Why Vegan
People transition to a vegan diet for a variety of environmental/health/ethical reasons, and each reason is as unique as the individual. Here are some quick facts about why a vegan diet and lifestyle is beneficial:
Environment:
Did you know it takes 1,797 gallons of water to produce a single pound of steak, but only 21 gallons for a salad containing lettuce, tomato, and cucumbers, or 302 pounds of water for a pound of tofu (waterfootprint.org)? The cost of raising animals for food includes calculating the water it takes to grow the food to feed the animal, the water they drink, and the water it takes to process the meat to be sold and consumed.
I went vegan on September 2, 2019, after watching the documentary Cowspiracy, which went in depth into the devastating ecological effects of factory farming/animal agriculture.
Factory Farming Awareness Coalition
Health:
More than environmental impact, studies are showing that a plant-based diet can help maintain a healthy heart and vascular system, increase blood sugar control, and assist with blood pressure control.
The standard American diet features a lot of chicken, beef, pork, and cheese, in various combinations. A whole-food, plant-based vegan diet contains a wide variety of dozens to hundreds of different kinds of plants, each offering a variety of nutrients.
Ethical:
Personally, I became a vegetarian when I came to the realization that sentient beings do not deserve to spend their entire existence preparing to be a meal for me, especially when there are so many readily available vegan alternatives. I was vegetarian for about a year before making the transition to full vegan.
The ethical standard for me also influences my non-food purchases, including clothing, accessories, décor, and luggage (I’m sure I’m forgetting some things). Thankfully, vegan leather is becoming more popular thanks to the demand. There are now shoes, bags, and more made out of everything from polyester to apple peels.
Environment
Health
Ethical
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