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Your gut is not just yours - it's home to trillions of bacteria. How you treat them matters.<a data-mce-href="https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(24)01477-6" href="https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(24)01477-6" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New research</a> is clear: the more plants you eat, the healthier your gut microbiome. What your gut bacteria crave is fibre-rich, whole plant foods. Think broccoli, lentils, nuts, pulses, and fruits - foods loaded with fibre, complex carbohydrates, and beneficial compounds that feed your microbial community, protecting you from chronic diseases like inflammation, heart disease, and colorectal cancer.Scientists from Italy <a data-mce-href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41564-024-01870-z" href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41564-024-01870-z" target="_blank" rel="noopener">studied</a> nearly 22,000 people and found clear microbial signatures distinguishing vegans, vegetarians, and omnivores. While omnivore microbiomes showed bacteria linked to inflammation and disease - thanks, animal eating - vegans and vegetarians cultivated gut bacteria associated with healthier cardiometabolic systems and beneficial fatty acid production. But here's the catch: simply dropping meat isn’t enough. A diverse range of quality plant foods is essential. It’s not just what you avoid, it’s what you embrace.Diversity isn’t automatically beneficial if the bacteria themselves aren’t. A diverse microbiome filled with harmful bacteria helps no one. So, the focus isn't just on diversity - it's about cultivating the right bacteria through nutrient-rich plant foods. Why are plants so powerful?1. Fibre is your microbiome’s fuel. Animal flesh and ovulations have zero fibre. Plants - particularly prebiotic fibres from garlic, onions, beans, and chicory - feed beneficial gut bacteria, producing short-chain fatty acids that fight inflammation and maintain your gut barrier.2. Complex carbohydrates matter. Sweet potatoes, bananas, and other plant foods contain resistant starches fermented by gut bacteria, which produce protective compounds essential for gut health and cancer prevention. Skipping complex carbs or relying on simple carbs harms your gut, creating damaging by-products.3. Plant diversity boosts microbial diversity. Gut health expert <a data-mce-href="https://zoe.com/learn/30-plants-per-week" href="https://zoe.com/learn/30-plants-per-week" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tim Spector</a> advises eating 30 different plant foods a week to foster a rich microbial environment. More variety equals more protection.4. Plants encourage beneficial bacteria. Polyphenols - bioactive compounds found abundantly in plants - promote beneficial microbes with anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting effects. Eating plants of different colours means more polyphenols and better gut protection.5. Industrialised diets damage your gut. A non-industrialized diet trialled in Ireland (the <a data-mce-href="https://theconversation.com/why-we-should-all-try-to-eat-like-people-in-rural-papua-new-guinea-new-study-248064" href="https://theconversation.com/why-we-should-all-try-to-eat-like-people-in-rural-papua-new-guinea-new-study-248064" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NiMe</a> diet), based on rural Papua New Guinea eating patterns - high plants, low meat, no processed foods - reduced cholesterol by 17%, blood sugar by 6%, and inflammation markers significantly, all in just three weeks. Participants even lost weight without cutting calories. The benefits aren’t just personal. Adopting plant-rich meals in schools and hospitals could save the NHS nearly <a data-mce-href="https://feedbackglobal.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Feedback-2024-Serving-Up-public-procurement-briefing.pdf" href="https://feedbackglobal.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Feedback-2024-Serving-Up-public-procurement-briefing.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">£55 million</a> annually in procurement costs alone - money better spent supporting British crop farmers and healthier children.The outdated School Food Standards still mandate meat multiple times a week, limiting healthier options. Experts argue it’s time for change, calling for plant-based meals to become standard practice in schools and hospitals. This isn't just about saving money - it's about investing in health, sustainability, and future generations.Bottom line: your gut microbiome thrives on plants, and so do your health and the planet. Embrace plants, feed your microbes, and demand better from institutions serving our communities. It’s not complicated - it’s common sense. Read more: <a data-mce-href="https://ko-fi.com/post/Plantbased-Diets-Key-to-Weight-Loss-and-Longevity-D1D11BXRL3" href="https://ko-fi.com/post/Plantbased-Diets-Key-to-Weight-Loss-and-Longevity-D1D11BXRL3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Plantbased Diets Key to Weight Loss and Longevity</a>

