Women - Plant Based News https://plantbasednews.org/category/lifestyle/women/ Disrupting The Conventional Narrative Thu, 25 May 2023 04:55:57 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.2 https://plantbasednews.org/app/uploads/2020/10/cropped-pbnlogo-150x150.png Women - Plant Based News https://plantbasednews.org/category/lifestyle/women/ 32 32 Prakriti Varshney Hailed As First Vegan Indian Woman To Summit Everest https://plantbasednews.org/culture/sport/prakriti-varshney-vegan-indian-woman-summit-everest/ https://plantbasednews.org/culture/sport/prakriti-varshney-vegan-indian-woman-summit-everest/#comments Wed, 18 May 2022 16:49:21 +0000 https://plantbasednews.org/?p=268184 Prakriti Varshney has climbed Mount Everest, a year after summiting Ama Dablam on her period

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Prakriti Varshney just became the first known vegan Indian woman to climb Mount Everest.

The plant-based athlete, blogger, and graphic designer reached the top of the world’s highest peak earlier this month.

According to climbing expedition company Seven Summit Treks, Varshney and her fellow climbers were the first to reach the summit of Everest this climbing season. 

It’s not the first time Varshney has hit the headlines for her climbing expeditions. Last year, she summited Nepal’s Ama Dablam, which stands at just over 6,800 meters. 

Widely regarded as one of the world’s most beautiful mountains, Ama Dablam is a tough climb. Not only did Varshney complete the trek, she also did it all while experiencing menstrual cramps. 

“For me, it made me cross my limits,” she told the Indian Express after the climb. “Like, I feel I would not have known how strong I am if this wouldn’t have happened.”

“I feel, a woman can be as strong as she wants and as fragile too,” she added. “And we have to embrace both.”

Vegan climbers 

Varshney is also a passionate animal lover and a strong advocate for veganism.

While she is said to be the first vegan Indian woman to summit Everest, Varshney is not the first vegan climber to reach the top.

Kuntal Joisher reached Everest’s summit in 2016, and in the same year, experienced Australian vegan climber Dr. Maria Strydom also reached the top. Tragically, she died of altitude sickness during the descent.

Joisher summited Everest again in 2018, and is now on a mission “to normalize vegan mountaineering.”

Describing the experience in 2016 for Red Bull last year, he wrote: “It was so overwhelming, I couldn’t hold back the tears. With a minute’s credit left on my satellite phone, I called home, then I sat down to soak in the view from the top. I’ll never forget those 20 minutes. The only feeling that compares is the birth of my daughter.”

He added: “It was a huge achievement for me as a mountaineer, but it also shone a positive light on veganism.”

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Naomi Osaka’s Vegan Suncare Line Launches In 2,500 Walmart Stores https://plantbasednews.org/lifestyle/beauty/naomi-osakas-vegan-suncare-line-walmart/ https://plantbasednews.org/lifestyle/beauty/naomi-osakas-vegan-suncare-line-walmart/#respond Fri, 06 May 2022 16:57:45 +0000 https://plantbasednews.org/?p=267461 Osaka created her brand after finding that people of color were often "an afterthought" in suncare discussions and research

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Naomi Osaka’s vegan and cruelty-free suncare line KINLÒ has launched in 2,500 Walmart stores.

The brand joins together Osaka’s heritage (Kin and Lò mean “gold” in Japanese and Haitian Creole respectively). It was designed specifically for people of color.

At the time of launch last year, the tennis champion stated: “Through my personal experience and learnings, I have found that Black, Brown, and other melanated skin-toned communities are often an afterthought in the discussion and research surrounding suncare.”

KINLÒ’s standout products include its plant-based, moisturizing Hydrating Facial Oil, which features jojoba and olive oil, and its water-resistant, lightweight Golden Rays Sunscreen SPF 50+. The latter now comes in three shades: Light, Medium, and Deep.

The brand is also launching a few new products for Walmart. These include its Always Golden Body Lotion and a Cooling Body Gel Moisturizer. The latter features soothing aloe vera and an orange peel scent.

As well as in-store, customers can also shop KINLÒ’s products at walmart.com.

Celebrities changing the beauty industry

Walmart’s beauty merchandise director Angel Beasley said Osaka is “truly a pioneer in her work.”

