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.”

The post Prakriti Varshney Hailed As First Vegan Indian Woman To Summit Everest appeared first on Plant Based News.

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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.

The post Naomi Osaka’s Vegan Suncare Line Launches In 2,500 Walmart Stores appeared first on Plant Based News.

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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. 

The post Serena Williams Invests In Vegan Menopause Supplement Brand appeared first on Plant Based News.

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.

The post Vegan Athlete Makes History, Breaks 6 Records At British Powerlifting Championships appeared first on Plant Based News.

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 

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

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

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

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

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

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

The post 8 Women And Groups Who Have Devoted Their Lives To Protecting Animals appeared first on Plant Based News.

And yet, poorly planned diets containing meat and dairy have been doing this for years! 

But don’t be put off. A vegan diet can provide everything you need and protect your health – and there is a vast body of evidence supporting this.

And major health bodies agree…

A healthy vegan diet can provide all the nutrients you need while lowering the risk of all the big killers including heart disease, type two diabetes, and certain cancers.

According to the UK’s National Health Service (NHS), “with good planning and an understanding of what makes up a healthy, balanced vegan diet, you can get all the nutrients your body needs.”

The article warns how half of young women aged between eleven and 18 are consuming below the minimum recommended level of iron and magnesium. 

A quarter of women from this age group, it says, are consuming too little calcium, zinc, and iodine too. 

However, the article also claims that only three percent of the UK population are vegan. 

So, even if all vegan women were missing out, which they are not, 22 to 47 percent of women who eat meat and dairy are missing out too. 

Ironing out the facts

It’s a myth that you need meat to get iron. Iron is found in many plant foods. 

Good sources include dark green leafy vegetables and whole grains such as quinoa, wholewheat pasta, and wholemeal bread.

Additionally, it’s found in pulses including lentils, tofu, baked beans, kidney beans, and peas. Seeds such as pumpkin, sesame, and tahini, as well as dried fruit also contain iron. 

One of the largest ever studies of vegetarians and vegans, the EPIC-Oxford study, compared the diets of over 18,000 meat-eaters, 4,500 fish-eaters, 6,600 vegetarians, and 800 vegans. 

It found that vegans had the highest intake of iron, followed by vegetarians and fish-eaters. 

Meat-eaters came out last. But vegans had the highest intake of magnesium, polyunsaturated (healthy) fats, fiber, vitamins C and E, folate, and copper.

Women’s health at risk?

The article suggests that young women are more at risk of developing nutritional deficiencies than men because they may be “more sensitive to the messages put out about how bad” meat and dairy are for the environment. 

This patronizing view conjures up the image of a Victorian lady having an attack of the vapors! 

The idea that sensitive young women are suffering nutritional deficiencies in an effort to save the planet is very misguided. 

And the fact that so many young women are missing out on important nutrients reflects what a poor diet many people have. 

But this is not a vegan issue. 

In fact, many vegans are quite well-informed on what constitutes a healthy diet. 

The article takes a swing in the right direction towards the end because it highlights how eating up to 30 different plant foods a week is good for your gut health. 

This is good advice for everyone, not just vegans. It’s also good advice to avoid eating too much junk food.

Do vegans need supplements?

Vegans don’t need handfuls of supplements as the article suggests, but they do need to ensure a regular intake of vitamin B12. 

Don’t let the naysayers convince you this is a bad thing. Meat and dairy only contain B12 because farmed animals are given supplements. 

Why not cut out the middleman and take your own? It’s easier to absorb and sets you up for a healthy old age!

• Calcium is found in tofu (made with calcium sulfate), fortified vegan cereals, and plant milks. It’s also present in dried figs, kale, sesame seeds, tahini, beans, nuts, and green vegetables. 
• Vitamin D (the so-called sunshine vitamin, produced in our skin in response to sunlight) supports your immune system and helps your body absorb calcium. The government says everyone in the UK, regardless of diet, should consider taking a vitamin D supplement in the winter.
• Zinc is found in tempeh, wholewheat pasta, tofu, quinoa, wheat germ, pumpkin seeds, lentils, couscous, wholegrain rice, cashew nuts, sesame seeds, and tahini. 
• Iodine is found in many plant foods. But the content varies due to iodine levels in the soil in which they’re grown. Good plant sources include sea vegetables (arame, wakame, and nori) and iodized salt. While iodine is found in cow’s milk, this is only because cows are fed supplements and their teats are disinfected with an iodine wash. I’d rather sprinkle some seaweed in my soup, thanks.

Be reassured

A healthy vegan diet is packed with a wide range of nutrients that give you energy, are easy on your digestive system, and support your immune system.

It can also help clear up your skin, improve your mood and lower the risk of many diseases. 

And you’ll feel great! 

Viva!’s wallchart, What I need each day for good health, tells you the recommended portion sizes for each of the five veggie food groups with all the essential vitamins and nutrients they provide.

Find out why vegan diets are the best, how to eat well, and protect your health here.

The post Expert Debunks Claims Vegan Diet Is Bad For Women’s Health appeared first on Plant Based News.

The firm uses cow genes from a database to recreate casein and whey in a “non-invasive” process. 

