7 Reasons Vegans Are More Likely to Be Women Than Men – The Beet
Posted: October 28, 2020 at 6:52 pm
Whos leading the way when it comes to cutting back on meat consumption? Women, Democrats, and non-white peopleat least according to a Gallup poll released earlier this year. According to their survey, 23% of Americans are eating less meat, or report that they have reduced their meat consumption in the past year from when the poll was conducted. And when it comes to eating meatless,that was before the coronavirus had more people searching for meat alternatives than ever. Women are about twice as likely as men to say theyre eating less meat, clocking in at 31% to 15%, respectively. Overall, its been estimated that 80% of vegans in the U.S. are womenthats a whopping four out of five plant-based people you meet.
In light of the uptick of women making the plant-based plungewhich we can only assume is growing in the wake of the growing interest in a nutrient-dense, vegan lifestyle to support health in wake of the coronavirus pandemicwe asked experts to weigh in on the gender disparity, sharing both the good and the bad. Below, we dive into the main reasons more women than men might be #GoingVegan.
Women in society are cast to be more nurturing and protectors, which also carries on to their nurturing and protective nature towards animals and the environment, offers Bansari Acharya, MA, RD. It is easier for a woman to show compassion towards animals and provide reasons to her friends, family, or society on why she became vegan as most people will be more accepting towards a woman becoming vegan than a man due to the role society plays in how we differently men and women are perceived. Of course, this isnt to say men arent compassionate people, simply that in mainstream culture, a woman may feel more comfortable publicly avowing her stance on animal cruelty and protecting our planets natural resources.
Women are more likely to undergo change processes in their lives, and this may result in more women than men applying that ethos (or feeling pressured) to their diet. Sabrina Romanoff, PsyD, A Harvard trained clinical psychologist currently working at Lenox Hill Hospital, Northwell Health, in New York City, weighs in: Women are [more susceptible to embarking on journeys of change] and therefore inclined to change their diet because they are primed towards self-improvement processes in other domains of their lives.
Of course, this can be an empowering thing, as many women may be inspired to go vegan proactively as a decision to reduce their risk of diseases like diabetes or cancer.
Alas, those The Grill Sergeant and Licensed to Grill macho man shirt logos may simply be a source of eye-rolling at a barbecue gathering, but the underlying psychology of such shirts is telling: Many men feel like grilling is an important part of their identity. Jamie Hickey, NASM, FMS certified trainer, and ISSA nutritionist. and founder of TruismFitness.comhas seen this time and time again with mens egos.
Ive spent years talking to clients and have heard more than a handful of men tell me they have thought about going on a vegan diet but were worried about what their friends would say, says Hickey. Mentally men feel like they need to be tough and a carnivore diet instills the hunter mentality whereas a vegan diet has the stigma of being more of a womens diet.
Societys cultural notions of masculinity have linked meat and manliness together for centuries. Just notice how meat marketing often targets men, not women, comments Marie Elena Bitar, MPH, RD, Founder and Owner of Beyond Food Rules, harkening back to our discussion above about grilling and barbecue culture. On the flip side, Bitar adds that women are often at mercy of the stigma associated with overeating and feel pressured to maintain a trim physique. For some, in turn, this could inspire them to opt for low-calorie vegan meals.
Unfortunately, in these cases, going vegan gives women (or anyone for that matter) an opportunity to shield loved ones from an eating disorder.Its a lot easier to decline a decadent dessert by saying I cant eat that, Im vegan rather than I cant eat that, I have an eating disorder, comments Bitar.
Many women find themselves going vegan as they continue to see the link between plant-based diets and hormone balance. The woman's body is designed to store fat more easily than men so that it can both grow and nurture life, comments Best. Because of this fact, a diet inclusive of animal sources means higher rates of saturated fat and an increase in fat stores. A plant-based diet provides the dieter with nutrient rich-calories that are used more readily by the body as energy rather than excess being stored as fat.
Additionally, as Best elucidates, hormones serve a key role in fat stores. Eating estrogen from animal sources, even organic grass-fed sources causes something known as estrogen dominance. This equates to higher levels of estrogen in the body, excess stress on the liver, and inevitable weight gain and potential toxicity. Plant-based diets are connected with lowering estrogen in the body to a level that is safe and effective, says Best.
From joint pain to skin conditions, inflammation is no fun, and many women want to take the reins on their health and fight that with the powers of plant-based foods and are perhaps more attuned to this than their male counterparts. Another reason for women turning to a vegan diet is the anti-inflammatory nature of the diet itself. Foods on a vegan diet are both void of inflammatory foods and rich in anti-inflammatory foods making it an ideal eating pattern for anyone with chronic inflammation, offers Richards. As women age, the inflammation in their bodies can increase, but this inflammation can also exacerbate existing health conditions like pain, arthritis, energy, and weight gain.
As the wellness industry is more dominated by women than men, its no surprise that more women are inspired to make lifestyle changes than men. One area of particular focus? Sanity.