Feed Your Microbiome

Bird flu has now infected sheep for the first time. In Yorkshire, UK, a sheep has been killed after testing positive for the H5N1 virus - a virus once confined mainly to birds.<a data-mce-href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/influenza-of-avian-origin-confirmed-in-a-sheep-in-yorkshire" href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/influenza-of-avian-origin-confirmed-in-a-sheep-in-yorkshire" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Defra confirmed</a> the infection was identified through repeated positive tests of the sheep's milk. This sheep lived at a site previously affected by bird flu among captive birds. Due to bird flu <a data-mce-href="https://ko-fi.com/post/Bird-Flu-Confirmed-In-Nevada-P5P81AG1BS" href="https://ko-fi.com/post/Bird-Flu-Confirmed-In-Nevada-P5P81AG1BS" target="_blank" rel="noopener">spreading to dairy cows</a> in the US, UK authorities have increased monitoring of farmed animals. No other sheep in the flock tested positive, but biosecurity measures are now in place.The growing list of infected species highlights a serious issue. Recent outbreaks among dairy cows in the US alarmed experts because cows were thought unlikely to catch bird flu.While human risk remains "very low," according to UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), authorities still caution the public against touching sick or dead birds. Multiple farm workers globally have contracted bird flu, including one in the UK this past January.At least one recent infection - of a teenager in Canada - occurred without direct contact with farm animals, further raising concerns about bird flu's potential reach and unpredictability.As bird flu continues spreading, it underscores yet another reason animal agriculture poses serious risks - not just for the animals exploited, but for public health as well. Read more: <a data-mce-href="https://ko-fi.com/post/Feeding-Cats-Raw-Meat-You-Might-Be-Feeding-Them-B-W7W01BKDWN" href="https://ko-fi.com/post/Feeding-Cats-Raw-Meat-You-Might-Be-Feeding-Them-B-W7W01BKDWN" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-mce-selected="inline-boundary">Feeding Cats Raw Meat? You Might Be Feeding Them Bird Flu</a>

Bird Flu Infects Sheep: Another Animal Agriculture Disaster

Marineland, Canada’s notorious marine park, is scrambling to offload its captive whales and dolphins - because that’s what you do when your business model relies on treating sentient beings like assets. The park is looking for a buyer, but first, it needs to make sure the marine animals are “removed expeditiously.” Translation: they need to get rid of them fast.&nbsp;&nbsp;There are still 31 belugas trapped in Marineland, making it the largest captive beluga population in the world. Since 2019, more than 20 whales and dolphins have died at the facility, including five belugas last year alone. And the clock is ticking - last month, the park secured a mortgage deal that forces them to move the animals ASAP.&nbsp;&nbsp;While the public has been demanding freedom for these whales and dolphins for years, the fear now is that Marineland’s version of “freedom” means selling them off to yet another entertainment prison. Activists warn they could be shipped overseas, possibly to facilities in China, where welfare laws are even weaker.&nbsp;&nbsp;Lori Marino, president of the Whale Sanctuary Project, pointed out that their Nova Scotia-based sanctuary is nearly ready, but whether Marineland will wait is another story. “We are ready to work with all parties towards providing a better future,” she said. But when has Marineland ever done what’s best for the animals?&nbsp;&nbsp;Meanwhile, Melissa Matlow from World Animal Protection isn’t holding her breath. She warns that Ontario is the “weakest jurisdiction” in enforcing animal protection laws, meaning Marineland could sell these whales under the guise of conservation - a convenient loophole.&nbsp;&nbsp;Marineland’s future is crumbling under public pressure, new laws, and sheer economics. But for the whales and dolphins still trapped inside, the question remains: will they finally find sanctuary, or just another cage? First reported by <a data-mce-href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/mar/20/canadas-marineland-to-rehome-its-whales-and-dolphins-as-it-seeks-a-buyer" href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/mar/20/canadas-marineland-to-rehome-its-whales-and-dolphins-as-it-seeks-a-buyer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Guardian</a>&nbsp;

