Why Veganism?

Veganism seems to be increasing in popularity recently, and for a good reason. You might think about why and what would compel someone to make this switch. There are many reasons an individual would want to make such a significant change to their lifestyle. One of those reasons, and the most popular, is that people would rather not have a hand in exploiting animals. The belief is that animals are sentient beings (able to perceive or feel things) and deserve to live just as much as any other animal. Some also switch to veganism because it lowers their impact on the environment. It has been shown through research that going vegan is one of the single best ways to help improve your impact on the climate Vegan Lifestyle: Eating For The Environment. The health aspect of veganism tends to be a valid reason, but it would be worth noting that veganism has positively impacted your health. It would be wise to adopt a whole food plant-based lifestyle. When we say whole food, it means food from the original sources or minimally processed.

Animal welfare has been one of the most talked about issues among the vegan community for years because of how detrimental eating meat has to the well-being of animals and our bodies. However, according to research, veganism has been shown to improve health. Including lowering the risk of type 2 diabetes and types of cancers (Vegan Lifestyle Health Benefits). Adding to that, when we look at the dairy and meat industry, there are some fascinating facts. The mass of animals raised for slaughter now outweighs wildlife by a factor of 15 to 1 ((Dunne et al., 2020)—examining the environment and the specific relation between the dairy and meat industry and carbon emissions. Meat and dairy account explicitly for around 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to the UN’s Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) (Dunne et al., 2020). You could look at those numbers and ask why that matters; it matters because all these animals must have places to live. Farms, where a large portion of these animals will eat and sleep, but farms need land. They need much land, and the land is cleared for animal agriculture contributes to deforestation, destroying local wildlife habitats, which pushes these animals to new places.

Sometimes right in areas where humans live. It disrupts the natural balance of nature, predator, and prey. When prey lose their homes and their ability to find food, they cannot survive. Deforestation causes a chain reaction; natural predators also lose their ability to find suitable food sources. This forces animals to move further into other territories, often coming into close contact with people. 

It is not about what benefits you, but about what benefits everyone and everything. We must do what we can now so that our children and their children can enjoy what this earth has to offer for many years. Unfortunately, there is still much resistance to veganism; our job is to educate and encourage people to make the best choices. If you are struggling with getting started with a vegan lifestyle, there are many resources to help you. Reach out to someone you know personally and ask them for advice, and please make sure to donate to your local sanctuaries and support your local vegan businesses whenever possible.

References:

Dunne, D. (2020, September 14). Interactive: What is the climate impact of eating meat and dairy? Carbon Brief. Retrieved August 24, 2022, from https://interactive.carbonbrief.org/what-is-the-climate-impact-of-eating-meat-and-dairy/

Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. (n.d.). A vegan diet: Eating for the environment. A Vegan Diet: Eating for the Environment. Retrieved August 24, 2022, from https://www.pcrm.org/good-nutrition/vegan-diet-environment#:~:text=The%20report%20states%20that%20projections,%25%2C%20respectively%2C%20by%202050.

Smith, J. (2020, April 27). Vegan diet: Health benefits, foods, and tips. Medical News Today. Retrieved August 24, 2022, from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/149636#_noHeaderPrefixedContent