There are many alternatives to our diet and lifestyle, and one of them is veganism.
What is Veganism?
Being vegan means saying no to consumption habits that cause harm to animals in any way. Not only is it a diet choice made up of plant-based food to replace meat and dairy products, but veganism can also alter our lifestyle. It involves not wearing clothes made of animal leather or wool. In practice, Vegans can be as strict or lax as they want.
History of Veganism
While veganism is a relatively recent concept, the history of a plant-based diet can be traced back to ancient Indian and eastern Mediterranean societies.
It also has been noted that our ancestors actually ate most prominently plant-based food.
Rob Dunn, a biologist at North Carolina State University, mentioned, “the truth is, for most of the last twenty million years of the evolution of our bodies, through most of the big changes, we were eating fruit, nuts, leaves, and the occasional bit of insect, frog, bird or mouse. While some of us might do well with milk, some might do better than others with starch, and some might do better or worse with alcohol, we all have the basic machinery to get fruity or nutty without trouble.”
Nowadays, veganism is a concept that is growing rapidly. There are, of course, many reasons to go vegan. But mainly, the reasons can be found here:
1. Animal abuse at industrial farms
The horrifying conditions of the animals are due to several reasons, mainly to reduce costs and increase profits. The abuse includes tiny battery cages for chickens, selective breeding that negatively impact the animal’s health, cruel transportation, forced molting to get as many eggs as possible from a hen, and many more.
2. Health benefits from a plant-based diet
A plant-based diet does not make your body weaker, if not healthier. Besides cutting off bad cholesterol, many plant-based foods rich in anti-oxidants are proven to reduce the risk of cancer. Studies have also shown that a vegan diet can improve mood in the long term.
3. Being kind to the mother earth
The industrial farm is one of the most significant contributors to the glass house effect that impacts global warming. Raising cattle also requires a lot of resources, including land and water. Globally, the factory farming industry is estimated to consume nearly 20% of all fresh drinking water supplies.
Do you have other reasons for choosing veganism? Let us know in the comment!