I’m a proud vegan and I love it. No doubt about it. I’m healthy and happy and will never look back. No matter how many times I get the “don’t you miss ribs,” or “do you literally just eat grass,” or “but cheese is so good, I couldn’t live without it,” I just know in my heart this is such a wonderful lifestyle that I will cherish for the rest of my life.
So what is veganism?
“Veganism is a way of living which seeks to exclude, as far as is possible and practical, all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose.” - The Vegan Society
Veganism often starts off as a way of eating for most, and stumbles into changes in clothing choices, makeup and beauty product usage, and use of any other products that should be considered. I will mainly be discussing the vegan diet here.
Despite what you think right now, veganism is easy, cheap, and has never been more accessible than in this day and age. With all of the focus on health foods and exercising, it's one of the easiest changes you could make in your life. This lifestyle is for everyone. In this article I will be debunking some of the big excuses I get from people, the information I always respond with to these statements, and providing all of the resources I’ve utilized to educate myself on veganism thus far. Educate yourself and find eternal health with this article for the sake of your physical health, the animals and environment, and living a more compassionate lifestyle. At least take a look at the resources at the bottom of this article and do some research for yourself.
What are some of the excuses I get to not go vegan?
1. It’s tradition of the human race to consume meat and dairy products.
When has tradition ever been the correct answer 100 percent of the time? Maybe it’s tradition for you to carry on with the family business. That doesn’t mean it’s the right thing for you.
The human race cannot kill animals by hand. We cannot digest raw meat without getting sick most times; the meat must be cooked. The ability to catch, kill and cook animal products came over time with man-made developments such as weapons and discovering fire. The human race has always been able to eat plant foods.
2. Vegans don’t get enough vitamins or nutrients.
This claim gets to me a little sometimes. When I think of a lifestyle based on vegetables, grains, lentils and anything plant-based, I see color, nutrition and vitality. Any plant-based diet, if done the proper way by eating a wide range of nutritious foods, will do nothing but help your health soar to its fullest potential. There’s a reason (or hundreds of them) why veganism is referred to as the silent healer. A vegan eating a wide range of foods, as most do, gets more vitamins and minerals than any omnivore does. When eating a plant-based diet, the foods are less calorie-dense, meaning to fulfill, for example, a 2,000 calorie goal, one needs to eat larger quantities of plant foods to get there as opposed to a meat and dairy filled diet, which would take much less food to do with much less vitamins and minerals in the mix. Eating 2,000 calories worth of plant foods will fill your body with all the vitamins and minerals your body needs to thrive, while filling it with meat and dairy based foods and some fruits and veggies here and there will leave you lacking.
Once I left behind meat and dairy I found nothing but positive changes developing inside and outside of my body. I felt lighter, fatigue disappeared, my skin cleared up, bloating disappeared, I slept like a baby, my eye color shifted to a clearer hazel color, and I felt more concentrated all the time. There is no way any of this would have happened without shifting to a completely plant-based diet.
3. They’re just animals, and besides, there are tons of them.
There are only so many farmed animals on this planets because we’ve bred them all. If the farming industry hadn’t exploded because meat and dairy are “convenient” we wouldn’t have this problem of “needing” to slaughter them. Humans are the reason there is a mass overpopulation of them.
Animals feel the same types of physical and emotional pain as humans do. When their calves are ripped away from their mothers prematurely, anxiety sets in for both of them. When they are sworn at, kicked and beat, malnourished, stunned with a taser, and slaughtered alive at the neck with an ax, they feel every bit of that in the same manner of human, just without the ability to express it verbally like humans. Pretty sick, huh?
4. Rice and potatoes makes you fat. Fruit makes you fat.
I call bull on this one. Our bodies crave energy. Energy comes from carbohydrates. Fruit and grains are essentially carbs and natural sugars, the staples of energy. This is why we crave things like mashed potatoes, pasta, sugary items, and many other items in this area. Our body needs them and thrives best off of them. The only time these will ever make you fat is when combined with animal products.
Have you ever noticed that Americans have the most ridiculous obesity rates for all ages eating the average American diet including meat, dairy, and eggs? Take the diet of the Chinese and look at it for just a moment. They base their diets off of rice multiple times a day with veggies on top and some fruit and other foods here and there. Not to say they never have animal products, but if they do it’s the most minimal part of the meal. The people of this culture stay slim their entire lives. Obesity never has been, nor will it be an issue amongst this current and ancient culture, and their people live incredibly love, healthy lives. Incredible, isn’t it?
5. Plants have feelings, too.
No, they don't.
These are just a few of the excuses I get from so many in regards to taking a jump into this lifestyle and I’m tired of hearing it, honestly. A lot of it comes from the lack of education about the truth of the meat, dairy, and egg industries. I can’t be surprised this is where most people stand, though. This kind of knowledge is not pushed in the media. Media pushes what makes money, and that’s pictures of burgers, melted cheese, and savory egg breakfast dishes because our bodies are addicted. I’m happy to see that heath and wellness through plant-based foods are beginning to take their place in the media as well, though.
Before I give you my list of resources, I will leave you with the quote in the Hebrew book of Genesis and the Old Testament that truly made me think about how we’re meant to nourish our bodies:
“I give you all plants that bear seeds everywhere on Earth, and every tree bearing fruit which yields seed: they should be yours for food. All green plants I give for food to the wild animals, to all the birds of heaven, and to all reptiles on Earth, every living creature, it shall be theirs for food.” To put this into perspective, it is considered sin to eat flesh to extend the flesh of our own.
We suppress the facts about the farming industry, what animals products actually do to our body, and the fact that true health is so easy to obtain. Our bodies are meant to be vibrant, healthy, active and are designed to feel good. We should feed our bodies what was put on this earth originally to fuel them.
Don’t you wonder why there are so many big time documentaries about this getting so much interest? Don’t you wonder why people are so passionate about veganism? Don’t you wonder why people ever turn back from this lifestyle? Stop ignoring the facts and take advantage of this article. Change your life and change the planet.Here are some resources worth exploring over the next few days. These are some of the main resources I utilize, but I explore many of the related searches which you should do so as well.
Netlfix:
"Cowspiracy"
"Forks Over Knives"
"Earthlings"
"Food Inc."
Supporting websites:
https://www.vegansociety.com/go-vegan/definition-v...http://www.happycow.net/(Find vegan/vegetarian friendly places for food)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kathy-freston/eat-ve...
http://www.vegan.com/b12/http://veganhealth.org
http://theanimalrightsactionsite.blogspot.com/2013...
YouTube:
WARNING: THE FOLLOWING VIDEO IS EXTREMELY GRAPHIC
WARNING: THE FOLLOWING VIDEO IS EXTREMELY GRAPHIC