While things are beginning to change (largely thanks to Rihanna and her ultra-inclusive makeup line Fenty Beauty), people of color are underrepresented in beauty. And suncare is no different. Many SPFs leave a white residue on the skin, for example.

Osaka told Women’s Health: “It wasn’t enough to make products that didn’t turn our dark skin white and didn’t have harsh chemicals.”

“I also wanted to dispel the myth that just because you have dark skin and don’t burn means you don’t need to take care of and protect that skin.”

Osaka is far from the only celebrity to launch a cruelty-free beauty line.

Musician Billie Eilish recently launched a vegan fragrance, Harry Styles’ vegan cosmetics line Pleasing debuted last year, and Ariana Grande’s new brand r.e.m. beauty is also vegan and cruelty-free.

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Serena Williams Invests In Vegan Menopause Supplement Brand https://plantbasednews.org/lifestyle/women/serena-williams-invests-vegan-menopause-supplement-brand/ https://plantbasednews.org/lifestyle/women/serena-williams-invests-vegan-menopause-supplement-brand/#comments Fri, 06 May 2022 10:48:04 +0000 https://plantbasednews.org/?p=267567 The medical field often overlooks women's health, which Williams says is "astonishing"

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Through her venture firm Serena Ventures, Serena Williams has invested in WILE. The vegan hormonal wellness brand caters to women over the age of 40.

The women-founded company offers herbal and plant-based formulas in the form of supplements, tinctures, and drinks. The brand claims its products help to manage stress, anxiety, night sweats, and hot flushes.

All of the brand’s products were formulated in collaboration with naturopathic doctors and research scientists.

According to WILE, the medical field overlooks women’s health. In fact, the average OB-GYN doctor only studies menopause for four hours in medical school. But menopause isn’t just neglected in the medical world, it’s also overlooked in the general wellness industry. Williams says this is “astonishing.”

“The market and medicine have ignored 50 percent of the population in the prime of their lives and frankly, their earning power,” the tennis champion, who is the managing partner at Serena Ventures, said in a statement.

“It’s rare to see an area of opportunity this vast, this underserved, and this obvious,” she continued. “As an investor, we see this as a chance to support change in the culture with products women simply need.”

Serena Williams’ vegan investments

Williams is passionate about backing game-changing products. In 2017, she invested in frozen plant-based food subscription company Daily Harvest alongside actor and Goop-founder Gwyneth Paltrow.

At the time, Daily Harvest’s CEO Rachel Drori said: “Serena and Gwyneth immediately understood our mission to provide convenient foods without nutritional compromise. Their passion for what we are building will make them instrumental members of our investment team.”

Alongside several other high-profile figures, including Bill Gates and Katy Perry, Williams is also an investor in Impossible Foods, a plant-based meat brand on a mission to transform the food system. 

According to WILE’s co-founder Gwen Floyd, Williams’ investment will make a significant difference to the company, and help it expand on its mission to help women around the world.

She said in a statement: “This investment makes it possible for us to break through the silence and get her what she needs and wants, where she wants it.”

WILE’s products will be launching in Whole Foods Markets this month. 

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Vegan Athlete Makes History, Breaks 6 Records At British Powerlifting Championships https://plantbasednews.org/culture/sport/vegan-athlete-british-powerlifting/ https://plantbasednews.org/culture/sport/vegan-athlete-british-powerlifting/#comments Fri, 01 Apr 2022 20:06:21 +0000 https://plantbasednews.org/?p=265073 Ellis now holds around 20 national and international records

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Vegan powerlifter and two-time British champion Sophia Ellis is living proof that you don’t need meat to be strong.

The athlete made history last month at the British Women’s Classic Championships in Lochgelly, Scotland, where she competed in the U76kg open class.

There, Ellis broke six national records and pulled off the heaviest deadlift by a female in British powerlifting history. Ellis deadlifted 237.5kg (524lbs), marking a new British record in both Classic and Equipped categories, across all weight classes. It’s also an unofficial European record.

Additionally, Ellis lifted 170kg during the squat round, and 118kg for bench (which was its own record too). This brought her total weight lifted to a whopping 525.5kg (1,158.5lbs) – again, a British record total for both Classic and Equipped categories.

Being ‘strong and vegan’

Ellis, who began competing in powerlifting in 2018, now holds around 20 national and international records. She credits her success to a number of factors, including her plant-based diet.

