
 

Meringue: Loving it Vegan has a simple and seemingly perfect recipe to making the perfect vegan meringue.

Butter: The Edgy Veg has a homemade vegan butter recipe that does not require palm oil.

Vegan Cheese: If you want to try a vegan cheese, Avocados and Ales uses aquafaba in a vegan mozzarella recipe  while this recipe uses more niche ingredients it yields a realistic textured mozzarella alternative.

Cocktail: Feel free to use aquafaba as even the egg white alternative in any common cocktail, this recipe by Topped with Cinnamon makes a delicious Aquafaba Grapefruit Gin Sour Cocktail  Not in the mood to drink alcohol? Substitute the Gin for a sparkling water and enjoy your frothy aquafaba topper with a fizzy grapefruit juice.

How to Store Aquafaba

Aquafaba can be stored in the refrigerator for a few days in an airtight container or stored in an ice cube tray in the freezer for future use. Just defrost before use!

Benefits

Aquafaba is low in calories and sodium as well as sugar, cholesterol, gluten and trans-fat free. 

The Downside

Many cans are lined with BPAs, a chemical that is linked to infertility and a hormone disruptor. As most beans come in cans, the likelihood of consuming BPAs while using aquafaba increases.

An alternative that exists are BPA free cans or cardboard carton sold beans. It is worth looking into these options or soaking and cooking your own beans while preserving the liquid.

Many beans can cause gas if not soaked and prepared properly so another perk to preparing your own beans at home eliminates this possibility. 

Final Thoughts

Whether a seasoned vegan at home chef or new to the world of vegan cooking, I hope this article has inspired you to try a new way of utilizing that discarded canned bean juice!

Aquafaba offers a low calorie, waste-free and  frothy alternative to eggs and egg whites. With a simple 3:1 conversion you have the option to create multiple dishes and treats from just one can of chickpeas.

Have you tried using aquafaba before? Let us know if you tried any of these recipes or if you’ve used aquafaba in a different way! We’d love to hear from you!

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vegan blog, Nutrition, Vegan Alternatives

Can You Eat Cheese on a Plant Based Diet?

You’ve come here to see if cheese is considered part of a plant-based diet.

At one point, I was wondering the same thing on whether eating cheese could be considered as part of a plant-based diet. Here’s what I learned when I began to look more into this subject.

It was somewhat confusing because you get multiple answers on this. You can make your own interpretation based on your own values. 

Key Takeaways

  • Cheese is not a plant unless eating a plant-based cheese, but you can still eat it occasionally if on the plant-based diet.
  • There are a couple of good vegan cheese alternatives like Miyokos, Chao, Follow Your Heart, Violife, and Treeline.
  • Many choose the plant-based lifestyle for health reasons more than with veganism.

Is Cheese Considered Part of a Plant-Based Diet?

On a plant-based diet, plants are largely consumed, but nothing says that you can’t eat cheese once in a while. 

This isn’t veganism. 

A plant-based diet consumes meat at much lower levels, and nothing in a plant-based diet restricts eating cheese.  

Columbia University Irving Medical Center (1) even stated that you can eat beef, fish, eggs, poultry, and dairy products, but you would consume them in a much lower amount.

The emphasis must always remain on plant-based foods, however, with it consisting of about 60% of your diet. Plant-based means that you emphasize plants, but you don’t necessarily cut out meat or dairy products entirely. 

Not everyone agrees with that perspective and some believe that you need to cut out all meats and dairy products. Veganism is always a plant-based diet but the plant-based diet is not always vegan. 

When you’re on a plant-based diet, you largely focus on eating plants, but you don’t necessarily only eat plants. It’s just a large part of your diet. 

Being plant-based allows you for more freedom, and it’s okay if you eat meat or cheese once in a while, whereas if you’re a vegan and you eat meat, eggs, or cheese, you fail as soon as you eat it. This can leave you feeling bad. 

Eating cheese may not be 100% plant-based but the main goal here is largely plant-based unless you’re stricter about how much you eat.  

Try Some of the Vegan Cheeses

Some of this comes down to your own lifestyle choices, and if you’d prefer, you could also eat vegan cheeses. This would be considered as totally plant-based, depending on what the cheese is made from.