Marineland’s Captive Whale Sell-Off

Evolution isn’t just about biology - it’s about mindsets. It’s about recognising the mechanisms that drive change, discarding outdated ideas, and adapting to a world that no longer accepts injustice as the status quo. When we look at animal rights, we see a movement that is part of this evolutionary process: a rejection of old beliefs that animals are commodities, resources, or mere tools for human use.So how did we get here? And why are so many still clinging to the past?&nbsp;&nbsp; Survival of the Most ConvenientEvolution tells us how life diversified, how species adapted to their environments, and how selection pressures determined which traits were passed on. For millenia, animals have fought to survive - not just against the forces of nature, but against the human species that systematically exploits them.The concept of “survival of the fittest” has been twisted to justify this exploitation. The phrase was never about who can dominate others - it was about who can adapt. And right now, adaptation means recognising that the use of animals as property is a relic of the past. Societies evolve when they reject oppression, and the animal rights movement is a sign of that progress.&nbsp;&nbsp; Speciesism: The Mutation That StuckEvery ideology has its weak links. In the case of human supremacy, that weak link is speciesism - the belief that non-human animals are inferior and exist to serve human interests. This idea is so deeply ingrained that most people never question it. They see a pig and a dog and instinctively assign them different moral values, despite knowing both feel pain, form relationships, and want to live.Why? Because speciesism, like a harmful genetic mutation, has been passed down for generations. It’s been reinforced by culture, institutions, and profit-driven industries that thrive on keeping the public disconnected from reality.But here’s the truth: if an individual can suffer, they deserve to be free from harm. Full stop. No justifications, no loopholes, no exceptions for traditions, taste, or convenience.&nbsp;&nbsp; Selection in Action: Who Thrives in the Future?In evolution, those who fail to adapt don’t survive. The same applies to industries built on exploitation.As the demand for animal-free food, fashion, and entertainment grows, businesses that refuse to evolve are struggling. Fur farms are shutting down. Dairy consumption is declining. More people are questioning why animals are still locked in laboratories. This shift isn’t happening by accident - it’s the result of a movement that refuses to be silent.&nbsp;The people rejecting animal use aren’t the ones struggling to justify themselves. The ones clinging to the past are. They’re the ones frantically slapping labels like “humane” and “ethical” on the same systems of breeding, confinement, and slaughter. They’re the ones insisting that oppression is a personal choice.But justice isn’t a preference. It’s a principle.&nbsp;&nbsp; The Role of Random MutationIn evolution, mutations introduce variation. Some of these mutations lead to survival advantages. Others fade into irrelevance.Right now, the world is mutating. People are questioning traditions that once seemed unshakable. They’re rejecting the propaganda that tells them animals are here for us, rather than with us. They’re challenging the laws that protect exploiters instead of the exploited.This is how change happens - not overnight, but through relentless pressure. Through individuals who refuse to accept the status quo. Through those who see injustice and say: not anymore. The Future of Animal Rights: Natural Selection at WorkIf evolution has taught us anything, it’s that change is inevitable. The question isn’t if the world will move beyond using animals - it’s how quickly.&nbsp;Some people will cling to outdated ideas, just like those who once fought against human rights movements. But ultimately, justifications for animal use will go extinct. Not because it’s trendy, not because it’s a “lifestyle,” but because justice always wins in the end.And when that happens, future generations will look back at this era of slaughterhouses, factory farms, and animal testing with the same horror we feel when we read about past atrocities.&nbsp;&nbsp;Because the truth is simple: evolution is unstoppable.&nbsp;

