Why Is California The Ideal Place To Go Vegan?

The vegan lifestyle is booming in California. With more vegan restaurants than anywhere else in the U.S., Los Angeles alone is home to a bevy of renowned establishments—including Crossroads Kitchen on Melrose, The Vegan Joint on National Boulevard, and Flore Vegan on Sunset. In fact, Forbes deems Los Angeles and San Francisco as the second and third most vegan and vegetarian-friendly cities in the U.S., with Portland taking the top spot. If you’re keen on making the switch to a plant-based lifestyle, of course, you have probably researched vegan recipes. From fashion to housing and décor to skincare, there are so many benefits of going vegan. 

The Health Benefits Of Plant-Based Diets

California is known for its passion for health and fitness, and vegan food consumption falls right in with these goals. Recent studies have shown that diets that are high in fiber (i.e. centered on the consumption of fruits and vegetables) promote good gut health, which in turn is key for physical and mental health. Many studies have shown the health benefits of a plant based diet—including the fact that people lose more weight when they go entirely vegan. Additional benefits include lower blood pressure, a lower risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, and better heart health. 

Designing Vegan Homes

Once you've got your plant-based diet down, you can concentrate on transforming your home through vegan interior design. You can begin by embracing fabric as opposed to leather furniture items, casein-free paint, and natural cleaning methods which do not rely on bleach—most bleaches contain animal by-products and are tested on animals.

When purchasing items such as sofas, ensure that they aren’t filled with down or feathers, and read the ingredients lists well. It’s also important to conduct research regarding hidden animal ingredients in typical products such as paints and varnishes. The good news is that there are vegan alternatives for many of these products.

A good place to start is by asking other vegans who are into design for recommendations. Check out furniture stores online, in addition to well known eco-friendly furniture shops such as The Joneses LA, Clad Home, and It's Not Trash Designs, which makes customized furniture that suits your needs.

Vegan Beauty

Skincare items, makeup, and even nail polish can all contain animal ingredients, some of the most common of which are honey, beeswax, squalene (obtained from shark liver), carmine (from crushed beetles), gelatin, and placenta. An easy way to not risk using these products is by supporting vegan beauty brands. For California-made vegan skincare, try brands like Hollywood Healer (which focuses on natural herbal remedies), 100% Pure in Los Angeles (which sells items like fruit pigmented makeup), and Lulu’s Vegan Skin, offering a wide array of vegan makeup and beauty products—including lip balms, massage oils, and deodorants.

California is one of the U.S.’s vegan capitals. The state boasts a wide range of restaurants, as well as furniture stores, and health and beauty shops. Therefore, you’re likely to meet many people who share your values and lifestyle. Meeting people is a great place to start when it comes to receiving advice on everything from where to shop to where to have a skin rejuvenation treatment.