Some great vegan cheese brands you can try include:

  • Follow Your Heart: You might choose this if you want a creamy grilled cheese sandwich. 
  • Chao: Another good option for those looking for a creamy grilled cheese sandwich. 
  • Diaya: Diaya makes sense for pizzas because it tastes better when melted. 
  • Miyokos: Great option for those who want vegan pepper jack or vegan cheddar cheeses. They also have good soft cheese wheels, and they also make a good vegan butter.
  • Violife: Excellent choice for things where you need to melt the cheese like with pizza.
  • Treeline: Good choice when you want a vegan cream cheese. 

Unfortunately, some people have had bad vegan cheese, and they say they’ll never try it again. I would encourage you to try a couple of different brands to see which one works best for you. 

When you’re plant-based, however, you don’t necessarily need to eat vegan cheese, but this depends on your own values.

For example, maybe you’d prefer it since it’s more ethical. 

Harvard (2) is another example of a school that talks about how the plant-based diet doesn’t mean you’re a vegetarian or a vegan. For that reason, you aren’t bound by being unable to ever eat meat or dairy products. What plant-based means is that the most of what you choose will come from plant-based foods. 

Some people will be 50% plant-based, whereas others will eat a diet that is 90% to 100% plant-based. For some, 100% may not be the most optimal choice because they feel hungry all the time. 

When you feel hungry all the time, this is a warning sign in veganism, and you should add some meat—people have been taken to the hospital in cases where they felt hungry all the time. This is why you need to listen to your own body. 

  • Some people have had bad experiences with vegan cheese, but trying different brands can help find one that works for you—though it's not essential to a plant-based diet. A plant-based diet means most of your food comes from plants, but it doesn’t require being fully vegan, and it's important to listen to your body’s needs to maintain balance and avoid issues like constant hunger.

Establish Why You Want to Be Plant-Based

More than with veganism, many choose the plant-based diet for health reasons.

They want to live a healthier lifestyle and a plant-based lifestyle will help with that. 

By lowering how much meat and dairy you eat, it will lead to greater health benefits, but you’ll also ensure that you continue to receive vital nutrients that many vegans often need to take supplements to receive. 

For that plant-based person, you could eat cheese without a problem since it won’t raise ethical problems. You also have the type of person who goes plant-based for ethical reasons, and for that person, you may want to choose a vegan cheese. 

If you dislike one vegan cheese, don’t give up. Try some of the other choices since some will taste better than others. 

FINAL THOUGHTS

You see mixed opinions on whether a plant-based person can eat cheese on the internet, but I think as long as you aren’t vegan, you can eat cheese without a problem. 

Harvard and the Irving Columbia Medical Center both confirm that a plant-based diet is not the same as being a vegan or even a vegetarian.

You could be 70% plant-based, or you might be 90% with some cheese and meat mixed in for the other 10%. 

While someone may struggle to go totally vegan, maybe they can go plant-based, or maybe their lifestyle would fit better with vegetarianism. 

Comment below your thoughts and share with friends!

References

(1) https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/news/what-plant-based-diet-and-it-healthy

(2) https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/what-is-a-plant-based-diet-and-why-should-you-try-it-2018092614760

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Veganism and Spirituality: Do They Go Hand in Hand?

Vegans believe in the inherent worth of all life and consequently don’t believe in the killing or enslaving of animals for human wants.

Spirituality is a broad term that encapsulates a myriad of different beliefs through time. What unites all spiritual ideals is that we are more than mere matter.

Spirituality can be contrasted with materialism, which has been the prevalent baseline belief of Western civilization for hundreds of years; much to the detriment of the planet and the well-being of its inhabitants. 

Whilst it is nearly impossible to quantify, there’s no doubt that a large number of vegans self-identify as spiritual. That being said, there are many reasons to adopt a vegan lifestyle, and those who choose to do so for health reasons may not necessarily be spiritually inclined.

Read on to learn a bit more about the connection between spirituality and veganism. 

Key Takeaways

  • Veganism and spirituality often align through shared values of compassion, non-violence, and mindful living.
  • Many religious and spiritual traditions advocate plant-based diets as a means of ethical and spiritual purification.
  • While veganism can enhance spiritual awareness, it is ultimately a personal choice and not a prerequisite for spiritual growth.

Ahimsa, Non-Violence

Ahimsa (अहिंसा) is a Sanskrit word that means non-violence or non-harming.

It is the foundational principle in Sanatan Dharma (Hinduism) Jainism, Buddhism, and Sikhism.

The idea is to do the least amount of harm to other beings as possible, as (what are thought of as) other beings are, in truth, a part of yourself. Spirituality aims to break down the artificial boundaries between self and the ‘other;’ a belief prevalent in modern society which adheres to a materialist reductionist paradigm. 

