Choosing to live off a vegan diet is admirable. You are helping the environment by not eating meat and dairy, and of course, you are also protecting the livelihood and quality of lives for our fellow sentient beings, farm animals and fish.
But, did you know, a vegan diet is not just one diet, but there are other subcategories within the vegan diet, and the industrial vegan diet is a prime example.
(If you don’t already know what an industrial vegan diet is, don’t worry, I’m going to cover it.)
In this article, I’m going to begin with going through the 4 motivations for following a vegan diet, before explaining just what the industrial vegan diet is, and how it fits with these 4 motivations.
Then, I’m going to tell you everything you need to know about the industrial vegan diet, and compare it to a more traditional vegan diet. At the end of the article, I will wrap up with my final conclusion (feel free to scroll ahead to it if you wish).
And without further ado, let’s get straight to it.
The 4 Main Motivations For A Vegan Diet
I wanted to get into the different motivations for the vegan diet before going into the industrial vegan diet, because I wanted to show you just how many of these different motivations the industrial diet covers.
(Please feel free to skip this section if it’s already familiar to you.)
Ethically Motivated
One of the main reasons someone would choose to be vegan is to save lives and avoid animal cruelty. The fewer people eat meat, the fewer animals get sacrificed and slaughtered.
Similarly, if fewer people ate dairy products, this also sends a strong message to the farming industry that people do not want to see animals suffer just for milk, cheese, butter and such, when there are readily available alternatives.
Motivated For Health Reasons
It is well documented these days that too much red meat can help cause all manner of different health issues.
And at the same time, plant-based diets are known for being very healthy for us, and are packed with important nutrients the body needs.
These nutrient dense foods can help prevent disease, and those who suffer from obesity are frequently encouraged to eat such foods in order to achieve a healthy weight.
Motivated By Concern For The Environment
Did you know that the meat production industry is responsible for a whopping approximate 15% of all greenhouse gas emissions? That’s a significant proportion!
So, understandably, many people are motivated to go vegan for the sake of the environment and putting the brakes on climate change, by minimizing their individual impact.
Motivated For Religious Reasons
In several religions, some animals are considered holy. And there are also religions, such as Hinduism, where it is believed that animals have eternal souls, so they are often vegetarian (but not necessarily vegan) for this reason.
What Exactly Is The Industrial Vegan Diet Anyway?
The term “industrial vegan” was first coined on the American TV Hustler, by one Craig Fergusson as recently as 2021.
The term soon caught on and has been trending on vegan blogs and such ever since.
Basically, an industrial vegan is one who will only eat foods that aren’t industrial farmed, processed, or raised.
For example, an industrial vegan would not eat any of the factory-produced foods that are designed to imitate meat, such as anything produced by the likes of Amy’s Kitchen or Quorn and so on.
Truth be told, an industrial diet has a lot in common with the whole foods vegan diet, since it features foods that are predominantly natural and unprocessed.
You could even use the two terms interchangeably, but I like “industrial vegan” better. However, I actually feel that the term “anti-industrial vegan” would be a more precise term.
What Does An Industrial Vegan Diet Actually Look Like?
Just to reiterate, an industrial vegan diet is one where the foods and drinks consumed are all natural and have been minimally processed.
This often means that these foods are free of GMO and artificial chemicals such as preservatives. (Although there are exceptions, because you can get naturally derived preservatives.) (And, of course, there are no meat products or animal products whatsoever.)
This also means that those on the industrial vegan diet do not eat any of the industrially processed vegan food options that you often see lining the shelves at the grocery store.
But the issue with such foods is that while they may be great for encouraging would-be vegans to press ahead with the decision to go vegan, these heavily processed foods aren’t always good for you…
Heavily processed vegan foods and imitation meats often contain just as much fat, sugar and salt, as actual meat. What’s more, they often contain even more artificial ingredients and chemicals.
So, sadly, as much as the processed vegan foods may appeal to many, these potentially harmful additives are considered by leading scientists to be quite detrimental to your health in the long term.
If you were following the industrial vegan diet, however, you won’t ever have to touch such foods. Instead, you’d be eating wholesome vegetables, fruits, and other plants. What’s more, all of these foods would ideally be 100% organic, and thus free of such contaminants as pesticides, GMOs, or herbicides.
How An Industrial Vegan Diet Compares To A More Standard Vegan Diet
So, let’s lay out some of the key differences between an industrial vegan lifestyle and a regular vegan lifestyle side by side…
Traditional Vegan Diet Ethos – Avoids eating both meat and dairy productsEats mainly plant-based foodsUses big name vegan skincare brands. Uses non-animal artificial sweeteners such as corn syrups and stevia. Considers wearing synthetic fabrics such as faux leather, which contribute to global environmental pollution
Industrial Vegan Diet Ethos – Avoids meat and dairyOpts for only plant-based foods. Won’t eat artificially produced foods. Uses only natural skincare products made with organic ingredients only. Avoids all commercially produced sugars and sweeteners. Wears organic fabrics, such as handmade plant leather, which require minimal processing, thus having a lower carbon footprint.
Benefits Of A Vegan Diet
By now, you may have already spotted what the main motivations for the industrial vegan lifestyle are.
The primary benefits of such a lifestyle are the health benefits for the person living it, and also the environmental benefits of switching away from processed goods – it’s so much more than a regular, standard traditional vegan lifestyle.
As to which motivation for the lifestyle is the most important, I’ll leave that to your opinion. But they are undeniable…
Science has shown beyond a shadow of a doubt that clean, unprocessed whole foods prevent disease and boost our lifespan, whereas a cumulative effect of processed food can be detrimental to our bodies.
What’s more, when you avoid eating foods, vegan or otherwise, that are made in a factory, you are sending a clear message that you want to put the brakes on the greenhouse gas emissions from these factories that contribute to the likes of not just air pollution, but actual climate change.
Wrap Up – Should You Try The Industrial Vegan Diet?
As we described earlier, processed vegan foods often contain artificial ingredients and chemicals that can be hazardous for your health.
So, if your interest in veganism is largely determined by health concerns, then it seems the industrial vegan diet may be the way forward for you.
What’s more, when this article was written, the planet was in a state of climate emergency, and it may still be when you read this. So, for this reason additionally, there is an incredibly strong argument, not just for a standard vegan diet and lifestyles in every individual, but also for the industrial vegan lifestyle.
The industrial vegan lifestyle is a triple-benefit lifestyle, you save the lives of animals and fish (not to mention improve their quality of life), you gain considerable health benefits, AND you do your little bit for the environment all at the same time.
I would argue that by trying out the industrial vegan diet lifestyle, you have absolutely nothing to lose (except maybe your favorite vegan burger), and the entire planet has your contribution to gain.
Moreover, if you can encourage yet more people to take up the industrial vegan lifestyle with you, such an idea can really take flight. And before you know it, we’ll be living in a happier, healthy, more sustainable planet!
If you enjoyed this article, please be sure to check out our take on the best Vegan Bread Brands.
Hi, my name is Brett White, and I have a passion for cooking, and following a raw diet. Eating raw has completely changed how I view food, and has led me down a much healthier and happier path in life over the last three years.
Through Addicted To Veggies, I want to share with you my favorite raw recipes. From brownie recipes, to recipes containing pumpkin, my site is full of delicious and wonderful options to consider.
