After Veganuary 2022, and as spring is now in the air, aspiring vegans everywhere will be looking for ways to stay on track with their new lifestyle.

Vegans need to master plant-based alternatives to animal-based foods, tasty recipes, eating out, and how to get the right nutrients. Then there’s vegan clothing, cleaning products, and skincare to consider.

Thankfully there are many apps to provide support for these things including, HappyCow, Forks Over Knives, 21 Day Vegan Kickstart, and VNutrition.

But what about finding a vegan soulmate?

Dating might not be top of the app download list for newly fledged vegans or vegetarians, but as their values and passion for plant-based living grows, so too might their preference for a partner with similar interests. 

With more than 500,000 vegans in the UK and 1.2 million vegetarians, it’s no wonder regular dating apps are starting to offer vegan and vegetarian preferences. However, the majority of people on these apps don’t follow a plant-based lifestyle. For some vegans and veggies this is a deal breaker for intimate relationships. 

This is where Vegpal comes in.

Animal rights activists launch dating app

Dahlia and Sravan, two Boston-based animal rights activists, created the mobile app Vegpal to provide a dating platform exclusively for vegans and vegetarians. Disenchanted with their experiences dating outside the plant-based community, they recognized the need for a space for vegans to meet, connect, and date others that share their values and lifestyle.

The app was designed with the vegan community in mind. Infused with the colors of the vegan flag, Vegpal offers a simple yet beautiful user interface, designed to create a relaxing experience for members.

Vegans and vegetarians in the dating scene

Eating together is a huge part of building any relationship as dating often entails dinners, coffee dates and lunches. A survey by Zava Med of Europeans and Americans found that over 70 percent of singles choose a restaurant for a first date, while another popular choice is a coffee shop or cafe. Relationship building goes hand in hand with eating and drinking but for vegans and vegetarians this could get in the way.

This is what Vegpal founder Dahlia found. She was put off meeting up with omnivores through dating apps. Dahlia said, “I was fed up swiping past pictures of fishing expeditions and sitting opposite people eating carcasses.”

A SpeedDater survey found that 27 percent of vegans and vegetarians have had a partner’s food habits contribute to the end of a relationship. For most vegans and vegetarians, it’s not just a diet, it’s a philosophy.

It makes sense that a lifestyle-specific dating app could help people find a soulmate with similar values.

Having shared interests matters

One of the key things that makes the dating experience fun is talking about shared interests. 

Stimulating these conversations is an integral part of the Vegpal experience. Like Facebook, where users can share a statement or link on their profile page, Vegpal users can post something of interest to them. It could be the latest vegan podcast they heard, a book, YouTube video, or pictures of a marathon they ran.

The idea behind Vegpal’s unique “My Feed” function was to allow members to express their personalities and interests and create more interesting conversations.

Dahlia explained how they managed to combine social media with a dating profile to help people strike up meaningful conversations. “There’s only so much you can tell about someone from their profile stats and it doesn’t always make for rich conversation.”

Security and safety when dating online 

Safety was at the forefront of developing Vegpal. After downloading the app, users complete a mini-application process. This helps the app’s team rule out scammers, trolls, and carnivores. It ensures members always feel secure and helps them avoid time wasters. 

A 2020 Pew Research Centre Study found that many women are experiencing some form of harassment on dating sites and apps. Fifty-seven percent said they’d received sexually explicit messages or images they hadn’t asked for. 

Quality over quantity

Creating quality connections for members, rather than quantity, is a priority for Vegpal. Unlike most dating apps, Vegpal limits daily swipes in order to create a space where each “like” is thoughtful. Dahlia said, “it’s not about endless scrolling and endless faces, it’s about quality conversations and connections.” 

Vegpal strives to be an ethical player in the dating market, moving away from the concept of online dating as a pseudo-marketplace where people shop for potential partners the same way they shop for a new phone or tv.

Inclusivity

A really important element of any community is to foster inclusivity and Vegpal takes extra care to ensure its app embraces everyone in the plant-based world. 

