1. IT CAN HELP YOU LOSE WEIGHT
It's diet season! If the four weeks of endless boozing, chocolate-nibbling and mince pie-scoffing that essentially makes up December has left your belt a little tight, Veganuary may be just the ticket to help you shed the extra pounds (as long as you move a bit as well). A 2015 study showed that those following a vegan diet lost comparatively more weight than those following omnivorous and vegetarian ones. Good news for anyone still in a cheese-induced coma.
2. ITS GOOD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
Agriculture is one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions (more than all transport), potentially increasing to 50pc by 2050. Rearing livestock for animal-based products requires far more land, water and energy than producing grain; 27kg CO2 is generated per kilo beef in comparison to 0.9kg per kilo of lentils. According to a 2016 Oxford study, the adoption of a vegan diet globally would cut food-related emissions by 70pc. That's got to be a good reason to put down the ham sandwich.
3. IT MIGHT MAKE YOU LIVE LONGER
While veganism isn't necessarily a one-way ticket to a zen-like, eternal youth, numerous scientific studies have been taken to measure the impact of a plant-based diet in reducing the risk of major diseases, including diabetes and heart disease with positive results. A vegan diet also eases the symptoms of arthritis-sufferers and can help to prevent obesity, which affects 1 in 6 Britons and is a leading cause of death.
A 2016 study from Oxford argues that the mass-adoption of a vegan diet could cut 8.1 million deaths a year. Becoming vegan for 31 days is not going to have the same effect, but it's worth bearing in mind.
4. EATING VEGETABLES IS GOOD FOR YOU
No one needs to tell you that eating fruit and vegetables is beneficial, but in case you've forgotten everything your parents and teachers ever taught you, they're full of essential vitamins and minerals (including calcium, potassium and Vitamin C) and dietary fibre. All of these should keep you feeling and (ideally) looking great. Even though you've had the 5-a-day mantra drilled into you for years, the chances are you're still not eating enough fruit and veg. Unless you plan to survive on a diet of crisps and vegan sausages (I don't recommend it) trying out Veganuary will, if anything, force you to eat more of the good stuff.
5. IT MAKES YOU SMELL BETTER
Go ahead and raise your eyebrows, but a recent study analysed the sweat of those who eat a diet of mainly fruit and vegetables, and found that it was deemed to be more attractive to women (who actually had to smell and evaluate each sample) than those on a carb-heavy diet. The sweat produced by veg-eating men was described as "floral, fruity, sweet or having medicinal qualities." Do you need another reason?
6. IT CAN MAKE YOU BETTER IN BED
... :)