Non-violence comes from a deep-set desire to lead a more compassionate life and alleviate the suffering of all sentient beings on the planet. If life is viewed as a nexus of inter-connected phenomena instead of a collection of isolated individuals, the idea of causing harm becomes more and more abhorrent. This ideological shift is a part of spiritual development. 

Yoga, Spirituality and Veganism

Yoga has become increasingly popular in the Western world over the previous decades.

Whilst the term Yoga in the average modern Western mind may conjure up ideas of contortion or exercise, this is far from its history. The term Yoga can be translated in numerous ways but some of the most common are union or yoke. The practitioner of yoga, the yogi, aims to unite himself with his true Self/ the infinite.

The first step in the classical 8-limbs of Yoga (aṣṭāṅga)  formulation of Yoga is ahimsa, (non-violence.)

The Link Between Spirituality and Veganism

Veganism is intricately linked to the spiritual practices of many adherents who appreciate the interconnectedness of life and wish to minimize the harm they do on this planet.

Many Hindus refrain from eating animals due to their belief in reincarnation and karma, as well as the idea that sattvic (pure) foods (such as fruit, nuts, whole grains and vegetables) can lead to a steady state of mind, spiritual clarity and mental and emotional balance.

Buddhism also takes the notion of ahimsa as being of great import, being present in the Five Presets (Pañcasīla).Whilst not all Buddhists are vegan or vegetarian, they believe that all living beings have buddha nature, so causing harm to them may hamper spiritual progress. 

Jainism maintains the strictest interpretation of ahimsa. The Jain diet excludes root vegetables because of the harm harvesting these does to the billions of life forms present within the soil. Whilst the traditional Jain diet incudes dairy, some modern adherents follow a vegan life style due to the the harm done to dairy cattle in modern times. Previously milk from cows was only taken after baby calves had had their fill.

  • For many spiritual traditions like Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, veganism is more than a diet. It is a sacred expression of non-harm (ahimsa), inner balance, and reverence for all life.

Is Non-Spiritual Veganism A Thing?

Whilst many practicing vegans link their lifestyle and dietary choices to their spiritual ideals  there are, no doubt, some who follow a plant-based lifestyle purely for physical health. They might not self identify as being spiritually inclined but may be unconsciously moved by such ideals and considerations. 

Whilst the parallels between veganism and spirituality are obvious, there are indeed many spiritually advanced beings who don’t view veganism as an integral part of their spiritual journey.

Vibration and Energy?

Many spiritually inclined individuals know that all phenomena are borne of subtle vibrations, which can affect a person's energy field.

The flesh of animals born to a life of torture only to be slaughtered are believed to carry the energy of fear, anxiety and suffering to those who consume them.

A diet rich in naturally organic fruits, nuts and vegetables introduces a higher vibrational state into the body which can help one progress along the spiritual path. Lower and negative vibrational forces introduced into the body become another obstacle that has to be overcome one way or another.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Not all spiritually inclined individuals are vegan and not all vegans are spiritually inclined.

The crossover comes from the desire to lead a more compassionate, mindful life, based on mutual respect for all forms of life, big or small. Many spiritual traditions through the ages have taught about non-violence and kindness, making veganism an easy-to-follow pathway to these ideals. The notion that food can carry energetic properties leads people to think that plant-based foods are more conducive to higher states of consciousness and spiritual insight than animal-based foods.

Spirituality is a highly specific endeavor, and can vary greatly from person to person. Some spiritually advanced individuals may not view veganism as part of their path. Either way, veganism can be a potent expression for those aiming to live a life of compassion, environmental harmony and peaceful coexistence. 

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Plastic-Free Vegan Leather That Dyes Itself from Bacteria

One of the things that I find exciting about veganism is watching the technology around it grow and seeing how it will help to increase the number of vegans in our society. Going vegan will become easier than ever before as time goes on. Vegan leather gives you one example of something that has continued to improve with time in terms of sustainability, durability, and quality. 

Some of the newer source materials like pineapple leaves, mushrooms, and cactus improve the texture of vegan leather compared to the traditional synthetic vegan leathers made from plastic. Let’s take a look at one of the newest technological advancements with vegan leather.

Key Takeaways

  • Researchers at Imperial College London discovered a new way to produce materials and their own pigments using bacteria.
  • Plastic-free vegan leather takes about 14 days to produce and another 48 hours to dye with bacteria.
  • Plastic-free vegan leather faces a number of challenges like mainstream acceptance, mass scale, and durability while remaining biodegradable.