Speaking to Plant Based News, Ellis said: “It has been a combination of things that I feel has helped my athletic career; diet is obviously a huge part of recovery and being vegan has definitely helped me to optimize this alongside keeping training consistent, staying hydrated, getting enough sleep, and managing stress levels etc.”

“As long as I am eating enough and a good balance of foods then my recovery rate is a lot quicker and I feel so much more fueled and energized for training sessions,” she added. “It is important for people to realize that it is the foods you eat which make a big difference – you can go vegan but if you are restricting / not eating enough nutrient-dense foods then you won’t reap all the benefits that veganism has to offer!”

“I have been vegan for 10 years now and a powerlifter for four years. It is so great to be able to continue to break down misconceptions around this lifestyle and show people that you can be strong AND vegan!”

It’s a message Ellis also drove home in October last year, when she took home a bronze medal in deadlifting at the IPF World Classic Championships, despite it being her first appearance at the competition.

Ellis is set to compete in the World Championships in June, 2022.

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8 Women And Groups Who Have Devoted Their Lives To Protecting Animals https://plantbasednews.org/lifestyle/women/women-devoted-protecting-animals/ https://plantbasednews.org/lifestyle/women/women-devoted-protecting-animals/#respond Tue, 08 Mar 2022 19:29:38 +0000 https://plantbasednews.org/?p=263896 From shark conservation and climate activism to fighting poachers and rescuing kittens, these women work tirelessly for animals

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We could go on and on about the importance of giving women a seat at the table, amplifying their voices, and ensuring their activism, campaigns, and movements are given the support those initiatives deserve. But we’ll let the inspiring stories of these women do the talking.

Here are eight women and groups worth celebrating this International Women’s Day, and every day after.


Akashinga

Once you hear about the Akashinga women, it’s hard to forget about them. The name of the all-female anti-poaching unit, based in Zimbabwe, translates to “the brave ones,” and is aptly named to say the least.

Akashinga, a plant-based group, is a branch of the International Anti-Poaching Foundation (IAPF).

Established in 2017, the ranger unit is made up of survivors of domestic abuse, single mothers, and women orphaned by AIDS. Together, they undergo military-like training and – while armed in case of conflict – take Africa’s poachers head-on. 

Since its inception, Akashinga has arrested hundreds of poachers and helped spare the lives of countless wild animals. In fact, in areas where IAFP operates, poaching is eliminated by more than 80 percent, the organization says.

Importantly, Akashinga also helps women secure autonomy, providing them with the freedom to buy property, obtain a driver’s license, finish high school and enroll in college, and send their children to school.

Further, Akashinga is the subject of a James Cameron-backed documentary, which can be viewed here.

Visit Akashinga’s website here

Toni Sestak 

Toni Sestak via Toni’s Kitty Rescue

An animal lover from childhood, California-born Toni Sestak has made it her life’s work to rescue and rehome kittens and cats. 

Sestak – a parent to five and a grandmother to eight children – began fostering companion animals when her cat passed away in 1995.

While volunteering at a local shelter, Sestak discovered that the youngest cats living there were suffering the most, with many of them dying before they were old enough to be adopted. Moreover, most shelters don’t accept very young kittens at all; those animals are simply killed, Sestak says.

So in 2003, she founded Toni’s Kitty Rescue, a San Francisco-based non-profit that has helped save the lives of around 10,000 kittens under the age of eight weeks, with Sestak personally fostering more than 1,500 of them.

And her efforts haven’t slowed down. Sestak’s volunteer-run organization currently takes in 800 to 1,000 orphaned kittens every year, its website says.

She also advocates for feral cats, and provides care for six who are living in her backyard. And while these stray animals cannot be socialized as family pets, Sestak stresses that they are still deserving of protection.

Visit Toni’s Kitty Rescue website here

Charlotte Maxwell-Jones

Charlotte Maxwell-Jones in Afghanistan, via KSAR

Last year, Charlotte Maxwell-Jones refused to evacuate from Afghanistan in the midst of escalating conflict, despite threats from the Taliban and the US withdrawing all of its military support. Why? To help save nearly 300 stranded dogs and cats and the 40 rescue staff that were helping to care for them. 