One of the values of its founders was to ensure LGBTQIA+ representation. They did this by consulting with people in these communities while building the app to get a sense of how best to include everyone and make them feel seen. 

Vegpal incorporates categories for gender that enable people to express their identity while having the best opportunity to get matched. 

Meeting vegan friends, not just soul mates 

The ethos behind Vegpal is to create meaningful connections and this is reflected in the latest feature to be launched very soon. 

Plant Based News has received insider information that plans are afoot for Vegpal to launch a “friendship” function. The aim is to offer members a way to build non-romantic connections with like-minded others locally and globally.

For anyone planning to venture into the dating scene, Vegpal could be the answer to meeting like-minded others and growing a vegan friendship group.

Vegpal is free to join. To find out more visit the Vegpal website or download the app on Google Play or Apple’s App Store.

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According to Veggly, almost 75 percent of its users are interested in long-term, monogamous relationships, while over half (56 percent) are interested in “one-off dates.” Further, 57.2 percent are interested in making new friends and 33.8 percent are interested in open relationships. 

Vegans and open relationships

The data also suggests that vegans and vegetarians are 69 percent more likely to pursue an open relationship than meat-eaters. 

In recent years, non-traditional relationships – such as open relationships – appear to be growing in popularity across the world, especially in Google searches. While the exact definition of an open relationship depends on the individuals involved, the term can include everything from polyamory to non-monogamous arrangements. 

‘Data is fascinating’

Commenting on the new findings, behavioral psychologist Jo Hemmings said, “This research from Veggly that vegans and veggies are 69 percent are more likely to pursue an open relationship than meat-eaters is fascinating, and it makes sense from my point of view as a psychologist.

“Vegans in particular have already taken an ethical decision not to eat meat, and this has become one of their core values when meeting a match. Due to their self-assured and less traditional eating choice, they are more likely to have the strong confidence needed to consider relationships that are also different from the ‘norm’.”

Hemmings believes the norm-breaking confidence expressed by vegans and vegetarians can also be carried into other areas of their life. This may result in a stronger likelihood to experiment in the bedroom, for example.

Founder of Veggly, Alex Felipelli, shared: “This data is great to see, because it shows how our platform is being used for all sorts of purposes, helping herbivores across the world connect in new ways.”

Veggie dating apps see incredible growth

Veggly, which has exceeded 600,000 global users, predicts its rapid growth will continue as the vegan movement grows.

There are now a range of dating services centered on matching singles who favor plant-based diets.

Online, people can create profiles on Green Singles, Veggie Date, and Veggie Connection to meet like-minded individuals. In the dating app world, Veggly is joined by the likes of Grazer and Vegpal.

The post Vegans Are 69% More Likely To Pursue Open Relationships, New Data Says appeared first on Plant Based News.

As veganism continues to grow, can vegan dating organizations take over the industry for good?

Vegan dating apps

Currently, there are a host of dating services available centered on matching singles who favor meatless diets. Online, people can create profiles and scour the lands of Green Singles, Veggie Date, and Veggie Connection to meet like-minded individuals. In the dating app sphere, there is Grazer, Veggly, and Veg.

Each has a shared aim of connecting vegans and vegetarians and helping them to find their ‘soulmate’. Moreover, Grazer’s slogan promises to be an app ‘for people who want their friends and their lovers to be plant-lovers too’.

And, even aside from vegan-specific dating sites, many other firms have their own sections and filters for vegan dating. Elite Singles is just one example. It states that one of the reasons it recognizes the importance of dietary dating is that eating together is an ‘extremely intimate part of the relationship’.

Moreover, in a study of 237,000 singles, it found that those who listed themselves vegan or vegetarian garnered 73 percent more messages than the average user.

Since the vegan movement witnessed a surge in popularity, particularly over 2020, vegan dating apps noticed a similar boom.

For example, Veggly celebrated over a million matches earlier this year, with more than 300,000 users globally.

