VEGETARIAN and vegan numbers have been on the rise recently for a number of reasons.

However, meat contains a lot of protein, iron and fibre and some argue that we need to eat meat otherwise we will not have all of the sustenance we need to be strong and fit.

In the times of our predecessors the appendix was used to break down tough foods especially cooked and raw meat. so is this an evolutionary sign that we should eat meat?

In 2018, more and more people are arguing that actually we can survive easily without meat and vegetarians and vegans tend to be healthier.

It is claimed those who give up meat don’t take in all of the fats that meat contains, especially things such as pork belly where most of it is fat.

On top of this, vegetarianism is seen as better for the planet, reducing carbon emissions into the atmosphere and slowing down global warming.

Social media is full of celebrities promoting vegan and vegetarian diets as a way to be healthy and get fit, chefs are releasing new cookbooks on vegan and vegetarian recipes and new companies are emerging, selling a wide variety of natural products that aren’t tested on animals.

Are these things emerging because vegetarianism is becoming the latest fad with everyone rushing to try the new diet of their favourite celebrity?

Or are we waking up to a healthier more sustainable way of life and businesses and restaurants are now trying to catch up.

By Emily Montgomery