Vegans do not eat or use anything that is of animal origin. They do not eat meat or products derived from animals like honey, butter and dairy products. Similarly, they do not use animal-based or animal-derived products like cosmetics, soaps, leather, silk and fur.
Veganism: Are There Any Cons?
Veganism is a personal choice and people can choose to be vegans due to health, environmental or ethical reasons. Converting to a vegan diet can reduce body weight, control flaring blood sugar levels, and even assist in lowering blood cholesterol levels. By avoiding meat, vegans also give a chance for dairy cows, chickens and other livestock to live to old age in peace. This is because most dairy cows, pigs, egg-laying chicks and male calves (non-milk producing cattle) are usually sold for meat after their productive days are over. To hasten meat production, most livestock farms use hormones, antibiotics and other medications to protect their livestock. A large percentage of vegans avoid meat because of these conditions associated with livestock rearing and meat production.
However, the most significant contribution of vegans is to the environment. A study partially funded by NASA has shown that widespread economic disparities, uncontrolled population growth, unsustainable agriculture and climate change would contribute to a complete collapse of civilization in the near future. The study also stated that if a statistical majority of our generation converted to vegetarianism or veganism, there would be a chance to make a significant economic and environmental impact.
The reasoning for this was simple. In 2012, more than 70 billion animals were raised as livestock for 7.1 billion people. A study by the National Academy of Sciences showed that livestock production was the main contributor to climate change. Raising livestock for food resulted in poorer air quality, polluted waterways, increased garbage levels, and an underutilization of fertile land as grazing areas. The exact contribution of livestock to climate change ranged from 18 percent to 51 percent, but the general advice was the same. Shifting over to a plant-based diet could help curb climate change and it would solve resource scarcities all over the world.
Is it a Difficult-to-Follow Lifestyle?
Veganism has stopped being a niche lifestyle. For hundreds of people, it has presented a viable way to alleviate their health concerns while not having to worry about ethical concerns such as where the meat in their meals actually came from. People switching over to a meat- and dairy-free diet have been vocal about the difference they have felt in their health and energy levels, and this has led to an increased interest in veganism. At last count, there were more than 2,000 vegan blogs online with even popular newspapers like The New York Times, The Guardian and The Huffington Post having lifestyle sections or vegan blog posts devoted to this lifestyle.
With rising awareness levels, the current millennial generation is more than willing to adopt a healthier lifestyle. With popular stars like Ellen DeGeneres and Portia De Rossi hosting a vegan wedding; Al Gore and Bill Clinton promoting veganism; the U.S. Senate’s first vegan dinner; to the new, all-vegan German supermarket chain VEGANZ; and chef Isa Chandra Moskowitz having more than 30,000 Twitter followers actively sharing her vegan recipes, veganism is popular, in with the crowd and is here to stay.
Adam Stevens says
This is sensible stuff – there’s many reasons and emotional drivers for this movement and that’s a good thing. The current course simply isn’t sustainable for anyone and anything concerned!
Naomi Tovar says
whoo Go Vegan! I was a vegetarian for a year but have transitioned into a Vegan now and the benefits in my health and mental well-being are like non before<3 Start slow and you won't regret your decision. You don't have to take a life to enjoy the beautiful one you have.