Additionally, noteworthy figures from Grazer indicate that 27 percent of vegans have ended relationships because of their partner’s food habits.

So, is it game over for the big names in non-vegan specific dating apps?

Making vegan connections

Online dating has certainly been propelled by the pandemic. And now, more than ever, people are becoming more connected with technology as a means of forming and establishing relationships.

‘It feels like there’s this release happening now after a pretty hard winter’, says Justin McLeod, CEO of Hinge, in an interview with The Guardian. And, after May this year where many COVID-19 restrictions were lifted in the UK, accelerated sign-ups were recorded.

Moreover, romance aside – dating apps provide a chance for people to make new friends. And in the vegan sphere, perhaps it’s easier to find things in common on vegan-specific apps.

In a statement sent to PBN, vegan app Grazer’s Co-Founder Charlotte Elizabeth cited making it easier as one of the company’s aims.

Elizabeth said: “Our vision is to provide a space where the plant-based community can connect freely. We like to think of Grazer as ‘your vegan friend’ introducing you to your local plant-pioneers.”

Aside from shared ethical standpoints and the lifestyle movement of veganism, the app’s mission was born out of isolation and loneliness.

CEO and Founder Lewis Foster adds: “When I first went vegan in 2010, my family didn’t support what I was doing. It became a big talking point for everyone. I felt as though I had to constantly explain and validate my decisions, which quickly left me feeling isolated. 

“Socializing became more difficult and it put a strain on my mental health. I hope Grazer can provide a support network for people experiencing the same.”

This could be why the app is boasting better figures on its BFF friend-finding function than dating giant, Bumble.

According to Grazer, an estimated three percent of Bumble users use the friend feature. Whereas on the vegan platform, 20 percent are on the lookout for plant-based mates.

Is it a dealbreaker?

For some, dating a non-vegan is a dealbreaker. In a Plant Based News poll, half the respondents said they’d date anyone open to veganism. But just over 20 percent said they’d only date other vegans.

Vegan dating

One vegan replied: “Other vegans would be ideal in terms of convenience and sharing that same value but I think it’s a good thing when vegans date non-vegans. Potentially [it] helps open their partner’s eyes and become open to veganism.”

Ultimately, for vegans and non-vegans alike, preference-specific sites and apps offer a chance to find exactly what you’re looking for.

Vegan dating apps are certainly here to stay, and if their success is anything to go by, we could see more cropping up in the future. They’ll have to work hard to replace the household names of Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge – to name just a few. 

But their emerging triumphs are certainly an indicator that shared the strength of the vegan movement in a society where there is so much choice.

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Veggly announced the country now has a staggering 45,633 users. Moreover, there are nearly 700 users per million people.

Vegan dating

Over the past two years, Veggly has grown rapidly. The app allows vegan and vegetarians to ‘match’ and meet.

Now, it boasts over 400,000 global users. In the UK alone, the user base has almost doubled over the past year.

Whilst the US has the most users with over 60,000, its overall higher population made it miss out on the top spot.

According to the data, The Netherlands is close behind the UK with 601 users per million people. Germany came third, Spain fourth, and Australia in at fifth.

Veggly growth

Alex Felipelli is the Founder of Veggly.

Speaking about the findings, he told PBN: “The UK is an excellent hotspot for herbivores looking for romance and new relationships… It’s also great to see lots of new vegan dating communities growing in other countries around the world.

“There has never been a better time to be a vegan looking for love!

“We will build on this success and continue to re-invest in Veggly further. The ultimate goal is to provide the best dating app possible for vegan and vegetarian communities, making sure everyone feels welcome and finds love.

“We will do everything we can to help these hotspots grow all over the world and build new ones by making the Veggly app accessible to everyone.”

New vegan dating app features

Building on recent growth, Veggly is also announcing the launch of a new feature. The teleportation setting allows users to meet more dates, even if they’re far away.

For example, a user in Los Angeles can connect with another in London by changing their location. Initial tests indicate this is a popular option for people visiting different places for trips, Veggly claims.