Maxwell-Jones helped initiate “Operation Hercules,” which aimed to transport them all out of the country to safety. Kabul Small Animal Rescue (KSAR), founded by Maxwell-Jones in 2018, worked against the clock to pull it off – with only a handful of hours to spare before the Taliban took over the country.

With the help of SPCA International, No Dogs Left Behind, and countless supporters from around the globe, Maxwell-Jones raised thousands for the cause. Finally, on February 1, close to 300 animals flew from Afghanistan into Vancouver, Canada. They were either returned to their families, or kept in the care of KSAR to be rehabilitated and rehomed.

Visit Kabul Small Animal Rescue’s Facebook page here

Greta Thunberg

Vegan activist Greta Thunberg
TT News Agency / Alamy Stock Greta Thunberg and Fridays For Future in Sweden on February 6, 2022.

Thunberg was just 15 when she made headlines for protesting against climate inaction outside the Swedish parliament. Holding a sign that read “School Strike for Climate,” the vegan teenager skipped school every Friday to urge the government to do more to meet carbon emissions targets. 

By the end of 2018, more than 20,000 students from around the world were doing the same – rallying during class hours so that their voices would be heard. 

Now 19, Thunberg has built an impressively large platform, sporting more than 14.3 million followers on Instagram. As well as pushing for more sustainable policies, the Swedish activist speaks out about humankind’s use of animals for food. She has encouraged people to go vegan and to consider not only the environmental implications of animal agriculture, but the “thoughts and feelings” of animals too.

Thunberg has now picked up three Nobel Peace Prize nominations, and is Time magazine’s youngest-ever Person of the Year. She has also made Forbes’ list of the World’s 100 Most Powerful Women. 

Curiously, Thunberg has also had several newly discovered animal species named after her, with scientists keen to pay homage to the young activist. The names of a beetle from Kenya, a land snail from Borneo, a freshwater snail from New Zealand, and a huntsman spider from Madagascar were all inspired by Thunberg.

Visit Thunberg’s Fridays For Future campaign website here

Andrea Richey

Andrea Richey
Andrea Richey Richey is lovingly known as The Shark Lady.

Legal-recruiter-turned-conservationist Andrea Richey raised eyebrows when she up and left a Wall Street law firm to help save sharks. But Richey, now lovingly known as “The Shark Lady,” stands by her decision. And with shark populations dwindling at an alarming rate – with a third of sharks nearing extinction – her work is needed now more than ever. 

Richey began her journey by volunteering with the Hong Kong Shark Foundation (HKSF), a non-profit organization committed to raising awareness about shark conservation. Particularly, the shark fin trade, which takes the lives of more than 100 million sharks every year.

Now executive director of the foundation, Richey says we are living in a “global shark crisis.” But, that humankind is “the solution.” With HKSF, the vegan environmentalist works to educate individuals and companies, push for meaningful policy changes, and end the consumption of all shark products. 

Visit the Hong Kong Shark Foundation’s website here

Jill Robinson

Jill Robinson
Animals Asia Jill Robinson works to free bears from the controversial bile trade.

British animal activist Jill Robinson founded the Animals Asia Foundation in 1998, with a view to rescuing Asiatic black bears (or moon bears) from the bile industry. Animals in the trade live in squalor, and are confined to cramped cages for up to 25 years. Farmers extract bile from the bears’ abdomens, and sell the product for medicinal use. 

Moved and infuriated by the concept, Robinson set out to tackle the issue. Her foundation has since rescued dozens of bears, and established animal sanctuaries in Vietnam and China. It conducts investigations into various facilities – including locations keeping animals besides bears captive – and pushes for legislative changes.

Notably, the same year she founded the Animals Asia Foundation, Robinson was named an MBE by Queen Elizabeth of England for her services to animals.

Robinson also lends her support to the Doctor Dog initiative, which brings in homeless dogs from various parts of Asia and helps integrate them into animal-assisted therapy programs. Robinson currently lives with various rescue dogs and cats, as well as a rescued tortoise. 

Visit Robinson’s website here

Tracye McQuirter

Best-selling author and nutritionist Tracye McQuirter has a plan: help one million Black women go vegan in just a decade. To light a fire under the initiative, McQuirter founded 10 Million Black Vegan Women, a public health movement that aims to give Black women more control over their lives.