I follow a plant-based diet, myself, and my reasons are primarily for my mental health and clarity. Cutting out potential allergens and inflammatory foods has improved my personal cognition, says Best. There is certainly research that shows these benefits, but for me, I've observed the proof for myself.
Ready to see the proof in the pudding, ladies? To get started on your vegan journey, check out our 21-day plant-based challenge.
Read the rest here:
7 Reasons Vegans Are More Likely to Be Women Than Men - The Beet
- Too Busy to Read? Use These Educational Audio Courses Instead - MakeUseOf - December 1st, 2020
- Garett Bolles Opens Up on the Epiphany That Led to him Becoming NFL's Top-Graded Left Tackle - Sports Illustrated - December 1st, 2020
- A Guide to Substantially Improving Your Life in 3 Frugal Ways - University Herald - December 1st, 2020
- Lucifer: 5 Things We Love About Dan (& 5 Reasons We Hate Him) - Screen Rant - December 1st, 2020
- People share the life hacks that sound terrible but really work - New Zealand Herald - December 1st, 2020
- The 3 Most Important Questions to Ask Before If and When You Stop and Ask for the Business by Sofiya Machulskaya - ABCmoney.co.uk - December 1st, 2020
- Aiteos 21 Years of Consistency and Commitment to Serving Africas Communities - THISDAY Newspapers - December 1st, 2020
- The Big Business of Being an Ally - ELLE.com - December 1st, 2020
- Self-improvement guru sentenced to 120 years for turning some followers into sex slaves - WJW FOX 8 News Cleveland - October 28th, 2020
- 5 self-improvement books that will change your life - Prestige Online - October 28th, 2020
- David Byrne on Voter Suppression, Self-Improvement, and Why the Talking Heads Still Wont Reunite - IndieWire - October 4th, 2020
- FT Assistant Store Manager job with Tory Burch | 147475 - The Business of Fashion - October 4th, 2020
- 'Assistance provided by govt to help improve people's lives' - The Borneo Post - October 4th, 2020
- Hunting the big wave: Topsail's Gianni Pike perseveres through challenges of autism - StarNewsOnline.com - October 4th, 2020
- 'The 100' series finale review: Who wants to live forever? - Hypable - October 4th, 2020
- Cort McMurray: Bake that bread. Write that novel. Self-improvement is hard, but its liberating. - Houston Chronicle - September 30th, 2020
- Pisces: Avoid getting into needless debates with others - The Bethel Citizen - September 30th, 2020
- Jay Shetty and Ranveer Allahbadia come together to talk about the various aspects of self-improvement - Times of India - September 30th, 2020
- Being Alone vs loneliness: What is the difference between THESE two states? - PINKVILLA - September 30th, 2020
- 20 Best Documentaries on Hulu - Hulu Original, Crime, and More Documentaries - GoodHousekeeping.com - September 30th, 2020
- Why Aubameyang Passed Up Big Offer From Barcelona To Stay At Arsenal - International Business Times - September 30th, 2020
- 3 Signs DocuSign Could Be the Future Leader of a $45 Billion Industry - The Motley Fool - September 30th, 2020
- Getting to the Meaning of Mariah Carey - The Ringer - September 30th, 2020
- Saraki, Fayemi Commend Adenuga's Influence on Nation Building - THISDAY Newspapers - September 30th, 2020
- Endgame: Each Avenger's Reaction To The Snap Revealed Their Key Weakness - Screen Rant - September 30th, 2020
- The Pandemic Has Accelerated and Spawned Trends That Startups and Small Businesses Can Leverage - Direct Selling News - September 30th, 2020
- Walters named coach: I can unite Broncos and return to finals next year - NRL.COM - September 30th, 2020
- Take your career to the next level with this hands-on entrepreneur training - Boing Boing - September 10th, 2020
- Mike Signorelli Shares 3 Habits That Develop Simple Living & High Thinking Lifestyle - Yahoo Finance - September 10th, 2020
- Small Changes That Can Improve Your Confidence In Your Appearance - We Heart - September 10th, 2020
- 6 apps and tech innovations that could help you find your dream job - Northumberland Gazette - September 10th, 2020
- Gain clarity with a life audit - Eve Woman - The Standard - September 10th, 2020
- Grupo Bimbo May Be Coming Out Of Hibernation, As Improving Market Share Can Drive Better Margins And Stock Multiples - Seeking Alpha - September 10th, 2020
- Opinion | There's more to Daddy Issues than meets the eye - The Breeze - September 10th, 2020
- The Great Bed Making Debate: Are you a make-every-day or do you love the nest? - ABC News - September 10th, 2020
- NTCA Names 2020 Tile Setter Craftsperson of the Year Awardwinners - Floor Focus - September 10th, 2020
- Self regulation code adopted by Disney+ Hotstar, Amazon Prime Video and other OTT platforms could either be a - Business Insider India - September 9th, 2020
- Why Americans Really Go to the Gym - The Atlantic - September 9th, 2020