Moreover, the latest feature is available for free until June 2021.

You can find out more about Veggly here

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The global app, which claims to be the world’s ‘number one’ for vegans, now was 300,000 users.

‘The growth we’ve seen is incredible’

In addition, the company is celebrating over a million Veg-Matches, which is where two users match with each other.

Veggly founder, Alex Felipelli, said: “The growth we’ve seen is incredible! “As veganism continues to surge in popularity across the world, so does the demand for herbivorous dating and relationships.

“So many of us want to be with someone who shares the same values and love for animals, so it’s no surprise we have hit the 300,000 user mark so quickly.”

Veggly predicts over two million matches throughout 2021.

Valentine’s Day

For Valentine’s Day, Veggly is doling out free credits to new and existing users. The Veggly Coins can be used to send a Super Like on the app.

‘Especially as it’s Valentine’s Day, we will do our best to make sure every herbivore on our app finds their Veglentine this year’, Alex added.

Now in 181 countries, the highest amount of Veggly users are in the US, followed by Brazil, Germany, the UK, and Spain.

Vegan dating

Last year, Veggly crowned the UK the ‘best’ in the world for vegan dating.

The vegan dating app also partnered with LoveSeitan offering a discount on products and Veggly coins, in order to boost awareness for the vegan meat alternative.

For more information about Veggly, visit the website.

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What becomes of the broken-hearted?

The heart has long been a symbol of love. But, did you know that men can help avoid, and even heal, a broken heart by eating a healthy plant-based diet?

Men appear to be more susceptible to heart disease than women. Around 2.3 million people in the UK are living with heart disease and over 60 percent of them are men. 

Of course, stopping smoking and taking regular exercise helps but so does changing the diet. Research from Oxford University found that the risk of hospitalization or death from heart disease was a whopping 32 percent lower in people who avoid eating meat and fish. 

A vegan diet can assist weight loss, lower cholesterol and blood pressure, manage or even reverse type 2 diabetes. Moreover, it can ultimately reduce the risk of heart disease – one of the UK’s biggest killers.

Vegan Valentine’s Day Cranberry Chocolate Truffles

What a great way to show somebody you love them this Valentine's Day! Beautiful Chocolate Truffles made with dried fruit and nuts, topped with gorgeous Rose Petals.

Check out this recipe

Acne ruining your Valentine’s date?

If you’ve got a hot (socially distant) date planned, the last thing you want is a spot on the end of your nose. Or, even worse, one in the middle of your forehead, that your facemask can’t hide.

For many of us, acne can not only be a little embarrassing but it can seriously affect our mental health. If you’ve got a date lined up for Valentine’s day, you’ll want to look and feel your best. That’s not going to happen if you’re feeling depressed, anxious and lacking in self-confidence because of your skin.

If you want a clearer complexion, it might be a good idea to ditch dairy. Bodybuilders using steroid hormones or whey-based supplements to stimulate muscle growth are more prone to acne. These hormones increase oil secretion in the skin which can lead to blocked hair follicles and large, pus-filled spots. 

Two-thirds of the cow’s milk you buy is taken from pregnant cows. When hormone levels are sky-high, it follows that avoiding dairy could also help combat acne.

Not only that, but a diet rich in fruit and veg is high in vitamin A, C, and E, along with other vitamins that help your skin stay healthy.

I can tell by the way you smell

The way we smell plays an important role in how attractive we appear to others.

A 2006 study investigated the effect of meat consumption on body odor and attractiveness. The researchers fed men either a meat or meat-free diet for two weeks. Then, it collected samples of their body odor, which were judged for attractiveness by a group of women. 

The men’s diets were then reversed and the same thing was done a month later. In both cases, the women found the body odors of the vegetarians more appealing than the musk of the meat-eaters.

The researchers concluded that ‘red meat consumption has a negative impact on perceived body odor hedonicity’. 

In other words, vegans smell sexier.

Keep up with the latest vegan news…

Will your Valentine’s last all night long?