Sustainable Textiles and Dyes Using Microbes?

Researchers and companies in the last few years have begun to develop sustainable textiles that come from microbes, and they’ve done the same thing for making dyes. That matters because synthetic dyes like those that dye leather—can pose a challenge for the environment in some cases through water pollution, chemical contamination, and heavy metals. 

The discovery of engineering bacteria to produce materials and their own pigments were only a recent development in 2024 and took place at Imperial College London. 

The new self-dyeing and plastic-free leather has been made into prototypes with shoes and wallets, and while the technology remains in its infant stages, it represents a huge step forward for technology in sustainable fashion. 

Fast Fashion is one of the biggest consumers of water with it responsible for 2% to 8% of all global emissions, according to the Geneva Environment Network (1). Worse, an estimated 85% of all textiles each year will go to the garbage dump every year, and some of these clothes will contribute to the microplastics found in our oceans. 

This highlights the need for us to find more sustainable fashion choices and alternatives to choices like cotton and cashmere textiles. 

Plastic-free vegan leather and dyes that come from bacteria will differ from traditional plastic-based leathers in that the bacteria cellulose from vegan alternatives come free from petrochemicals. At the same time, they will biodegrade much faster than plastics, which takes anywhere from 20 to 500 years to totally degrade. 

How Self-Dyeing Leather was Created

Researchers modified the genes of bacteria that produce microbial cellulose in sheets intended to create leather that dyes itself. Bacteria placed in a growth medium for 14 days will produce a sheet for vegan leather. 

After researchers replace the growth medium, they replace it with a solution that causes the bacteria to produce eumelanin, a dark black pigment. Once they’ve dyed it, researchers will shake the bacterial cellulose for 48 hours to permanently color the sheet. 

All of this is so powerful that researchers can even add logos or patterns using a blue light. 

Some of the advantages of vegan self-dyeing leather over traditional leather includes: 

  • Non-toxic and biodegradable
  • Versatile with color, logos, and patterns
  • Scalable to create real products
  • Sustainable—requires less carbon emissions, water, land use, and time than cows

This marks a new milestone and the first time researchers have ever used bacterial engineering on kombucha bacteria to create materials and pigment simultaneously. 

Researchers believe that by 2050 textiles and fabrics will become the third largest polluter in the world (behind food and construction), and they will contribute more emissions than aviation and shipping combined. 

For carbon use in the fashion industry, leather is the worst contributor with it being problematic due to it taking up so much material from cattle. 

Dyeing leather traditionally has also been more resource intensive, and if you want black leather, you need to use azo dyes, which create large amounts of wastewater and chemical residue. 

One of the cool things about the coloration technique is that it keeps its color without fading, which was one of the things researchers worried about. 

Tom Ellis, a synthetic biologist at Imperial College London, has said that one of the things they want to do next is crosslinking. Crosslinking is what gives leather its premium quality feel and allows for it to last up to 20 years. Normally, they do this with harsh and unsustainable methods.

The Challenges of Creating Plastic-Free Vegan Leather

One of the things that needs to be pointed out is the absolute genius of it all. Creating something that will last for 10 years while also making it biodegradable to disappear after six months of throwing it on the compost heap requires a careful level of thought and precision, Tom Ellis pointed out. 

The research from the group at Imperial College London will inspire new techniques for making textiles in a sustainable fashion. Modern Synthesis is the company that plans to start out using this research to develop products, but you could see many companies making use out of it in the future if it catches on. 

That would highlight the second challenge facing plastic-free vegan leather is that it needs to catch on. Unfortunately, in some groups, veganism has a negative connotation that can make it harder to have things like this accepted, despite it being positive. 

Many fashion companies, however, have expressed a desire to use microbially-made products in their fashion. 

Another serious challenge that researchers will need to overcome to succeed is simplifying the manufacturing process. Doing this will allow manufacturers to scale up the process for mass production, which right now is one of the troubles with biotextiles and keeping the prices accessible to customers.

Final Thoughts

Vegan leather has come a long way since it first started. Biotextiles will revolutionize the fashion industry in one of the most original ways if we can overcome some of the challenges facing it.

Keeping up with vegan technology is interesting because we’re at a time where many new and exciting technologies have started to make veganism easier for mainstream society and more appealing. 

References

(1) https://www.genevaenvironmentnetwork.org/resources/updates/sustainable-fashion/

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How To Grow More Food With Less Space: An Introduction to Food Forests

Food Forests, also known as forest gardening, is a style of gardening that seeks to replicate the multi-layered systems that happen naturally in forests.

