About The Youtubers That Are Giving Up Veganism
Posted on
There seems to be a lot of vegan YouTubers renouncing the lifestyle at the moment.
It can be extremely disheartening to see, and also damaging to the vegan movement itself. These people have built up a following that believes in the work we are trying to do; they have positioned themselves as vegan role models to the masses.
Needless to say, when they suddenly turn their back on the fundamental vegan beliefs, it certainly deals a blow to everyone who followed them.
When many people have respect for these YouTubers, it may cause some people to question veganism. We listen to the justifications of their decision and try to see it from their perspective. That’s what these YouTubers are there for when you think about it. We want an insight into the lives of these people, so we can’t help but try to relate.
The first thing to remember is the difference between vegan and plant-based, many of the YouTubers were simply following a plant-based diet, but often use the word vegan in order to obtain more views, especially if they make a video about why they’ve ‘stopped being vegan’.
The Health Scares
The predominant reason that is given for renouncing veganism is the supposed negative impacts the diet has had on their health, despite for many years there being a stereotypical idea that vegans are the epitome of health.
They may not be lying - they may have lost hair, chipped teeth, hit an unhealthy weight etc, while on a plant-based diet.
It needs to be clarified that the drastic impacts these people are seeing in their health, are due to them suffering the effects of an ‘unbalanced’ diet, which thousands of people struggle with every year, regardless of their diet.
One of our main objectives here at Her-Bivore is to promote that a healthy vegan lifestyle is obtainable and provide the latest information to make it very much accessible for everyone.
There are no nutrients you can’t get from a vegan diet, with the exception of vitamin B12, but this is also a risk for omnivores due to irrigation practices in recent times. We explained this in a previous post that you can read here.
There are a number of fad diet trends that fall within the scope of a plant-based diet, such as the raw food diet and the juice cleanse diet. These, if not done properly, can cause such health issues.
I’m not saying they can’t be great for your health, but they have to be thought about and often planned to ensure all the required nutrients and food groups are being obtained.
I recently came across this video that sums this up perfectly.
The Important Thing To Remember
While it is intensely frustrating - those that have given up veganism, were not ever vegan in the first place.
Veganism extends much further than what you choose to put in your belly. It is a lifestyle of compassion and change.
Those that have truly adopted a vegan lifestyle don’t ever look back. The reasons for their choice run so much deeper than their own self. It is a choice for the lives of billions of animals, and the planet.
If there is something that isn’t working in their diet, they find ways to make it work, they address the situation and realise that there are thousands of other vegans worldwide that are doing just fine and have done so for years.
Community Over Influencers
If you find that someone you follow has suddenly changed their beliefs for their sake of self, don’t let this take a toll on you.
Take a break from YouTube and come and hang out with other vegans either online or in your local community.
Sites like Eventbrite will turn up results near you for vegan events that you can attend. If, by chance, there aren’t any - take the chance to set one up yourself! There will be vegans near you and it’s a fantastic opportunity to meet likeminded people such as yourself.
Alternatively, there are literally hundreds of vegan Facebook groups that you can join in just a few clicks. Each strives to create a supportive environment that allows you to share what’s on your mind without judgement.
A couple I really like at the moment are One Billion Vegans, which is just packed full of thought-provoking conversations and questions. The other is Rate My Vegan Food (which can be a little edgy sometimes but good for a laugh - you’ve been warned!).
While it has been a bit doom and gloom, I hope you find something useful from this article and hopefully it has given you some ideas as to where you can turn next!
What are your thoughts on the matter? Have you actually witnessed this happen with any YouTubers you follow? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below.
Remember, you can follow us on Facebook and Instagram to keep up to date with our latest recipes, news and content. You can also get our updates delivered straight to your inbox by signing up to our weekly newsletter using the form below.
Written by Jack Ricketts
-Him-Bivore
Marketing has always been my career focus. I am striving to promote a plant-based lifestyle to the masses through positive campaigns and sharing the benefits of veganism. The animals, and the planet, need us more than ever to make a change.
You can find me on Instagram