“Black women experience the highest rates of chronic diseases, including heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer, but most of these illnesses can be prevented and often reversed by eating healthy plant-based foods,” McQuirter, who has been vegan for 35 years, said in a statement. “We’ve seen the devastating impact these pre-existing conditions can have, especially during the pandemic. The 10 Million Black Vegan Women Movement gives black women the tools we need to take back control of our health.”

The platform is centered around its signature 21-day program, Vegan Fresh Start, which includes online cooking classes, recipes, and nutrition tips. A six-week Vegan Transition course and an ongoing Group Coaching program is also available. So far, McQuirter has supported more than 15,000 women in taking charge of their personal health. 

“The evidence is clear that now is the time to accelerate the sweeping changes needed to address the crisis in black women’s health,” McQuirter stated. “Now is the time for the 10 Million Black Vegan Women Movement.”

Visit McQuirter’s website here

Jane Goodall

Jane Goodall
Nathan Murrell / Alamy Stock Jane Goodall has devoted her life to protecting endangered species.

When speaking about conservation, it’s usually not long until Dame Jane Goodall’s name comes up. The 87-year-old ethologist (referencing the study of animals in their natural habitats) is best known for her vital work in primate research.

Goodall conducted a 60-year study on the social interactions between wild chimpanzees, unearthing information that has expanded humankind’s understanding of the species. But also, Goodall’s findings have helped foster a widely supported notion to protect the animals.

It’s a vision that is more important than ever; in 1900, Earth was home to an estimated one million chimpanzees, according to Goodall’s website. Now, there are just 340,000.

Working alongside her eponymously named conservation institute, Goodall has helped protect nearly 1,500 acres of habitat, in which more than 5,000 chimpanzees and gorillas live. 

Time magazine considers Goodall one of the most influential people in the world, and she has been named a United Nations Messenger of Peace. 

Visit Goodall’s website here

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‘World’s Oldest’ Person Dies At 124: Family Says Vegetables Were The ‘Secret’ https://plantbasednews.org/lifestyle/women/worlds-oldest-person-vegetables/ https://plantbasednews.org/lifestyle/women/worlds-oldest-person-vegetables/#respond Tue, 30 Nov 2021 13:09:26 +0000 https://plantbasednews.org/?p=258981 A growing bank of research has pointed to vegetable-rich diets as a longevity factor

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“Lola” Francisca Susano, purported to have been the oldest person in the world, has died at the age of 124. Susano’s family ascribed her longevity, in part, to a vegetable-rich diet

The City Government of Kabankalan, Philippines, in Negros Occidental, where Susano lived, announced her passing online

“It is with sadness in our heart when we received the news that our beloved Lola Francisca Susano passed away early this Monday evening November 22,” the post reads, adding that she “will always remain as our inspiration and pride.”

Susano was born on September 11, 1897, according to CNN Philippines, and was said to be the last living person born in the 19th century. She had 14 children, one of whom is also a centenarian at 101 years old. In her free time, she liked to sing and play the harmonica. 

The publication added that in September this year, Guinness World Records was still in the process of verifying the documentation required to grant Susano the official title of world’s oldest person.

Diet and longevity

'World’s Oldest' Person Dies At 124: Family Says Vegetables Were The ‘Secret’
Susano family Francisca Susano ate a vegetable-rich diet and abstained from alcohol.

A “diet of fresh vegetables and fruits” was Susano’s “secret to longevity,” Business Mirror reports. And specifically, produce that her family grew themselves without using pesticides. 

The supercentenarian especially enjoyed sweet potato, okra, pumpkin, and eggplant, as well as oatmeal and laswa, which is a boiled vegetable soup. She didn’t eat pork, and consumed little amounts of other meat, the Metro reports.

She also abstained from alcohol. 

Susano’s granddaughter Merlene Susano told GMA 7’s Amazing Earth: “Everything Grandma eats is really life-prolonging.”

It’s not the first time a link between diet and longevity has been made. A study published in July last year found that getting just three percent more of one’s total calories from plant protein lowers risk of premature death by five percent. 

Separate research found that changing three percent of calorie intake from animal protein to plant-based sources was attached to a 10 percent decrease in death from any cause, for both women and men. 

In the study, swapping out eggs and red meat in favor of plant proteins lowered death risk for women and men by 21 and 24 percent respectively. 

