Supporters of veganism claim it is the healthiest diet. It is stricter than vegetarianism and excludes all animal products. Veganism has been growing in popularity among Hollywood stars and we can see more and more stars adopting the plant-based and animal-free diet. Here are some of the most famous vegans.

Natalie Portman

 

 

 

 

 

Long-time vegetarian Natalie Portman went vegan in 2009 after reading Jonathan Safran Foer’s Eating Animals. She even went on to blog about it on The Huffington Post. “The human cost of factory farming — both the compromised welfare of slaughterhouse workers and, even more, the environmental effects of the mass production of animals — is staggering,” she wrote. The actress reverted to vegetarianism during her 2011 pregnancy, US Weekly reports, citing that her body was craving foods made with eggs and cheese. Post-pregnancy, Portman readopted the animal-free lifestyle. Her 2012 wedding was actually catered with an all-vegan menu.

Casey Affleck

 

 

 

 

 

Casey is yet another world renowned celebrity advocating for animal rights and is living a cruel-free life by being a full on vegan. Casey has participated in many PSAs attacking the meat industry.

Carrie Underwood

 

 

 

 

 

Growing up on a farm, Carrie Underwood says she became a vegetarian at age 13 after witnessing animal killings first-hand. She jumped to being a vegan in 2011. It’s not a completely strict meatless and dairy-free diet for this country star, though. “I am a vegan but I consider myself to be a practical vegan,” she told Entertainment Wise. “If I order something on a menu and it has a sprinkling of cheese on top I’m not going to send it back.”

Jennifer Lopez

 

 

 

 

 

Jennifer Lopez has recently gone vegan – and admits it has given her loads of energy: “Being vegan, it’s basically no dairy, no meat, everything is just plant based and just from the ground…I love that I’m eating more greens. It makes you feel so much better.” J-Lo said she’d recommend it, but she really misses butter: “Butter is the one thing I miss! Butter makes everything taste better.”

Russell Brand

 

 

 

 

 

Russell Brand says that after watching the documentary, Forks Over Knives, he converted from vegetarian to vegan in 2011. He has also been named one of PETA’s Sexiest Vegetarian Celebrities.

Lea Michele

 

 

 

 

 

The Glee star turned vegan for the health benefits as well as animal rights reasons. “It’s about being good to your body and the planet. I’m a foodie, but I think it’s much more fun to find things on the menu that are good for me,” she said. Lea was honored by PETA in 2010 for her charity work with animals.

Joaquin Phoenix

 

 

 

 

 

Joaquin has been vegan since he was three years old. “I was 3 years old. To this day it is a vivid memory,” Phoenix told the New York Daily News. “My family and I were on a boat, catching fish … The animal went from a living, vibrant creature fighting for life to a violent death. I recognized it, as did my brothers and sisters.”

Ellen DeGeneres

 

 

 

 

 

DeGeneres switched to a vegan diet in 2008 after reading several books on animal rights and diets. “I do it because I love animals,” she told Katie Couric. “And I saw the reality and I just couldn’t ignore it anymore.” DeGeneres’ wife, Portia de Rossi, shares the same diet, and their 2008 wedding featured a vegan menu.

Alicia Silverstone

 

 

 

 

 

Alicia Silverstone may be one of the first famous Hollywood vegans, going vegan more than 15 years ago. She remarked, “Once I went vegan, I lost the weight I wanted to lose, my nails were stronger, and my skin was glowing. I feel great and I look better now than I did years ago.”

Woody Harrelson

 

 

 

 

 

The Hunger Games star is not only a vegan, but also an advocate of the raw food diet. Raw foodists believe in eating fruit, veg and nuts in its most natural form to get the maximum amount of nutrients out of them.