How would one define veganism? In layman's term, veganism is not consuming anything that comes from animals. However in a more sophisticated way, veganism is defined as a way of living that attempts to exclude all forms of animal exploitation and cruelty.
Here are five good reasons why YOU SHOULD go vegan:
1. One of the most prominent reasons people go vegan are for ethics. Animals deserve a dignified life. They’re intelligent, gentle creatures and inflicting pain and causing suffering to animals is neither right nor fair. It's simply not civil to forcefully place animals in non ideal situations. Each meat eater is responsible for the suffering and death of 300 animals a year. These animals go through immense trauma and pain.
2. The next factor is the environmental reasons, it is scientifically proven that a vegan diet has the lowest carbon footprint at only 1.5 tons carbon dioxide equivalent . Researchers with Loma Linda University found that vegans generate 41.7 percent smaller volume of greenhouse gases than meat-eaters do. The impact of animal farming on greenhouse gas emissions goes a lot further than just cows producing methane gas, fossil fuels are also burnt in the raising, slaughtering and transportation of animals.
3. Being a vegan also helps in preserving species and reducing habitat destruction, large amounts of land have to be cleared for livestock which leads to ecosystem extinction. Livestock erode and weaken soil as well and so the more livestock the world replaces with plants, the better it is for the environment Raising a diversity of plants nourishes soil .
4. Being a vegan also has its health benefits, all the nutrients you need, and more can be provided by a vegan diet. A vegan diet can be good for personal health in many ways, like promoting weight loss, reducing risk of heart disease by lowering cholesterol levels, lower blood sugar levels and more. A popular opinion is that vegans aren't as fit as non vegans, however this isn't true, for example Scott Jurek, an ultramarathoner, is a vegan. What about world famous vegan tennis player Venus Williams.
5. Many think that there isn't a lot of variety when it comes to plant based food, however there are around 3000 species of plants worldwide and there are plenty of vegan substitute for foods like chicken that are made with artificial meat. This can be healthier than regular meat because it can be engineered to have more proteins and vitamins.
I know going vegan may seem hard, impossible for some even, but this is if not the best one of the best things you can do to leave less of a carbon footprint. Even starting slow, one week per month and slowly getting used to a vegan diet has an impact on the earth for a cleaner environment.