.The impact on diet and years lived has been explored for decades now. Research from 2001 found that vegetarian men in the US tended to live, on average, for 10 years longer than meat-eating men. For women, ditching meat appeared to add another six years to their lives.

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Vegan Food Reduces Risk Of Heart Disease, Two New Studies Find https://plantbasednews.org/lifestyle/health/vegan-food-heart-disease/ https://plantbasednews.org/lifestyle/health/vegan-food-heart-disease/#comments Mon, 16 Aug 2021 16:02:15 +0000 https://plantbasednews.org/?p=254011 "It's never too late or too early to start a plant-based diet"

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Two longitudinal studies have found that a diet rich in whole, plant-based foods can reduce the risk of heart disease. The findings emerge alongside reports of the positive impact a vegan diet can have on the planet

Young adults, diet, and CVD

One of the recent studies looked at the link between diet and risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) during young to middle adulthood. Researchers studied nearly 5,000 people for 32 years. 

Each participant was aged between 18 and 30 years when the study began, and all were free of CVD.

Doctors assessed each participant’s health over the study period and kept records of their diet. They also rated each person’s diet quality. Higher scores represented higher consumption of nutritionally rich plant foods, and lower intake of high-fat meat products and less healthy plant foods.

By the end of the study, 289 people had developed CVD.

Researchers concluded that those with a long-term ‘plant-centered, high-quality diet’ were 52 percent less likely to develop incident CVD.

This was even after researchers adjusted for factors like race and sex.

Additionally, increasing plant-centered diet quality in young adulthood was associated with a 61 percent lower risk of incident CVD throughout middle age, regardless of earlier diet quality. 

Nutritionist Kristin Kirkpatrich spoke with Medical News Today about the study.

“The data presented in this study is consistent with previous studies on plant-based diets and longevity and metabolic health,” she said.

“I’m not surprised at the findings, and perhaps the takeaway here is it’s never too late or too early to start a plant-based diet.”

Postmenopausal women, diet, and CVD

menopause women diet
Adobe. Do not use without permission. A new study looked at how the diet of postmenopausal women can impact heart disease.

A separate study also examined the connection between plant-based foods and the risk of CVD. However, in this case researchers focused on postmenopausal women.

The participants were between 50 and 79 years old when the study began in 1993 – it carried on until 2017.

Researchers assessed how closely the participants adhered to the Portfolio diet. The Portfolio diet is a form of a vegan diet and is intended to lower LDL cholesterol. It excludes animal products and focuses on soy protein, plant sterols, soluble fiber, and tree nuts. 

Experts found that those who followed a Portfolio diet the most closely were 17 percent less likely to suffer from heart failure. They were also 14 percent and 11 percent less likely to develop coronary heart disease and CVD respectively. 

“We also found a dose response in our study, meaning that you can start small, adding one component of the Portfolio diet at a time, and gain more heart health benefits as you add more components,” lead author Andrea J. Glenn told Medical News Today.

Diet and environmental impact

Plant-based diets have been making headlines in other fields, too. 

Last week, The Guardian reported that behavioral changes – including dietary ones – will be essential to ‘avoid climate breakdown’. The statement was based on a leaked draft of a UN report.

“A shift to diets with a higher share of plant-based protein in regions with excess consumption of calories and animal-source food can lead to substantial reductions in emissions, while also providing health benefits,” the report reads. 

“Plant-based diets can reduce emissions by up to 50 percent compared to the average emission intensive western diet.”

It’s not the first time researchers have come to this conclusion.

In 2019, researchers from Oxford University conducted the most comprehensive analysis to date of the impact of farming on the planet.

Oxford University’s Joseph Poore, who led the study, stated: “A vegan diet is probably the single biggest way to reduce your impact on planet Earth, not just greenhouse gases, but global acidification, eutrophication, land use, and water use.”

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Plant-Based Diet Linked To 84% Drop In Menopausal Symptoms https://plantbasednews.org/lifestyle/women/plant-based-diet-menopausal-symptoms/ https://plantbasednews.org/lifestyle/women/plant-based-diet-menopausal-symptoms/#comments Fri, 16 Jul 2021 13:19:04 +0000 https://plantbasednews.org/?p=252378 New 'game-changing' research has found that a vegan diet can improve menopausal symptoms

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A new study has connected dietary changes to the improved symptoms of menopause. Researchers discovered a vegan diet rich in soy reduces the number of vasomotor symptoms, including hot flashes, for menopausal women.