Now, Perfect Day will be used in Coolhaus’ ice dessert products. This is in a shared goal of creating a more sustainable food system.

It is part of the wider alternative protein industry, expected to soar even further since garnering over $1 billion in revenue across the pandemic.

Perfect Day joins female-owned ice cream brand

The Urgent Company, which is the consumer brands subsidiary of Perfect Day, announced it had acquired Coolhaus this week.

As part of the deal, the companies will merge resources, structure, and social impact. 

This includes the transition from cow dairy to “animal-free dairy,” because according to Perfect Day, it generates a staggering 979 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions.

As a brand, Coolhaus also prides itself on inspiring “the next generation” of women and LGBTQ+ creators. 

Plant-based ice cream

“For us, this is about the long game. The integration of Perfect Day protein into our line of beloved dairy ice cream and novelties is going to elevate our product into the next generation of foods making a difference for our families and our planet,” founder Natasha Case said in a statement.

Now Perfect Day joins plant-based ice-cream icon Brave Robot as a top brand of The Urgent Company. 

Since its 2020 debut, Brave Robot has sold a staggering one million pints. And, is available across thousands of grocery stores.

The post Female-Led Ice-Cream Company To Transition To ‘Animal-Free’ With Perfect Day appeared first on Plant Based News.

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

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.

The post ‘World’s Oldest’ Person Dies At 124: Family Says Vegetables Were The ‘Secret’ appeared first on Plant Based News.

Every year, The Vegan Women Summit (VWS) launches its Pathfinder, a summit and pitch competition focused on women in animal-free innovation.

And this year, the event’s finalists are mainly women of color.

Vegan Women Summit

Later this month, more than 30 founders, CEOs, and investors will compete for a $50,000 investment prize.

Finalists include Enrica Arena, of Italy-based Orange Fiber; Irina Miller, who is CEO of precision fermentation firm, Daisy Lab; and Jessia Schwabach of Sundial Foods. Moreover, the lineup includes Kesha Stickland, CEO of The Mushroom Meat Co., and Alt Foods co-founder Sweta Khandelwal.

VWS founder Jennifer Stojkovic said: “We are thrilled to continue building a diverse future of food and beyond at VWS Pathfinder. This year, an astounding 75 percent of our semi-finalists were women of color, which is a 25 percent increase from last year. 

“This comes as no surprise, considering Black women are the fastest-growing group of founders in America.”

Celebrating female founders

Speakers at the summit include renowned names from Miyoko Schinner of Miyoko’s Creamery, Heather Mills, and Dr. Sandhya Sriram.

One of the competition’s sponsors, Ryan Bethencourt is the co-founder of IndieBio and CEO of Wild Earth.

Bethencourt said they were impressed to see the ‘vast’ amount of women innovators scaling vegan businesses around the world.

You can book tickets to the Vegan Women Summit on Friday, October 29 here

The post Achievements Of Women Of Color Celebrated At Vegan Business Event appeared first on Plant Based News.

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

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.”

The post Vegan Food Reduces Risk Of Heart Disease, Two New Studies Find appeared first on Plant Based News.

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.”

The post Plant-Based Diet Linked To 84% Drop In Menopausal Symptoms appeared first on Plant Based News.

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.”

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.”

The post Impossible Foods Launches Initiative To Honor ‘Pioneering Women’ In Food Tech appeared first on Plant Based News.

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 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

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

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 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. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

The post International Women’s Day: 10 Vegan Women You Should Know About appeared first on Plant Based News.

The summit is a global events and media organization. It empowers female-identifying change-makers to bring compassion to their careers.

Collaborating with VWS, Postmates has launched the World Vegan Day collection in select markets. This will make it easier for customers to find and support plant-based restaurants until November 7.

Vegan Women Summit Pathfinder

In addition, Postmates has partnered the organization to support its Pathfinder. This is a virtual female founder summit and pitch competition, on December 5.

More than 600 female founders from around the world have pitched their business ideas. They now have the chance to win a prize package worth $50,000.

The winner will be announced at the interactive online event featuring speakers. They will include more than two dozen leading female founders and CEOs from around the world. The event will connect attendees to participants all around the globe.

‘Proud’

“We are proud to continue our partnership with Postmates to further our mission to drive plant-based innovation at our upcoming founder summit and pitch competition, VWS Pathfinder,” said Vegan Women Summit founder, Jennifer Stojkovic.

“The Postmates platform not only bolsters some of the US’s most exciting plant-based restaurants, but has also connected VWS to countless up and coming plant-based founders at our pitch competition through the Postmates fleet network.

“We’re excited to celebrate World Vegan Day together through this in-app collection and build the next generation of plant-based founders together.”

You can find out more about Vegan Women Summit here

The post Food Giant Postmates Celebrates World Vegan Day In Collaboration With Vegan Women Summit appeared first on Plant Based News.

Called VWS Pathfinder, the virtual event strives to ‘inspire, educate, and empower rising female-identifying leaders to bring compassion to the plant-based and food tech industry.

