Why You Should Go Vegan
There has been a large shift in the number of people switching to a plant-based diet. Becoming vegan and saying no to animal cruelty can be as easy as substituting marinara for meat sauce, opting for bean burritos instead of chicken or beef, and trying some of the many delicious and convenient vegan products that are available.
If you don’t already know, being a vegan means avoiding exploiting animals for any purpose, with compassion, usually their key reason for choosing this type of lifestyle. From accessories and clothing to makeup and bathroom items, animal products and products tested on animals are found in more places than you might expect. Fortunately, nowadays, there are affordable and easily-sourced alternatives to just about everything.
What is Veganism?
Veganism is a philosophy and way of living that seeks to exclude any forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing, or any other purpose. By extension, this promotes the development and use of animal-free alternatives to benefit humans, animals, and the environment. In dietary terms, it indicates the practice of dispensing with all products derived entirely or partly from animals.
In a Gallup poll in 2012, the poll revealed that 2% of Americans identified themselves as vegan, while in a 2018 Gallup poll, that number jumped up to 3%. Over 6 years, that is a 50% increase in the number of people who identify themselves to be vegan.
What Do Vegans Eat?
The vegan diet consists of eating plant-based foods, such as grains, beans, vegetables, fruits, and nuts. Even though vegans have a wide variety of foods to choose from, the diet may be very restrictive to those used to a diet consisting of animal and plant products. It is also ideal for the foods that are a part of the vegan diet produced in a cruelty-free manner.
We are so happy to see an increased amount of vegan foods and products available on the market. Food manufacturers are improving the “Vegan” labeling so that people will no longer have to check the ingredient labels. We have even seen the availability of vegan foods in restaurants increase, too.
What You Can Eat
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Rice
- Pasta
- Vegetable Oils
- Dairy Alternatives
What You Can’t Eat
- Poultry
- Beef
- Pork
- Lamb
- Eggs
-
Dairy
Health Benefits Of Going Vegan
Life Longevity
Did you know that going vegan can help you live longer? Studies have shown that vegans have better heart health and less chance for other diseases such as heart disease. People who follow a vegan diet have lower odds of having high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes without meat.
Good Nutrition
Another benefit of going vegan is eating foods such as whole grains, fruits, and vegetables full of fiber and antioxidants, which provide the body with necessary nutrients. Many of the compounds in these foods actually help protect the body against diseases like diabetes and cancer.
Body Mass Index (BMI)
Another possible health benefit of going vegan is that many people who participate in this diet have a lower body mass index. Those who eat a plant-based diet have a lower BMI than those who regularly eat meat.
How Going Vegan Can Help The Planet
- Going vegan can help to conserve water
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, it takes about 2,000 gallons of water to produce just one pound of beef! The meat and dairy industries are incredibly water-intensive and have a large water footprint.
- Going vegan can save energy
The animal agriculture industry unsurprisingly uses high amounts of energy. It takes roughly 11 times more fossil fuel to produce a single calorie of animal protein than it does to produce one single calorie of plant protein.
- Going vegan can reduce pollution
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that roughly 80% of ammonia emissions actually originate from livestock waste. The livestock industry is responsible for around 20 to 50 percent of all human-made greenhouse gas emissions. Not surprising is the fact that vegetables, fruits, and nuts create a much smaller carbon footprint.
- Going vegan can reduce deforestation
Meat production requires much land for the animals, which will be turned into food to feed themselves. If the world adopted a vegan/plant-based diet, it would require no new deforestation. In fact, it would help reforestation and rewilding.
Ethical Reasons To Go Vegan
- Religion
- Consciousness
- Personhood
- Animal Pain & Suffering
- Human Welfare
Why We Choose To Be Plant-Based
Here at The Pink Pigs, we have chosen to identify as plant-based, although follow the vegan lifestyle. Our vision for the world is a cruelty-free place where compassion and kindness are the forming foundations of how we treat one another. We do not stand for breeding, caging, or slaughtering animals for food or hunt. We do not stand for any suffering of animals. The fact that animals have the ability to suffer on a physical and psychological level makes them more than worthy of our protection! We urge you to chose the same lifestyle. Since the vegan diet is no longer a niche diet, we hope that more and more people will be open to choosing to change the way they eat and think, too.
