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A global campaign known as Veganuary asks people to make a New Years pledge to give up all meat, eggs and dairy for the entire month of January.

The movement is the brainchild of British husband and wife team Matthew Glover and Jane Land. Inspired by Movember, a viral campaign that asks men to grow facial hair to raise awareness for mens health issues, the couple said they decided to start something similar last year to encourage people to go vegan.

We wanted to do something organized that would support people in their efforts to go vegan and give them information they needed to do it, Glover said.

Veganism is one of the strictest forms of vegetarianism. The practice does not allow for eating any food of animal origin including fish, eggs, milk, honey or animal gelatin. Leather, wool, fur, and silk are also off limits, as are any soaps, cosmetics, toiletries and household goods derived from animal products.

Glover said there are lots of reasons someone might want to go vegan. He and Land decided to do it after watching a PETA video on the mistreatment of cows and chickens.

woodstocksanctuary.org

PHOTO: Lennon the Turkey and Antonio the pig exchange viewpoints at the Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary in Woodstock, New York.

Veganism is also better for the planet, Glover asserted. Research shows vegans have a carbon footprint that is less than one-third of someone who eats the average American diet, he added.

And then there is the weight-loss aspect. Research shows that people who eat vegan tend to weigh less on average.

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How Veganuary Can Help You Go Vegan for a Full Month