You Will Become Protein Deficient Vegan sources of protein — like beans, nuts, seeds, plant-based meat products, tofu, chickpeas, lentils, and a wide variety of legumes — are hard to come by. If you are an athlete, it is also tricky to be a success in your field without eating meat for protein.

Their reasons for eating this way vary. Some vegans do it to improve their health, as research shows that a plant-based diet could lower the risk of certain diseases. Others stay away from meat because they don't want to harm animals or because they want to protect the environment.

While a 2022 report shows interest in vegan-focused lifestyles are on the decline, new vegan products continue to hit the market, according to Mintel trends expert Lynn Dornblaser. A 2022 report by Chef's Pencil analyzing Google Trends data shows interest in veganism may be dwindling.

Researchers at the University of Oxford have found that if everyone went vegan, global farmland use could be reduced by 75%, the size of the US, China, Australia and the EU combined. If our protein needs were met with soy instead of animals, deforestation would fall by 94%.