VEGANISM- THE SOCIAL JUSTICE WHEREIN YOU GAIN

MORE THAN YOU GIVE UP

Ever heard of people saying that they have chosen a vegan lifestyle? Or maybe people saying
to someone that you’re a vegan so you won’t be able to relish chicken or cheese.
Well, that’s where we define veganism. It is the way of living which seeks to exclude, as far
as possible, the use of animals and animal products to avoid being cruel to the them. So yes,
if you’re meeting a person who has adapted a vegan lifestyle then he or she wouldn’t have a
cheesy pizza with you.

As hard as it sounds, adapting a vegan lifestyle isn’t that laborious. Also, these terms vegan
and veganism haven’t been new to mankind, they just gained popularity in the 1900s.
It was defined by Donald Watson as being ‘non-dairy vegetarian’ in 1944. There were
newspapers published in 1900s in London called ‘THE VEGAN NEWS’ and people started
understanding the meaning of the same from then. After the initiation in these areas, in
1960s and the 1970s, a vegetarian food movement emerged as a part of counterculture in
the United States.

The vegan diet became mainstream nearly in 2010 because that’s when people in many
parts of the world started to understand the concept. The food labels on different food
items started showing up as vegan and even many chain restaurants started marking the
same. Now, not only people know about it, but a lot of them follow different vegan diets
religiously.

Preventing the exploitation of animals is not the only reason for becoming vegan, but for many it
remains the key factor in their decision to go vegan and stay vegan. Having emotional
attachments with animals may form part of that reason, while many believe that all sentient
creatures have a right to life and freedom. Specifics aside, avoiding animal products is one of the
most obvious ways you can take a stand against animal cruelty and animal exploitation
everywhere.
BENEFITS OF A VEGAN DIET ROUTINE:

Well-planned vegan diets follow healthy eating guidelines, and contain all the nutrients that our
bodies need. Both the British Dietetic Association and the American Academy of Nutrition and
Dietetics recognize that they are suitable for every age and stage of life. Some research has linked
vegan diets with lower blood pressure and cholesterol, and lower rates of heart disease, type 2
diabetes and some types of cancer. Going vegan is a great opportunity to learn more about
nutrition and cooking, and improve your diet. Getting your nutrients from plant foods allows more
room in your diet for health-promoting options like whole grains, fruit, nuts, seeds and vegetables,
which are packed full of beneficial fiber, vitamins and minerals.

BENEFITS OF BECOMING A VEGAN FOR THE ENVIRONMENT:

We are all now well aware of different ways to protect our environment and take up
recycling activities. One of the most effective way to reduce an individual’s carbon footprint
is to avoid all the animal products. The production of meat and other animal products places
a heavy burden on the environment - from crops and water required to feed the animals, to
the transport and other processes involved from farm to fork. The vast amount of grain feed
required for meat production is a significant contributor to deforestation, habitat loss and
species extinction. On the other hand, considerably lower quantities of crops and water are
required to sustain a vegan diet, making the switch to veganism one of the easiest, most
enjoyable and most effective ways to reduce our impact on the environment.

BENEFITS OF BECOMING VEGAN FOR PEOPLE:

A plant-based diet requires only one third of the land needed to support a meat and dairy
diet. With rising global food and water insecurity due to a myriad of environmental and
socio-economic problems, there's never been a better time to adopt a more sustainable way
of living. Avoiding animal products is not just one of the simplest ways an individual can
reduce the strain on food as well as other resources, it's the simplest way to take a stand
against inefficient food systems which disproportionately affects the poorest people all over
the world.
With the whole world being evolved so much and the population more than ever, being
vegetarian is not enough. All the people and the societies need to step up in different ways
to procure a social justice for the farm animals as well.

SOME HEALTH BENEFITS OF A VEGAN DIET:

It is a common myth amongst a lot of people that Vegan diet does not provide the
appropriate amount of nutrients, but, this is just not true. A vegan diet can be a highly
nutritious choice, as it is low in saturated fat and rich in nutrients. However, starting out on
an animal-free diet without proper planning can lead to some health risks. All protein,
vitamins, and minerals must come from non-animal sources, so food choice and preparation
are important.

A vegan diet can have an extremely positive impact on health.

It is possible for a purely plant-based diet to provide the key nutrients for health, and it also
eliminates the risk of consuming any potentially harmful animal fats.

ZERO ANIMAL FATS: Animal fats have been linked to a range of illnesses and conditions,
including diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, hypertension, heart disease, and various cancers.
Animal sources are likely to account for 13 of the top 15 sources of cholesterol-raising fats in
the U.S. By cutting these from the diet, the risk of many health issues can be greatly
reduced. Animal fats may also transfer industrial cancer-linked chemicals and toxins from
their environment. Healthy, plant-based oils and fats, such as olive oil, provide necessary
fatty acids without raising levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol.

LOW CANCER RISK: Meat eaters are at a higher risk of colorectal and prostate cancers. The
vegan diet consists of far higher volumes of legumes, fruits, and vegetables, fiber, and
vitamin C. These are believed to protect against a variety of cancers.
BONE HEALTH: Calcium is important for bone and dental health. For an adult, milk and
cheese are good sources of calcium. For a vegan, figs, kale, spinach, black-eyed peas, and
turnip greens can be excellent sources of calcium. Vegan milk alternatives are becoming
more widely available, such as soy milk, almond milk, and even vegan cheese. Bones also
need vitamins D and K, potassium, and magnesium. Soy, fruit, and some vegetables contain
appropriate amounts of these nutrients without the health risks of animal fats. Daily
exposure to the sun also enables the body to make vitamin D. Vegans have also shown more
efficient absorption of calcium and bone metabolism, the process through which new bone
tissue is formed.

HEART HEALTH: People on a vegan diet often take in fewer calories than a those on a

standard Western diet. This can lead to a lower body mass index (BMI) and a reduced risk
of obesity. A lower BMI is linked to lower overall concentrations of LDL cholesterol and
slightly lower blood pressure, even compared with vegetarians who continue to drink animal
milk. Lower levels of harmful cholesterol mean that vegans have a lower risk of mortality
from stroke and ischemic heart disease than people who eat meat.
Considering all the above benefits of the vegan diet routine we can say that one should plan
a careful transformation from a normal diet to a vegan diet. Many celebrities and famous
people are also promoting veganism nowadays.

One can say that being a Vegan will put you to sleep with a feeling that you haven’t hurt any
living being. Become vegan and become the one to see the world change. Taking up the
vegan lifestyle would give someone else the chance to live. Its time now we think about the
social justice for everyone and give up on something so that the society as a whole, gains a
lot.