This involves growing many different species in a small area, in a dense polyculture whilst utilizing space intelligently in a synergistic way.

Plants grow better in community than on their own and can provide support for each other. Conventional farming is incredibly labor-intensive, requires a myriad of expensive external outputs, and is increasingly unhealthy, both for the planet and the consumer.

Food forest or forest gardening harnesses the regenerative power of nature to grow mutually beneficial thriving ecosystems. By working with nature, we can achieve higher yields of a greater variety of crops over a longer period of time, increasing both the resilience and diversity of our diets and ecosystems.

Read on if you’re interested in learning the basics of planning a food forest!

Key Takeaways

  • Mimic Forest Systems: Grow plants in layers to maximize space and harvest diversity.
  • Observe & Adapt: Let nature guide your choices and use feedback to refine your approach.
  • Leverage Margins: Use edges and niches to create thriving, biodiverse ecosystems.

Observe and Interact

Observation is key.

The most important thing is to observe how forests grow. Spend some time in a forest and one of the many things you’ll notice is that you won’t find any species growing by itself. Instead, you’ll witness a rich tapestry of plants growing together in harmony, each occupying a different space and fulfilling a different function in the ecosystem.

By replicating the multi-layered system of a forest, you can reap a greater harvest than in a monoculture.

You’ll be able to harvest different crops and different times of the year, providing variety and balance, rather than a single crop all at one time.

There are typically seven layers in a forest; the canopy layer, lower tree layer, shrub layer, herbaceous layer, ground cover, vine/climbers, and root crops.

What is suitable will depend on your climate and specific conditions.

It may take many years, to develop all or most of the layers of a food forest, but once you do, you can have a food forest that sustains itself, with the only input needed being the harvesting of food, and maybe some occasional pruning.

You will likely find that, once things grow, specific niches and microclimates develop which are suitable for different plants, and you can fill these in as they arise.

By cultivating the principle of integration instead of segregation, we help bring together different areas of our garden and form a single living harmonious system rather than separate parts that don’t interact with each other. This way we can create balance and harmony, giving us less work and more reward in terms of harvest.
  • By observing and mimicking the multi-layered system of a forest, you can create a self-sustaining food forest that promotes balance, harmony, and year-round harvests with minimal effort, integrating plants to work together rather than growing in isolation.

Accept Feedback

Some of the best advice we can take when growing a food forest is by accepting the feedback that the system itself is giving us.

We might think we know the best thing to do, whether it’s when or where to plant something, but the system may be showing us otherwise. By observing and accepting this feedback, we can save ourselves countless hours of work, as well as potential headaches and backaches! 

Life is a dynamic process that wants to express itself to its full potential, and by allowing this process to unfold, and by stepping out of the way to an extent, we can harness nature's regenerative power to work for us.

Design From Patterns to Details

As has (hopefully) been made clear already, to be able to grow a food forest, we have to have some idea of what a forest looks like and how it functions.

We first need to familiarize ourselves with how different forest elements interact with each other and provide habitat, protection and ideal conditions for each other to thrive. Once we have an understanding of how these patterns work, we can begin filling in the specific details regarding our own space. 

The specific plants will depend on your area and local conditions. If you’re unsure you can always look around and see what grows well in your area and start from there.


Use the Edge and Value The Marginal

The spaces between two different ecosystems are where the majority of biodiversity lies in natural systems.

By recognizing this liminal space in our gardens/food forests, we can capitalize on their natural propensity to harbor abundant life and create a harvest for ourselves in these ecologically important areas which are often overlooked. 

By appreciating every little niche that exists that is continuously being created as our forest grows, we can be constantly growing a larger array of species as time goes by. The more we fill in these new ecological niches, the more food we’ll be able to grow which will allow us to extend our harvest further into the year and enjoy greater abundance.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Growing Food Forests is a big topic that could fill numerous books! The best way to learn is by observing and by trial and error.

The best feedback we can get is that which is given to us by our own garden and this is what should have the last word.

By learning to observe, accepting feedback and acting slowly and steadily, we can begin growing a thriving food forest that provides food, medicine and useful plants in every level of the forest that will only increase with time! 

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Vegan Cheese Made with AI: What on Earth?