The Evolution of Animal Rights: Rejecting Supremacism

Swapping animal products for plant-based alternatives - even processed ones - can help you shed pounds and significantly boost your overall health, according to recent groundbreaking studies.A major new <a data-mce-href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12986-025-00912-5" href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12986-025-00912-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">study</a> published in Nutrition &amp; Metabolism found that participants who ditched animal products for plant-based foods - whether unprocessed, like fresh veggies, or ultra-processed, like veggie burgers and soy yogurt - lost an average of 13 pounds over just 16 weeks. Researchers from the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) noted that even canned beans and cereals, often dismissed as too processed, positively impacted weight and metabolism.Reduced consumption of animal products, especially processed meats like sausage, cheese, and fried chicken, emerged as the strongest predictor of weight loss due to lower calorie and fat intake and higher fiber consumption.But it’s not just about slimming down - it's about survival. Another extensive <a data-mce-href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2773291" href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2773291" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-mce-selected="inline-boundary">study</a> in JAMA Internal Medicine, spanning 33 years and over 220,000 adults, revealed that replacing just one tablespoon of butter with plant-based oils such as olive, canola, or soybean oil, lowered premature death risk by an impressive 17%. High butter consumption was specifically linked to a 15% higher risk of death, notably increasing cancer risk by 12% with every extra tablespoon daily.These studies dismantle myths pushed by proponents of animal fats, who often suggest butter or tallow are healthier choices. Contrary to their claims, comprehensive research consistently demonstrates plant-based fats significantly decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and even cancer.The evidence is clear: replacing animal-derived foods and fats with plants - no matter how processed - isn't just effective for weight loss; it's essential for a healthier, longer life.

