Every year, more and more people put down their stakes and pick up their tofu and join the vegan movement, changing the world one innocent animal at a time. A vegetarian is a person that doesn’t eat meat, poultry low-fat or seafood. Further breakdown reveals the different kinds of vegetarians and their variations. We have total vegetarians who don’t eat meat, poultry, fish, and any other products derived from animals including eggs, dairy products, and gelatine. We also have lacto-ovo vegetarians who don’t eat meat, poultry, or fish, but consume eggs and dairy products. We also have lacto vegetarians who don’t consume meat, poultry, fish, or eggs but take dairy products. Then there are the ovo vegetarians who don’t eat meat, poultry, fish or dairy but do eat eggs (Jorgensen, 2015) . Lastly, there are partial vegetarians who avoid meat but may consume fish (Pesco-vegan) or poultry (Pollo-Vegan).
People become vegetarians for different reasons; some for health, others religion, and some for the genuine concern of the animal’s welfare, or that of environmental resources. No matter the cause, there are several benefits to help you see it through and key among them is the lower risk for heart disease and type 2 diabetes. The two are undoubtedly the most common chronic diseases in the West and are self-inflicted. Slight diet changes and exercise and most of those afflicted wouldn’t have to get the diseases. The worst part is, it stems from habits created at a very young age. Animal products with saturated fats are among the most common catalysts to these conditions. A simple low-fat vegan diet is all it takes to improve the arteries and some even claim, reverse type 2 diabetes.
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Studies have shown that vegans generally have lower rates of cancer, high blood pressure, high cholesterol in their system, cardiovascular diseases, stroke and even Alzheimer’s. A recent study by WHO (World Health Organization) stated that processed red meat is a carcinogen and another by China seemed to connect casein, which is the protein found in milk, to cancer ( Leitzmann, 2005). As often said in court, all the evidence seems to point in the same direction.
Vegans also average very normal and healthy BMI’s as opposed to those who aren’t. Animal products do not contain carbohydrates but are somewhat high in fat. This translates to more calories easily converted into body fat. People also tend to overfeed on animal calories due to the density, all the while risking the presence of growth hormones in the same animals. In most instances, to compensate or to have a calorie deficit, those who consume animal products usually tend to starve themselves and have ridiculous calorie count portions that are rarely sustainable. This means that eventually, after a few weeks or so, they are back to their normal eating habits while a vegan diet wouldn’t require all the hassle.
It also doesn’t hurt to be kind to animals owing to the cruelty most go through in animal farming, from insemination to slaughter and even overcrowding. Couple that with the rising demand for animal products, that leads to mass production for-profit and even more inhumane practices in the rearing of these animals. The world probably has enough food to feed everyone but most of it is consumed by industry animals. Raw materials used, like water, to produce the products could also really be saved.
Animal products also contain hormones and antibiotics and many other toxins that may be harmful to one’s health. In the United States, more of the meat slaughtered every year, is contaminated with E. coli, campylobacter, listeria among others that can be found on different parts of these animals. These can cause food poisoning which may be fatal. The use of antibiotics and growth hormones also developed a new strain of bacteria that was resistant to antibiotics ( Leitzmann, 2005). This renders normal pharmaceuticals issued to patients as the diseases already form a resistance to these drugs.
Some argue that we were taught what animals to selectively eat and it is therefore not fundamental to consume animal products. Carnivores like cats and dogs, especially those in the wild, are not picky and have different instincts. They further state that neither do we need cow milk as we are not calves. The major point here is that we don’t need animals to supplement our diet. Animals have personalities and emotions and slaughtering them is unnecessary.
A lot of pollution also comes from the meat industry as well. They tend to favor factory farming over the transportation of the products. Not to mention it requires a lot of energy to create animal products, at least much more than it does plant products. The emissions from the factories also do a great deal of damage to the environment, which in turn affects even animals still in the wild. Mass extinction faces most of the wild animals at the moment and pollution has played a major role in accelerating its effects.
Going Vegan also diversifies one’s palate as they get to try new dishes. This broadens one’s taste buds and enables more experimenting and creativity. There are vegan chefs who have won Cheese competitions with non-dairy cheese, or cupcake wars by replacing key ingredients like eggs for bananas or apple sauce. This innovative thinking encourages creativity and at the same time promotes healthy delicious dishes that would have otherwise been thought of.
For those keen on fitness, the omission of animal protein does not necessarily mean loss of energy or muscle mass. As a matter of fact, meat and dairy products are harder to digest. This means that your body will most likely shut down or be worn out after a meal with animal protein. A vegan diet does not hinder fitness because you can still get lots of nutrition and protein from whole food vegan diets ( Dworkin, 2009-22). There is no need to even watch the intake of protein as it can be met with a thought out, well-balanced diet. It is also much easier to build leaner muscle as a vegan as opposed to bulking up then shredding with animal protein that comes with more fat.
Vegan diets have been associated with better skin and digestion. Most people who have acne know that fatty foods and dairy often makes their situation worse and tend to get rid of them from their diet. Vitamins and minerals may even boost your skin’s health. The fibre helps in digestion and to eliminate toxins which in turn, promotes healthier skin.
Cutting out animal products may also reduce tension and anxiety as one avoids ingesting the stress hormones the animals produced on their way to the slaughter. Plants on the other hand offer high levels of antioxidants and low fat, which may promote psychological health ( Dworkin, 2009-22). Foods such as brown rice and oats also help regulate serotonin levels in the brain, which is responsible for controlling your mood.
Finally, more and more supermarkets and chain stores are offering foods that are already vegan, from chocolate to Oreos, even sauces. Even plant-based milk options like coconut milk and mock meat among others. What this means is that even your favourite restaurant or fast food chain most likely has a variety of vegan options that you can try, so what are you waiting for?
In conclusion, more and more people are embracing the vegan way of life and there are even a few courses on how to ease into it. Supermarkets and restaurants are making it even easier for you to try, whether you like eating out, or buying groceries and cooking yourself. There are so many options to choose from at the moment and even more keep getting innovated. There is no harm in trying and you probably won’t lose much if you do, but the animals will if you don’t.
References
Dworkin, N. (22). Reasons to Go Vegetarian Right Now–benefits of vegetarian diet. December , 9 , 2009.
Jorgensen, B. (2015). To Meat or Not to Meat?: An Analysis of On-line Vegetarian Persuasive Rhetoric. Poroi , 11 (1), 1-19.
Leitzmann, C. (2005). Vegetarian diets: what are the advantages?. In Diet diversification and health promotion (Vol. 57, pp. 147-156). Karger Publishers.
