Skip to main content

Are we shifting our diet more to a plant protein based one?

 

Are India’s largest FMCG players riding the next megatrend? There’s one particular thing that long-term investors keep an eye out for and that is the next megatrend. Every asset management company has a primer explaining this concept. According to Blackrock, megatrends are powerful, transformative forces that could change the global economy, business and society. 

 

You can easily put your money to work and reap the rewards over the next decade. It's the classic ‘buy and hold approach where it focuses on a theme and not just a stock. It's not just investors who are trying to get into the ground floor. Companies are constantly trying to see if they can diversify their business and capture megatrends. For example, some of the megatrends include rapid urbanization, a shift in global economic power, the rise of technology, digitalization, and growing interest in health or sustainable energy. 

 

One of the biggest trends is the dietary shift toward plant-based products. 

 

This is the kind that does not have actual animal products. So instead of cow's milk, you have soy milk or almond milk, instead of chicken nuggets, you get a plant-based version that is concocted on things like soya or pea protein. However, only 3% of the world admits to following a plant-based diet.  This shift towards plant-based products is in its early stages. 

 

In 2014, the trend of veganism grew and ‘Veganuary’ an annual challenge that is run by a UK non-profit organisation started to promote and educate people about veganism by encouraging people to follow a vegan lifestyle began and lasted for the whole month of January.   Every year the participation grows and in the past 3 years, the initiative has seen a 200% increase in sign-ups. However, it was as early as the 2010’s when the vegan diet became popular. In fact, The Economist had declared the year 2019 as “the year of the vegan”. While many people have adopted this lifestyle because of personal reasons, it is known that a vegan diet is better for the environment. While meat-based diets utilize resources such as land, water and energy to produce fool vegan diets require less cropland.

 

One of the main benefits of this diet such as a lowered risk of heart disease. In contrast, meat-based diets lead to an increased risk of diseases such as pneumonia, diabetes, several cancers and diverticular disease.

 

People are far more aware of the health benefits, the health consequences of eating meat products and the ethical and environmental impact of animal agriculture.

 

 Besides that, weight management animal welfare and environmental concerns are big motivators. Did you know, that it was as early as 1944 when a British woodcutter- DonaldWatson actually announced that he was going to create a new term known as a vegan to describe people who did not eat dairy and eggs. 

 

As of January 2021, approximately there were 79 million people were vegans.  However, this is only a minute 1% of the global population. In fact, the oldest person who lived up to the year 117 (a Canadian supercentenarian) was known for following a vegan diet. Vegan diets first became popular in 2004. It was even found that according to the Good Food Institute, the sales of plant-based foods had grown three times faster than overall food sales in 2021. Some of the top vegan countries include Hippeas, Allplants, Follow Your Heart, JUST egg, Quorn, Oatly and beyond meat. Some of the top vegan brands in India include Veggie Champ (Ahimsa Food), Vegeta Food (Biotrack Foods), Good Dot, Mister Veg and Greenest foods. Some of the vegan egg brands include Evo Foods, Vezeley and Plant Made, Some of the vegan milk brands include Good Mylk (Veganarke) and Strive, Life Health Foods. Some of the vegan cheese brands include Soft Spot and  Liveyumfoods.com. Some of the vegan ice cream brands in India include Papa Cream, White cub, Urban Platter, Wakao Foods, Imagine Meats, Eat with BetterJus Amazing and Katharos.

 

Not only are the benefits of vegan food numerous but they are extremely healthy. Vegan food (for those who don’t know) is 100% vegetarian, healthy and nutritious, less in fats, and cholesterol free and a nutritious meal with carbohydrates, protein, good fats, fibre, vitamins, and minerals. Vegan food creates a cruelty-free environment and you can enjoy meat without harming animals. 