- The Case For Meditation: Why Everyone Should Try It - StyleBlueprint - September 9th, 2020
- SJM says first Grand Lisboa Palace recruitment drive attracted 2000 job-seekers - Inside Asian Gaming - September 9th, 2020
- What Happened to Woojin? Shocking Updates on the Ex-Stray Kids Singer - Distractify - September 9th, 2020
- Parks and Recreation Offering Fall Tennis, Tae Kwon Do and Dance for East Hartford Youth - easthartfordct.gov - September 9th, 2020
- Global AI in Education Market (2020 to 2025) - Featuring IBM, Amazon and Microsoft Among Others - Yahoo Finance UK - September 9th, 2020
- Joy Zinoman, ever the innovator, takes acting to a higher level via Zoom curriculum - DC Theatre Scene - September 9th, 2020
- Donald Trump Wants You To Believe His BS Narrative about BLM and Protests! Wake Up America to What is Really the Truth... - Ringside Report - September 9th, 2020
- In Fallout of Black Appropriation in US, Echoes of Debate on Dalit Representation in India - The Wire - September 9th, 2020
- How to find your unfair advantage and succeed as an entrepreneur - YourStory - September 9th, 2020
- 'Law and order impeded governance, development' The Shillong Times - The Shillong Times - September 9th, 2020
- What's on TV: Friday, September 11 to Thursday, September 17 - Brisbane Times - September 9th, 2020
- New book discusses about leadership and everything that it embodies - GlobeNewswire - September 9th, 2020
- What's the Use of a University? - Brooklyn Rail - September 9th, 2020
- Started Drinking a Little Too Much During Quarantine? This Upper West Sider Teaches You How to Moderate - westsiderag.com - September 9th, 2020
- Outsourcing the Accounting Aspects of Your Self-Storage Operation - Inside Self-Storage - September 9th, 2020
- Podcast Week: New Sarah Grynberg series and book, SpokenLayer arrives - Mediaweek - September 9th, 2020
- A global history of the Freemasons - The Economist - August 28th, 2020
- Gemini: Ignore those looking to stir the pot or bring you down - The Bethel Citizen - August 28th, 2020
- 'Good to Know' Review: JoJo forms dream team with Demi Lovato, Tinashe in sultry album that cut out Tory Lanez - MEAWW - August 28th, 2020
- Finding a Good Mentor: What You Need to Know - Uloop News - August 28th, 2020
- Who Is Sarah Edmondson And What Role Did She Play In NXIVM (And It's Downfall)? - Oxygen - August 28th, 2020
- Everything new coming to FOXTEL ON-DEMAND this September - TV Blackbox - August 28th, 2020
- Judge Sentences Arcata Man to 11 Years to Life for Attempted Murder, More Than a Year After a Jury Convicted Him of the Crime - Lost Coast Outpost - August 28th, 2020
- An interview with Ervin Cohen & Jessup discussing dispute resolution in the United States - Lexology - August 28th, 2020
- The Power of Positive Thinking: Too Much and Never Enough - The Bulwark - August 28th, 2020
- We must not deny racism, but we must also not exploit it to stop reconciliation - Daily Maverick - August 28th, 2020
- Covid-19 Is ChangIng The Way People Think About Cannabis - Green Entrepreneur - August 28th, 2020
- Why the COVID-19 Pandemic Might Actually Be Helping Your Dating Life - AskMen - August 28th, 2020
- HIV Self Tests Market: Rise in adoption rate of HIV self-tests is projected to drive the market - BioSpace - August 28th, 2020
- Online Training Courses and Programs Help Workers and Employers During Pandemic - University of Arkansas Newswire - August 28th, 2020
- Metallica drive-in show, Jason Aldean backyard concert top this weeks virtual concert picks - cleveland.com - August 28th, 2020
- Soldier on Afghanistan ambush that earned him Medal of Honor - Brinkwire - August 28th, 2020
- Finding Success By Believing In Yourself: Lailah Alese Has Mastered Self Growth In Order To Perfect Her Businesses. - Yahoo Finance - August 25th, 2020
- Your stars August 25 - News from southeastern Connecticut - theday.com - August 25th, 2020
- Horoscopes Aug. 25, 2020: Blake Lively, be open to suggestions - Vacaville Reporter - August 25th, 2020
- Your stars August 24 - News from southeastern Connecticut - theday.com - August 25th, 2020
- Losing weight, gaining dreams: How Mike Breedens transformation turned into an MMA career - MMA Junkie - August 25th, 2020
- Explore hidden treasures of the Freemasons at Cedar Rapids Masonic Library - The Gazette - August 25th, 2020
- Aaron Rodgers Has Been Sharp in Camp and He Explains Why Sort Of - Sportscasting - August 25th, 2020
- Your stars August 22 - News from southeastern Connecticut - theday.com - August 25th, 2020
- This trans woman served her country. Now she may be banned from rugby - Outsports - August 25th, 2020
- Self-charging, thousand-year battery startup NDB aces key tests and lands first beta customers - TechCrunch - August 25th, 2020