VWS Pathfinder

The event, organized by media and events organization Vegan Women Summit, is offering a top prize valued at $50,000. This includes a $10,000 cash prize sponsored by Purple Orange Ventures, $35,000 of branding services from Evolution Bureau, global membership to WeWork office space, and more.

The event will include CEO panels, founder chats, and session programming featuring more than two dozen of the world’s leading founders and CEOs in the plant-based space, including Miyoko Schinner (Miyoko’s Creamery), Shama Sukul Lee (CEO of Sunfed Meats), Daniella Monet (Co-founder of Kinder Beauty Box), and Denise Woodard (Partake Foods).

A number of notable venture capitalists will be joining from the food technology industry. They include Matilda Ho (Bits x Bites), Lisa Feria (Stray Dog Capital), Regina Hecker (Blue Horizon Ventures), and Miray Zaki (Dismatrix).

Plant Based News is a partner for the event, which is being sponsored by leading plant-based companies across the world, including Upfield, Miyoko’s Creamery, and Califia Farms, in addition to more than half a dozen venture capital firms, including VegInvest, Big Idea Ventures, and Vegan Capital.

Bias

Recent research by the Vegan Women Summit found that of 160 female-identifying founders and top executives at plant-based and cell-based food startups, 48 percent of respondents say they have faced bias during the fundraising process, with 75 percent of those women saying they have faced gender bias specifically.

VWS Pathfinder will help raise awareness of this ‘persistent gender inequality that female entrepreneurs around the world face in fundraising and connect the brightest emerging ideas in plant-based innovation with leaders in venture capital’.

Jennifer Stojkovic, founder of Vegan Women Summit, said: “Almost half of female founders and CEOs in the food tech industry have encountered bias, particularly gender bias, from investors, while nearly half of all female founders of color have experienced racial bias.

“VWS Pathfinder creates a platform to showcase and drive investment to these underfunded and overlooked up-and-coming founders, while bringing out the industry’s top leaders much-needed and educate this future generation.

“With founders and CEOs joining from five continents, we are proud to create the much-needed amplification for these voices and will feature a lineup with more than two-thirds founders of color.”

Diverse talent

Lisa Feria, CEO of Stray Dog Capital, is a venture capitalist who is supporting the event. She said: “Stray Dog Capital is proud to continue to support Vegan Women Summit through the VWS Pathfinder event. It’s been proven that diverse teams deliver outsized returns and we fully support the female founders that are driving so many of these startups.”

Miyoko Schinner, CEO of Miyoko’s Creamery, added: “The future of the planet depends on finding the best and brightest talent across the world to change the food system.

“By building a more inclusive, global ecosystem to empower, cultivate, and support female founders through VWS Pathfinder, we can bring more solutions to the table, move quicker to enact change, and create a kinder future for us all.”

Taking part

Founders from around the world can apply to take part in VWS Pathfinder have until October 23 to apply. Ten semi-finalists will be selected and then narrowed to five finalists, who will be announced on December 1.

Both the selection committee and the final jury panel will consider ‘the market impact, team experience, growth potential, business model, differentiation, and value proposition of each pitch’.

Challenge

“The challenge we’ve given ourselves at Vegan Women Summit is to find innovative ways to build the next generation of female founders in the plant-based space,” Stojkovic said.

“Through our recent survey results, we have discovered more than one-third of female founders entering the space move towards a more plant-based diet after founding their company. We are eager to explore this opportunity and create a mainstream entry point into the industry for founders coming from all backgrounds.”

You can find out more about Vegan Women Summit here and find out more about VWS Pathfinder – including how to submit a pitch – here

The post $50,000 Prize On Offer At World’s First Plant-Based Female Founder Summit And Pitch Competition appeared first on Plant Based News.

The majority of animal advocacy is led by women, says award-winning photojournalist Jo-Anne McArthur.

McArthur – the author of We Animals and Hidden – made the comment on the latest episode of the Plant Based News Podcast.

‘Something worth celebrating’

“As I traveled globally to document these animal stories, both good and bad, I saw that it was mostly women involved yet it was men usually in the leadership role of an organization.

“I wondered if I was just biased as a woman, seeing it this way, so I did some research and found it was actually true that – in North America and Europe at least – the animal advocacy work happening is led 60 to 80 percent by women

“And I thought ‘okay well this is something worth celebrating’. I am a feminist and I want to support the work of women and I also wanted to amplify the voices of these women by giving them one more additional platform where their work could be visible.”

The Unbound Project

McArthur consequently co-founded the Unbound Project – an initiative dedicated to celebrating women ‘on the frontlines of animal advocacy’.

“Our writers, photographers, and filmmakers travel the world to meet, photograph and interview inspiring, hard-working women around the globe.” the organization’s website states.

“Unbound inspires our audience to do what they can to make the world a kinder, gentler place for all species. Far too often people believe that they do not have enough time, money, or expertise to get involved in animal advocacy.

“Many of us also misunderstand what it means to be an ‘activist’. Unbound aims to challenge those notions and to demonstrate through these inspiring examples how we all can make a difference for the animals with whom we share this planet.”

You can listen to the full podcast here.

The post Majority Of Animal Advocacy Is Led By Women, Says Award-Winning Photojournalist appeared first on Plant Based News.