Plantbased Diets Key to Weight Loss and Longevity

The UK public is drowning in marketing myths about the animal farming industry. A new <a data-mce-href="https://animallawfoundation.org/reports" href="https://animallawfoundation.org/reports" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a> from The Animal Law Foundation reveals that Brits are being systematically misled about what’s really happening to animals used for food.From supermarket shelves to TV ads, the industry paints a picture of rolling pastures, happy cows, and chickens roaming free. The reality? Around 85% of farmed animals in the UK are raised in factory farms.&nbsp;&nbsp; The Industry’s Misinformation MachineThe <a data-mce-href="https://animallawfoundation.org/reports" href="https://animallawfoundation.org/reports" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a>, Food Chain Misinformation, analysed websites, ads, and packaging from 47 major producers and processors of dairy, eggs, and meat. The findings? A deliberate effort to hide the truth.- 84% of producers using images of animals showed them outdoors, even though most never see daylight.&nbsp;&nbsp;- Nearly 30% used carefully cropped or blurred images to create an illusion of spacious conditions.&nbsp;&nbsp;- Supermarket websites are no better – almost 67% show animals with farmers in idyllic settings.&nbsp;&nbsp;The <a data-mce-href="https://www.landofhopeandglory.org/" href="https://www.landofhopeandglory.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reality</a> of UK animal farming is anything but picturesque. Yet, the industry relies on humane-washing - a marketing strategy designed to ease consumer guilt while keeping them in the dark.&nbsp;&nbsp; Loosening Laws, Tightening DeceptionA crackdown on misleading marketing should be coming. The Digital Markets, Competition, and Consumers Act 2024 will take effect in April 2025, prohibiting deceptive advertising. But at the same time, the UK government is making it easier for producers to mislead consumers:- Dairy pooling means milk from multiple farms is mixed, making it nearly impossible to know whether a cow ever grazed outdoors (unless it’s organic).&nbsp;&nbsp;- <a data-mce-href="https://ko-fi.com/post/Hens-Trapped-Indoors-But-Still-Sold-as-Free-Rang-Y8Y31BIA7T" href="https://ko-fi.com/post/Hens-Trapped-Indoors-But-Still-Sold-as-Free-Rang-Y8Y31BIA7T" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Changes</a> to free-range egg laws mean a hen can now spend her entire life indoors – and still be sold as free-range.&nbsp;&nbsp;The message from regulators is clear: misleading consumers about the treatment of animals is a problem - unless it’s done by the animal industry.&nbsp;&nbsp; Brits Don’t Know the Basics About DairyThe misinformation campaign is working. A YouGov <a data-mce-href="https://ygo-assets-websites-editorial-emea.yougov.net/documents/Copy_of_Results_for_Animal_Justice_Project_Animal_Justice_44_27.1.2025.pdf" href="https://ygo-assets-websites-editorial-emea.yougov.net/documents/Copy_of_Results_for_Animal_Justice_Project_Animal_Justice_44_27.1.2025.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">survey</a> commissioned by <a data-mce-href="https://www.animaljusticeproject.com/" href="https://www.animaljusticeproject.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Animal Justice Project</a> (AJP) found that:- 52% of Brits don’t know cows must be impregnated every year to produce milk.&nbsp;&nbsp;- 83% don’t know that calves are routinely taken from their mothers within 24 hours of birth.- Only 17% believe dairy companies provide enough transparency about their practices.The dairy industry has spent decades hiding its core reality: cows don’t just magically produce milk. Like all mammals, they lactate for their babies. But those babies are taken from them - so humans can drink what was never meant for them.&nbsp;&nbsp; A Mother’s Worst NightmareThe life of a dairy cow is a cycle of forced pregnancies, stolen babies, and eventual slaughter:1. At around 15 months old, she is forcibly impregnated through artificial insemination.&nbsp;&nbsp;2. After giving birth, her calf is taken within hours. She will call for her baby for days.&nbsp;&nbsp;3. If her baby is female, she’ll be put in a cage and raised for dairy.4. If male, he’ll be killed for veal or cheap beef.5. She is milked until her body gives out, then impregnated again.&nbsp;&nbsp;6. After about five years, she is considered "spent" and sent to slaughter - though cows can naturally live 20-30 years.Supermarkets and advertisers will never tell you this. Instead, they show happy looking cows, clean barns, and farmers who “care” - all while profiting from a hidden industry of exploitation.&nbsp;&nbsp; The ‘Idyllic’ Farmyard MythWalk into any M&amp;S Food store, and you'll see posters of chickens in bright, open spaces on their packaging. In reality? The majority of chickens raised for meat or eggs spend their entire lives in crowded, filthy sheds, where they are selectively bred to grow unnaturally fast. Many collapse under their own weight before they are killed.And yet, these companies get away with selling an illusion.Regulators are starting to take greenwashing (misleading environmental claims) seriously. But when it comes to humane-washing, there’s silence. The truth isn’t good for business.&nbsp;&nbsp; Why This MattersEvery time a consumer picks up a carton of milk, a pack of eggs, or a piece of flesh, they’re making a choice - but not an informed one. Decades of marketing have manipulated public perception, making people believe that:- Dairy cows happily provide milk for human use.&nbsp;&nbsp;- Hens lay eggs with no consequence to their wellbeing.&nbsp;&nbsp;- Flesh comes from well-cared-for animals who lived good lives.All of these are lies.&nbsp;&nbsp; What Needs to Change?The solution isn’t just about clearer labelling or tighter advertising rules - it’s about rejecting the industry’s entire system of deception. As long as animals are seen as commodities, companies will continue to prioritise profit over truth.The question isn’t whether people deserve to know the truth. The real question is: if they knew, would they still support it?<a data-mce-href="https://ko-fi.com/post/96-of-Brits-Oppose-Common-Animal-Farming-Practice-W7W61AGPCY" href="https://ko-fi.com/post/96-of-Brits-Oppose-Common-Animal-Farming-Practice-W7W61AGPCY" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-mce-selected="inline-boundary">No</a> 👈

Herbivore Club

ARTICLES

Feed Your Microbiome

Bird Flu Infects Sheep: Another Animal Agriculture Disaster

Marineland’s Captive Whale Sell-Off

The Evolution of Animal Rights: Rejecting Supremacism

Plantbased Diets Key to Weight Loss and Longevity

The Meat and Dairy Industry Is Lying to You