The research was published by the North American Menopause Society in the journal Menopause.

The study divided up postmenopausal women who experience two or more hot flashes a day into two groups. The intervention group consumed a low-fat, plant-based diet. The daily diet also included a half-cup of soybeans added to a soup or a salad.

Meanwhile, the control group kept their regular eating habits for 12 weeks.

Researchers recorded the frequency and severity of physical, vasomotor, psychosocial, and sexual symptoms.

‘Game changer for women’

The study found that a vegan diet rich in soy reduced moderate-to-severe hot flashes by 84 percent – from around five a day to less than one per day.

Nearly 60 percent of women found that their moderate-to-severe hot flashes completely disappeared over the 12-week study period. And all types of hot flashes decreased by 79 percent.

Neal Barnard, President of the Physicians Committee and adjunct professor at the George Washington University School of Medicine, led the study.

He said: “This is a game changer for women aged 45 and over, most of whom we now know can get prompt relief from the most severe and troubling menopause symptoms without drugs.”

Participants also reported improvements in their mood, sleep, and energy levels. Several individuals also said their digestion improved and they lost weight.

Study author Hana Kahleova is the Director of Clinical Research for the Physicians Committee. She said: “Previous studies have shown that soy could be beneficial, so we decided to put a diet change to the test

“We believe that the combination is what is important. By the end of the study, the majority of women on a plant-based diet rich in soy reported that they no longer experienced moderate-to-extreme hot flashes at all and that they experienced significant improvements in their quality of life.”

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Impossible Foods Launches Initiative To Honor ‘Pioneering Women’ In Food Tech https://plantbasednews.org/news/economics/impossible-foods-launched-initiative-honor-pioneering-women/ https://plantbasednews.org/news/economics/impossible-foods-launched-initiative-honor-pioneering-women/#respond Wed, 07 Apr 2021 17:19:39 +0000 https://plantbasednews.org/?p=245975 'Too often, women, particularly women of color, and their voices are overlooked and underrepresented in these industries'

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Impossible Foods is launching an initiative honoring ‘pioneering women’ in sustainability and food technology.

The campaign is in collaboration with Vegan Women Summit (VWS) – and aims to highlight female leaders in the industry.

Impossible Foods X Vegan Women Summit

Therefore, Impossible Foods and Vegan Women Summit are seeking nominations for ‘Women Building the Future‘.

The organizers are looking for ‘women leaders around the world whose work makes an impact in the fields of sustainability and agriculture’.

Applications are open until April 30 for nominees aged 13 years old and above. Impossible says it is an ‘inclusive program that encourages nominees of diverse backgrounds, including all women-identifying leaders’.

Moreover, the list of women leaders chosen as Women Building the Future honorees will be announced on June 1.

‘Pioneering women’ in food technology

Bindu Garapaty is the VP of Diversity and Inclusion at Impossible Foods.

She said: “We recognize the collective power in partnering with Vegan Women Summit, and want to highlight the pioneering women in food and technology who are working to save our planet.”

“Too often, women, particularly women of color, and their voices are overlooked and underrepresented in these industries.”

Jennifer Stojkovic, Founder of VWS

Jennifer Stojkovic, Founder of VWS, added: “Whether it’s innovating on food technology solutions, advocating in government, building a climate-focused nonprofit, or leading a sustainable eating initiative at their school, women of all ages and backgrounds are leading the way for a kinder, more sustainable world.

“Too often, women, particularly women of color, and their voices are overlooked and underrepresented in these industries.”

Stojkovic then concluded: “By partnering with the world’s leading plant-based innovator, we’re excited to bring worldwide attention. And, support to these women and help them take their work to the next level.”

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International Women’s Day: 10 Vegan Women You Should Know About https://plantbasednews.org/lifestyle/10-vegan-women-you-should-know-about/ Mon, 08 Mar 2021 11:30:00 +0000 http://ci025f78fc2000242a Plant Based News is celebrating IWD - a global celebration of the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women

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Today is International Women’s Day – a global celebration of the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women.