The idea that men need to eat red meat to perform sexually couldn’t be more wrong. A 2020 survey revealed that vegans/vegetarians have more sex than your average meat-eater, enjoy more foreplay, and are less selfish in the sack.

This could be explained by the cardiovascular and anti-inflammatory benefits of a plant-based diet, giving vegans better endurance and aerobic capacity than those who eat meat. These qualities are very useful in the bedroom. And of course, the compassion of vegans may explain their selflessness.

Foods high in saturated fat and cholesterol (meat, eggs, and dairy products) that clog up the arteries leading to and from the heart can also block the blood flow to other vital organs! Vegan fire-fighter Rip Esselstyn (son of esteemed heart surgeon Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn) says: “The canary in the coal mine when it comes to heart disease is an underperforming penis.”

On the other hand, a diet rich in fruit, vegetables, whole grains, pulses, nuts, and seeds protects against and can even reverse blocked arteries, heart disease, stroke. It can also lower the risk of impotence – which can be an early warning of heart disease.

Always be my baby

Okay, so perhaps not one to worry about on the first few dates. But, if being a parent one day is important to you, you’d be wise to eliminate meat and dairy before they eliminate your chances of having children.

Meat and full-fat dairy foods are linked to fertility problems in men, with those eating the most having fewer and slower sperm. Men who eat the most fruit and vegetables have been found to have higher quality sperm that swim faster.

It follows that, for men wanting to start a family, a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains – which means more antioxidants, vitamins, folic acid, and fiber – may be a good and inexpensive way to improve fertility.

This article has been republished with permission from Viva! You can read the original piece here.

The post Woo Your Partner This Valentine’s: 5 Ways Men Can Boost Their Love Life By Going Vegan appeared first on Plant Based News.

The data comes from a 5,000-person survey conducted by Veggly – a dating app for vegetarians and vegans. 

In particular, it found that vegan men were most likely to notice a difference. 71 percent of vegan men reported a boost in sexual performance, compared to 59 percent of women. 

‘Exciting news for vegans’

Alex Felipelli is the Founder of Veggly. In a statement sent to PBN, he said: “This is exciting news for vegans and anyone considering a switch to a vegan diet! 

“It’s yet another excellent reason for ditching animal products and choosing vegan food at every meal. It’s clear that your diet can impact life in the bedroom!”

‘Vegans make better lovers’

Recently, Baywatch star Pamela Anderson took to Twitter to promote a plant-based diet to aid sexual performance. 

The actor turned activist wrote: “Vegans make better lovers. The cholesterol in meat, eggs, and dairy causes hardening of the arteries (and not much else).

“It slows blood flow to all the body’s organs, not just the heart. You can improve your overall health and increase stamina in the bedroom by going vegan.

“A healthy body is a sexy body, and eating meat ISN’T healthy. It’s been linked to heart disease, diabetes, strokes, and obesity- which are major causes of erectile dysfunction.

“Going vegan can help men of all ages boost their sexual performance and reduce the risk of prostate cancer at the same time.”

The Game Changers

The issue of erectile function was explored in a scene in the popular documentary The Game Changers.

The scene shows urologist Dr. Aaron Spitz, author of The Penis Book, oversee an experiment in which three men wore special devices to monitor penile length and girth overnight, first after eating a meal with meat in it, then after eating a plant-based meal.

The experiment indicated that the men had better duration and rigidity of erections after eating plants.

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Data from dating app IllicitEncounters.com found 57 percent of vegans report having sex four times a week. Only half of the particpants who identified as meat-eaters said they had twice a week. 

A staggering 92 percent of vegans also described their love lives as ‘great’ – with more than half (58 percent) saying they ‘always’ have the energy for sex. 

With meat-eaters, the percentages dropped to 79 and 35 respectively.

‘Vegans are masters of seduction’

Speaking to the Mirror, a spokesperson for Illicit Encounters said: “Vegans are masters of seduction it would appear. Our statistics don’t lie and vegans eat foods known for their aphrodisiac qualities such as ginseng and aniseed.

