Whenever I tell people I'm vegan, it usually elicits one of two responses: curiosity or defensiveness. When people show curiosity at my eating and life habits, I take this opportunity to inform them about veganism and all it stands for. I absolutely love sharing what this lifestyle has to offer, not only for people's health, but also for the environment and the animals of this world! Receiving questions about my lifestyle never gets old!
Defensiveness, on the other hand, can be quite hard to handle! During those moments when I feel my beliefs are being attacked, I remember that, in order to effectively convey my views, I must communicate compassion, understanding, and love. Anger is not an effective form of advocacy for veganism!
My goal in telling people about veganism is to warm them up to a new way of thinking, and ultimately transcend ignorance. I believe there is much to be said about leaving no stone unturned and making a conscious decision to understand how we, as consumers and people, impact the world. With that being said, here are three amazingly awesome reasons to go (and stay) vegan!
1. Your Health
My health was a strong driving force in my choice to become vegan. From a young age I have always been interested in health and food. Until recently, though, I never gave too much thought about where my food came from.
When deciding to go vegan, it is important to do research on what types of nutrients are more abundant than others in what become vegan staple foods. As with any diet, there is a learning curve and it is important to know how much food your body requires to function and what types of nutrients your body needs to be healthy. It is extremely important to be aware of the less abundant nutrients found in a vegan diet, such as iron, vitamin D, omega-3s, and B12*.
It is a common misconception that veganism is limiting in the foods that it offers. However, I try more new foods now than I ever did before! I eat a variety of fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, grains, legumes, non-dairy milks, spices, and more. And yes, vegans can still eat junk food like chocolate and cake and cookies and brownies (but don't go too crazy on these--moderation is still key here). There is literally a vegan substitute for everything these days.
Another common misconception is that animal products are necessary for human survival. While some nutrients are better absorbed and more abundant in certain animal products, a well-planned out vegan diet can provide the same nutrients as a diet that includes animal products, without the unnecessary suffering and death of sentient beings. In my personal experience, it has been much easier to be healthy as a vegan as I, by default, eat more fruits, vegetables, and other whole foods than I ever have in my life.
*B12 can only be found in animals products, so vegans need to take supplements or foods fortified with B12.
2. The Environment
Concern for the environment is one of the reasons people choose to go vegan, and for a very justified reason: the number of livestock we breed has led to unbelievable environmental damage. One issue is that livestock, particularly cows, are contributing to climate change because they produce methane. In fact, the CO2 produced by cattle accounts for 12 percent of the total greenhouse gas emissions in the Agriculture sector in the United States.
What may be an even bigger issue with raising livestock is that large corporations often fail to protect the environment around these factory farms. Contaminants leak into the surrounding area, as shown in the following video about a Smithfield Foods factory farm:
3. The Animals
The picturesque facade of small, family-owned farms and animals that are treated with respect and care began to diminish when I did just a little bit of research. After viewing a documentary called "Food, Inc.," which focused on our industrialized food system and the large corporations that run it, I began to feel pulled in the direction of veganism. Never in my life, until then, had I done extensive research about animal cruelty and the pain, suffering, and exploitation associated with the food on my plate. One documentary that impacted me and helped to solidify my veganism is "Earthlings." This documentary is very graphic and reveals animal cruelty in many ways.
What was most shocking in my research is the existence of factory farming, which is the mass production of livestock for the sole purpose of consumption, without regard to animal welfare. Although we want to believe that laws and regulations ensure ethical treatment toward animals, this is simply not the case. No laws actually protect the majority of farm animals, and the ones that do are filled with exclusions. Factory farming is not a unique practice, either; over 99 percent of farm animals in the United States live their lives in factory farms.
The big question that I want to bring to light is why? Why should we care about our health? Why should we care about our environment and the animals? After all, we all have the free will to make a choice that we believe is best at the end of the day, right? Right, but we also have the ability to make an ethical choice, and to change the world with our actions. I challenge you to be introspective and to explore your lifestyle. You may be surprised what you find!
