Join us in trying to eat more vegan foods this month

For the month of January, we are supporting a campaign called ‘Veganuary’, which challenges those who partake to eat more plant-based food.🌱🌿

Eating a varied diet of vegetables and plant-based wholefoods may have multiple benefits for your wellbeing and for the environment, including:

• Good for your physical health: studies have found it reduces the risk of chronic conditions such as heart disease and cancer (reference 1, reference 2)
• Good for your mental health: Previous research linked depression to inflammation in the brain and chemical imbalances of neurotransmitters. Plant foods are high in antioxidants and phytochemicals, which generally help to repair damage and decrease inflammation in brain cells (reference).
• Good for the planet: A western standard meat-based diet produces about 7.2 kilograms of CO₂ equivalent per day, while a vegetarian diet produces 3.8 kg and a vegan diet 2.9 kg (reference). 

We aren’t saying you should be strictly vegan – but why not try to introduce more plants into your diet this month, for your mind, body and the planet?

Eating more vegetables and grains, and reducing your intake of meat and dairy, (especially the more processed varieties) has proven benefits. Improving your diet could really help with your physical and mental resilience.

The EAT LANCET Diet for Planetary Health Report says:

"Transformation to healthy diets by 2050 will require substantial dietary shifts. Global consumption of fruits, vegetables, nuts and legumes will have to double, and consumption of foods such as red meat and sugar will have to be reduced by more than 50%. A diet rich in plant-based foods and with fewer animal source foods confers both improved health and environmental benefits."

Across this month, we will be spotlighting the vegan dishes on offer in your canteen – so it's easier for you to try more plant-based foods. They are also all rated ‘A’ or ‘B’ for their carbon score – meaning they are low or very low carbon impact. This is great news for sustainable dietary choices.

London is a great city for trying to incorporate more plant-based food in your diet. Each week, we’ll be posting a blog spotlighting some top tips on incorporating more vegan food in your diet, from book and documentary recommendations, to local food spots in central London to try!

Do you already follow a vegan diet / eat a plant-focused diet? We’d love to hear your top tips for students. Contact us on sustainability@london.ac.uk or health.wellbeing@london.ac.uk and we might feature your tips!

This article is for information only and doesn't constitute medical advice. You should consult a doctor before changing your lifestyle. A vegan diet can still be "unhealthy" and you should ensure you are consuming enough of the required nutrients. Whilst this article is evidence-informed, you should always do your own research, too.