“But I’ve never heard of a rack of barbecue ribs or a lamb shank turn anyone on.”

‘A game-changer in the bedroom’

Many high-profile celebs such as comedian Dave Hughes have credited a plant-based diet for boosting their sex life.

Speaking on his radio show Hughesy and Ed, the Australian star reportedly said: Being a vegan or plant-based is a game-changer in the bedroom. There we go. I’m claiming it.”

Former mixed martial artist and The Game Changers star James Wilks believes a plant-based diet improved his erectile function.

He made the comments in an interview with LADbible, where he was asked if ‘he had noticed a difference in the downstairs department’ as a result of ditching animal products.

Wilks said: “I do feel like it did improve, erectile function, but I’ve got no evidence – I haven’t measured my erections.”

*The survey involved 1,000 participants. 500 were vegan, and 500 were meat-eaters

The post Vegans Have Twice As Much Sex As Meat-Eaters, Says Survey appeared first on Plant Based News.

The app, which is available in 181 countries, says it has witnessed its growth eightfold in the past 16 months.

It has also seen more than 500,000 ‘Veg Matches’ – where two users match with each other- and predicts to exceed one million Veg Matches by early 2021. 

‘Wonderful news’

Speaking to Plant Based News, Founder of Veggly Alex Felipelli said: “This is wonderful news for all vegans and vegetarians looking for a new relationship!

“We are so pleased to see Veggly users go past the 200,000 mark – it just goes to show how popular veganism and plant-based living is today. It is also great to see so many Veg-Matches; half a million already!

“We are 100 percent dedicated to helping this community grow as much as possible and will do our best to make sure every herbivore on our app finds love.”

Vegan dating

Earlier this year, Veggly crowed the United Kingdom the ‘best country in the world’ for vegan dating. 

The announcement followed new data from the company that showed the U.K had the highest number of users in relation to population. At the time, the U.K had 43,000 ‘Veg-Matches’ – with more than 11,000 users in London alone.

Homophobic comments

A slew of homophobic comments were left under the story when shared on Instagram.

“We’re very disappointed to see homophobic comments criticising the picture of a same-sex couple,” says Veggly.

“We condemn homophobia very strongly. We want our users to be accepted for who they are. Our ultimate goal at Veggly is to help vegans find love and new relationships. It doesn’t matter what your gender identity or sexual orientation is. LOVE IS LOVE.

“Despite the comments, we’re very pleased to see lots of positive responses to the image. We believe and hope that most vegans and vegetarians support the LGBTQIA+ community.”

Since the announcement, Veggly now has 225,000 users around the world.

You can find out more about Veggly here

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The United Kingdom has been crowned the ‘best country in the world’ for vegan dating, Plant Based News can exclusively reveal.

According to new data from vegetarian and vegan dating app Veggly – the U.K. has the highest number of users in relation to population (24,645) and nearly 43,000 ‘Veg-Matches’ so far.

Germany scooped second place, with 17,455 users -while the U.S holds the highest number of users (30,780) but has a much larger population the U.K.

‘A consistent hotspot’

Speaking to Plant Based News, Founder of Veggly Alex Felipelli said: “The U.K. has proven to be a consistent hotspot for vegans and vegetarians looking for love.

“We have over 11,000 users in London alone! Of course, the higher the density of users in one place, the better chance there is for new matches.”

‘Everyone feels welcome’

Felipelli added: “As we continue to grow and invest in Veggly further, we’re looking forward to seeing more hotspots develop all over the world.

“Our goal is to build the best dating app possible for vegan and vegetarian communities, making sure everyone feels welcome. We’ll continue to add regular updates and new features every month, available for all countries.”

Veggly

In the last 10 months, Veggly has skyrocketed fivefold – reaching more than 130,000 global users from countries including Brazil, Canada, and Australia.

It has also translated its app into Spanish, German, Portuguese, French, Italian, Danish and Polish, with aims to add more languages in the future.

You can find out more about Veggly here

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