According to vegansociety.com, “ Veganism represents a philosophy and way of living which seeks to exclude—as far as is possible and practicable—all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, other animals for food, clothing or any other purpose; and promotes the development and use of animal-free alternatives for the benefit of humans, other animals and the environment.“ People that follow this way of living are called vegans. The vegan diet is more a lifestyle choice and a philosophy than just a diet. The vegan life is the best way to live because it’s healthier, helps the environment, and is kinder to animals.
Like the majority of teenagers today, I was just browsing YouTube when I stumbled upon a video that has since changed my life. “Earthlings.” The documentary revealed how millions of animals are mercilessly slaughtered in factory farms. Just watching such brutality- void of any type of humanity- was immobilizing. Somehow I made it to the end and came across copious recommended videos, including “Forks Over Knives” and “Cowspiracy.” While they weren’t as graphic as the first, they were definitely informative. After watching these documentaries, I decided to go vegan. This decision wasn’t made lightly, and it wasn’t just for myself. Veganism has long been disputed over, but animal rights activists, environmentalists,
Harvard Medical School defines a vegan as a person who does, “not eat meat, poultry, fish, or any products derived from animals, including eggs, dairy products, and gelatin.” (p.1). With veganism gaining more and more popularity in the media and in the western culture, debates have sprung up about whether or not this diet and lifestyle proves to be healthy. Countless studies and experiments have been conducted, and the results have shown that a vegan diet can prove to be a more beneficial diet then the standard American Diet. But, with large food corporations and drug companies in the way, Americans find it harder to switch to the plant-based diet. The vegan diet time and time again shows its outstanding power in reducing
Veganism has always been that thing that was probably forced down your throat by that weird patchouli scented aunt who reads tea leaves and has a woodstock poster. The one that isn’t invited to christmas because last time she ruined it by bringing her friend called Rain, who didn’t have an invitation or clothes for that matter. Being Vegan doesn’t mean you have to put on your nearest Jimi Hendrix's vinyl or join a “rad” commune, you just have to care!
What was once an unconventional diet for hippies and health food junkies, veganism, has slowly transitioned from fascination to orthodox across the United States. What has been quoted as being “hard-core vegetarianism,” a vegan diet contains no meat, cheese, eggs, honey, or anything made with an animal byproduct. Aside from animal consumption, true vegans also abstain from using products or clothing that causes harm to animals. So is this just a fad, and what factors have lead up to this unfolding?
Not many people used to know what a vegan was. Veganism was a completely new idea and has only just started to gather momentum in the last few years. A man named Donald Watson, originally from England, was the first person to found the vegan movement in 1944. This vegan movement emphasized the moral, spiritual, social, health and economic advantages of being vegan. Watson realized he would never eat meat again when he saw a pig get slaughtered on his family farm, and has not for seventy eight years (Rodger 1). Dedicating yourself to a vegan lifestyle can be a challenging thing to do because of the world we live in. “Veganism means living solely on the products of the plant kingdom, to the exclusion of flesh, fish, fowl, animal milk, and
Not so long ago, vegetarians were viewed as eccentrics, and most people didn't even know what (-- removed HTML --) a vegan (-- removed HTML --) was. Now, thank goodness, eating a plant-based diet is becoming far more mainstream, and restaurants and supermarkets provide easy access to more meat-free options than ever before. However, (-- removed HTML --) being a vegan isn't just about what you eat (-- removed HTML --) . It's about the desire to create a compassionate and healthy world that is safe for ALL living things, and making conscious decisions that reflect that desire. Living responsibly is becoming infinitely easier with the ever-increasing availability of all manner of organic, cruelty-free, and sustainably-sourced
Goodmorning/afternoon Ms. Walker and class, today I have chosen to talk to you about veganism and the impact it can have on us, the planet and of course, the animals. Veganism is the practice of restraining from using animal products, particularly in diet, completely cutting out all meats, dairy and poultry but also material things like fur coats or couches made out of leather.
Veganism is a lifestyle choice that many Americans decide upon. Veganism involves an absence of any kind of animal product in your life, such as meat, cheese, milk, etc. This lifestyle can be beneficial for not only your well-being, but the safety of your environment, and the animals in it. Although sometimes controversial, veganism is an important way to raise animal awareness, improve farm factory conditions, and support the healthy lifestyle of being vegan.
Definition of veganism- ‘’Veganism is both the practice of abstaining from the use of animal products, particularly in diet, and an associated philosophy that rejects the commodity status of animals. A follower of veganism is known as a vegan. One who avoids any product that cross-traces with animals for an assortment of reasons including environmental, health, or ethical.’’
Veganism is a way of living which seeks to exclude, as far as is possible and practicable, all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose. This includes not consuming meat, dairy, honey, eggs, gelatin, etc., as well as not using leather, feathers, wool, or products that have been tested on animals.
As different crazes and fads are appearing each day, we have come to expect them to simply fade away as the hype passes. However, veganism has stood the test of time in our fad society and is still increasing in popularity. Originally only thought to be a religious lifestyle, many people from different walks of life are becoming vegans. However, this poses many questions and sparks heated debates, mainly from omnivorous people who believe that veganism is against life’s natural order. Vegans, then, argue against an omnivorous lifestyle by bringing up facts about humans’ biological makeup and how humans are, contrary to popular belief, herbivorous by nature, not omnivorous. While both sides present good arguments to some, the veganism lifestyle contains more benefits and less harmful cons than an omnivorous lifestyle.
Some would not be able to live without eating any animal products in their diets, such as, meat, fish, poultry, eggs, dairy products, and honey. For vegans, however, this is a normal way of life. Vegans are frequently misunderstood as either people who have eating disorders, or an unnatural passion for animal rights. It is time for people to realize that veganism, a challenging yet rewarding lifestyle, goes way beyond being skinny or caring for animals. In reality, veganism can be extremely advantageous to anyone who adapts it as a way of life and has many different benefits that come along with it.
A variety of trendy diets have come on the scene during the last decade. People have been doing cleanses, drinking shakes, and much more, all for what they believe will help them lead a healthier lifestyle. One lifestyle change in particular is veganism. Although many people have made the decision to convert to veganism, there are still a lot of people who are not aware of what it means to be vegan. Veganism is defined as, "A philosophy and way of living which seeks to exclude—as far as is possible and practicable—all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing, or any other purpose; and by extension, promotes the development and use of animal-free alternatives for the benefit of humans, animals, and the environment. In dietary terms, it denotes the practice of dispensing with all products derived wholly or partly from animals." (Definition of Veganism) In a 2013 study, approximately one million people in America identified themselves as vegan; their health results have proven the benefits this change in eating can cause an individual. (Vegetarianism in America)
Veganism is often associated with vegetarianism. Vegans choose to solely eat from The Plant Kingdom. Meaning they eat mostly vegetables, grains, nuts, legumes, fruits and seeds. Veganism excludes dairy products, flesh, fish, fowl, poultry, honey, eggs, animal gelatin and any other animal originated food. Veganism has more restrictions and guidelines, in comparison to vegetarianism. Any animal products such as leather, fur, wool, silk in clothing, upholstery, etc. are all excluded from their lifestyle as well. Many vegans begin participating in this way of