Like many other vegans, I myself loved cheese, which was one of the hardest things for me to give up. Vegan cheese has often failed to hit the mark. It struggles because cheese has an incredibly unique texture and taste, and if you’ve ever had bad vegan cheese like I have, the experience leaves you without a desire to give second chances. Most vegan cheeses are made from coconut oil and can taste like pure tasteless fat when at their worst. 

That was why when I learned that AI was starting to help with making vegan cheeses, I was dumbstruck and impressed with how we’re using AI. This article will take a deep dive on how artificial intelligence is now helping us to make vegan cheese that tastes like regular cheese. 

Key Takeaways

  • Companies use AI to create vegan cheeses trained on algorithms from a dataset of ingredients to find the most desirable traits.
  • Using AI to build new foods is one of the biggest breakthroughs since animal agriculture.
  • AI could soon help us to make foods more humane. 

How Does Vegan Cheese Made with AI Work?

One of the things we should remember is that at least for the time being, we should keep our expectations modest. It definitely checks the box for the coolness factor, but we still need to see what the best output looks like. 

Companies using AI to create vegan cheeses train on algorithms from datasets of ingredients to find the most desirable traits. This includes things like flavor, scent, and stretchability. Searching through vast troves of data, the AI helps companies to develop new combinations of ingredients. 

Essentially, AI is helping to reverse engineer why cheese tastes so delicious. One example of a company doing this is from Climax Foods. The company has used examples from over 5,000 cheese prototypes in the last four years to uncover the best one.  

One of the biggest breakthroughs this company has had is uncovering a plant source of casein, which is a protein found in milk. It’s also very difficult for vegans to get enough protein, so this has become a big breakthrough. This mimics dairy in all the ways that matter. 

For cheese, it means that it will create the stretch, melt, and browning effect that people want to see with their vegan cheeses. 

The AI helps us to find the plants to make the best vegan cheeses, but when you combine it with human intuition, this is where new discoveries unfold. 

The Technology is Only Getting Started

To understand this level of breakthrough, it marks out the biggest breakthrough in food in the last six thousand years since humans first developed animal agriculture. In the past, when companies would try to develop new foods, it would cost them millions of dollars and take years before a new one would hit the market. Oftentimes, it would only be marginally better than its predecessor. 

None of it is genetically modified cheese, so vegans can breathe a sigh of relief about that. 

Instead, the AI pulls from existing ingredients already there that would work well together to mimic the characteristics of cheese. 

One of the ultimate goals outlined by one of the researchers at Climax Foods will not only be to mimic the flavor of dairy cheese but to surpass it. 

By surpassing dairy, there will no longer be a reason for people to continue with the inefficiency and cruelty of milking mother cows (milk meant for their baby calves) to make different cheeses. 

It will also help us to fight against climate change since the farming of beef is one of the biggest contributors to climate change. Intense cattle farming leads to deforestation, water pollution, and methane emissions. 

Their methane emissions mostly happen through their belches, which are estimated to occur every 90 seconds. 

To give you an idea of how bad this problem is, cows in the United States account for 26% of all methane emissions, according to National Geographic (1). 

What we’re seeing is only the beginning stages of AI being used in this way, which is what makes it so exciting. We have a long way where we can continue to make advances with this technology. AI will transform the way we approach food production and consumption. 

There are over 300,000 edible plants on the planet, which means we have a lot of different plants we can pull from to create new vegan products. 

Transforming Foods Using AI

Vegan cheese is only one area where you will see AI taking on a bigger role. AI has also begun to unlock the potential of vegan mushroom meats. The AI will analyze vast amounts of data to explore the many opportunities where you can create new vegan alternatives that will mirror the taste, sustainability, and nutrition that you need. 

AI is the perfect tool to create new combinations that will taste more like real meat or real cheese. 

One of the reasons that many vegans stop being vegan is because they miss the flavor of meat, or they may struggle to get the nutrition that they were getting from a meat-based diet. 

Soon, we could see AI lower our reliance on animal agriculture, which requires so much for resources. Vegan meats and cheeses will reduce our environmental impact and be a far superior choice if researchers can learn how to engineer this properly. 

AI-driven insights will also allow businesses to pivot more effectively since they can get invaluable insights to inform their next business move. 

Final Thoughts

One thing you need to remember is that no innovation will come without its challenges. Some worry about the privacy and ethical concerns related to AI, and others worry that it will stifle real human creativity. 

No one can deny that AI’s ability to sift through millions of data points to bring us the most valuable insights could transform the food industry. It could help us to make food a whole lot more humane and increase the number of vegans in the world. 

References

(1) https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/150803-cows-burp-methane-climate-science

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