 

Shraddha Kapoor, Virat Kohli, Anushka Sharma, Alia Bhatt, Akshay Kumar, Priyanka Chopra, Ranveer Singh, Sonakshi Sinha, Kangana Ranaut, Aamir Khan and John Abraham. Some of the Hollywood celebrities who follow vegan diets include Billie Eilis, Stevie Wonder, Brad Pitt, Ariana Grande, Johnny Depp, Moby, Arnold Schwarzenegger

Zac Efron, Jackie Chan, Drew Barrymore, Lionel Messi and many more!

 

However, most vegans need to plan their diet out well as they lack vitamin B12 and iron. They may also need vitamin D, iodine, and omega-3 fatty acids. Did you know that there is even evidence to trace back vegan food to over 2,000 years ago! One of the earliest known vegans was the Arab poet al-Maʿarri (c. 973 – c. 1057). Their arguments were based on health, the transmigration of souls, animal welfare, and the view—espoused by Porphyry in De Abstinentia ab Esu Animalium ("On Abstinence from Animal Food", c.

 

 

 Even plant-based whey proteins have picked up the trend and NOW many manufacturers provide both whey protein powder — derived from cow’s milk — and plant-based alternatives. While most whey products are isolated from whey, a milky liquid byproduct of cheese making, plant-based protein powders are derived from various types of plants — commonly brown rice, pea, soy, and hemp. Some of the top plant-based whey proteins include Isopure, Oziva Superfood Plant Protein, WOW Life Science Plant Protein Powder and Muscle XP Plant Protein.


 

 

 

 

·                    

 

 

 

 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Karina Pandya in Conversation with Co-Founder of the Banyan, Dr. Vandana Gopikumar

An incident of coming across a homeless and mentally ill woman in distress on the road in front of her college in Chennai paved the route for Vandana Gopikumar to establish one of the leading NGOs in the field of mental health – The Banyan. While she was yet a Master’s student of Social Work, Vandana along with a close friend Vaishnavi Jayakumar encountered several other incidents of not being able to find the right shelter and mental institution for a woman in need of medical and psychiatric attention.     The Banyan, which was established in 1993 has been a one-stop destination to not only rescue, and rehabilitate but also treat mentally ill women from low-income groups. Vandana Gopikumar has pioneered a movement, helping thousands of individuals not only reintegrate into society but also secure long-term medical treatment.    Not only is she the co-founder of the NGO – The Banyan, but is also the co-founder of The Banyan Academy of Leadership (BALM). She is also a member of the advi

NGO Meet Becomes a Fulcrum of Mutual Help

  “There is no better way to thank God for your sight than by giving a helping hand to someone in the dark.”  --Helen Keller   There are numerous social causes which would remain otherwise ignored if it were not for the Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) contributing to the cause. January 6th, Saturday saw the coming together of 25-30 NGOs to provide a single platform for mutual help and support. It was organised by the founder trustee of Karmayog – Vinay Somani to discuss strategic planning for social and civic causes.          A Buffet of Purposes: Maybe You're Lost, Maybe You Aren’t. Maybe You’re Meandering with Meaning     Whether it is raising funds, strategy planning, content writing, or volunteering; there are numerous ways by which people can contribute to the welfare of an NGO.    Dr Dhyanraj Patkar, whose Narmada Kidney Foundation works to create awareness about kidney disease said that 6100 people were on the wait list for a kidney transplant in 2023 in Maharashtra bu

A Boutique Passport to New York

New York, the city that NEVER sleeps is one of the most sought-after hotspots for fashionistas across the world.     With astonishingly tall buildings which rise up to a couple of thousand feet in the air, creating a beautiful New York Skyline, New York is home to some of the most popular brands across the world such as Macy’s, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Burberry, Valentino, Kate Spade, Fendi, Coach, Marc Jacobs, Calvin Klein, Huckberry, Nordstrom NYC and many others there are plenty of innovative retailers and retail trends to choose from. However, New York has not always been the fashion capital of the world.  Paris, Milan and London have always been known worldwide for the most influential fashion trend. New only emerged as a fashion capital post World War II when New York’s garment district became a vanguard of a different type.      There were designers in New York who challenged the Parisian couture by introducing sportswear into the high fashion world in the 194 0s and 1950s. New Yor