And while there is plenty of work left, before we achieve true equality, there is plenty to celebrate. So without further ado, here are 10 vegan women (in no particular order) who you should know about.

1. Miyoko Schinner

Miyoko Schinner
Credit: Miyoko Schinner

Miyoko Schinner is an award-winning chef who spearheaded the vegan cheese revolution with her debut book Artisan Vegan Cheese

Schinner also spoke at the first-ever Vegan Women Summit last year. The event aims to ‘inspire, educate, and empower future and rising female leaders on how to bring compassion to their career and industry’.

2. Dana Glowacka

(Photo: Instagram)

Canadian fitness enthusiast Dana Glowacka is someone you definitely don’t want to get into a planking competition with.

In 2019, Glowacka broke the women’s World Record for the longest abdominal plant. She sustained the position for more than four hours and nearly doubled her personal best from 2016.

3. Rachel Ama

Credit: Stylist

Vegan recipe creator Rachel Ama took the vegan scene by storm with her debut cookbook Vegan Eats Looking at her tasty creations, it’s no surprise she was selected as the Observer’s Rising Star of Food 2019.

Speaking to Vice, Ama said: “Caribbean cooking for me is my favorite cooking. I wanted to share that kind of food because I felt like it wasn’t being shared and it should be.”

4. Judy Nadel

Judy Nadel

Judy Nadel is the co-founder of plant-based business community Vevolution.  She has helped pivot the brand to a technology platform connecting with investors and startups.

 Recently, Nadel launched celebrity-backed pet food startup THE PACK. 

(Photo: Mercy For Animals)

Leah Garcés is a force not to be reckoned with. As President of Mercy For Animals, she has partnered with some of the world’s largest food companies as part of her mission to end factory farming.

With nearly 20 years of leadership experience in the animal protection movement, Leah is also the author of Grilled. The book explores how fighting to end factory farming led her to collaborate with ‘unlikely allies in the food industry’.

6. Jehina Malik

(Photo: Meat Free Athlete)

Jehina Malik made history when she became the first every bodybuilder who has been vegan since birth to be awarded a Pro Card by IFBB.

But Malik’s compassion is as admirable as her strength. She told Great Vegan Athletes: “ I never was curious or wanted to change my lifestyle as animals, in my opinion, were not meant to be eaten. Animals have never been a food choice to me.

“What motivates me is proving to the world that you can be strong and healthy without eating animals. I’m living proof!”  

7. Genesis Butler

(Photo: Supplied)

Despite her young age, Genesis Butler is one of the most high-profile animal-rights activists out there.

Her TedX Talk A 10-year old’s vision for healing the planet has attracted more than 102,000 views and explores the correlation between the environment and animal consumption.

Genesis also traveled to the Vatican last year – in a bid to persuade Pope Francis to try a plant-based diet during Lent.

8. Heather Mills

(Photo: Heather Mills)

Vegan entrepreneur and VBites owner Heather Mills launched her plant-based valley in the UK to tackle climate change and build a ‘world center for food future’ in the North East.

“I have been warning about this for more than 20 years and it is now an accepted scientific fact… that the cattle culture diet is having a disastrous effect on the climate and it threatens our very existence,” Heather said.

“Every expert agrees that for the sake of continued life on Earth we all have to make significant changes to our traditionally meat-based diet, each of us now has that global social responsibility.

9. Aph Ko

(Photo: Twitter)

Decolonial Theorist and Independent Digital Media Producer Aph Ko is the co-author of the book Aphro-ism: Essays on Pop Culture, Feminism, and Black Veganism from Two Sisters.

She is known for writing the first article that listed 100 Black Vegans and also contributed a short essay about race and animal oppression in the first African American Vegan Starter Guide.

10. Maria Chiorando

(Photo: Plant Based News)

Lastly, we have Maria Chiorando: the Editor of Plant Based News. Without her, PBN would not have become the force that it is today.

Last year, we shared Maria’s incredible story where she lost weight and improved her asthma on a whole-foods plant-based diet

What is International Women’s Day?

International Women’s Day (IWD) sees a number of missions to help forge a gender equal world, including:

  • Raising greater awareness about issues impacting women’s equality
  • Taking a stance to call out inequality while working to forge positive action
  • Highlighting and applauding where important gains are being made
  • Celebrating women’s achievements and accomplishments

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