Why should you become vegan? What’s it all about? First off, let’s define veganism.
The Wikipedia definition is “the practice of abstaining from the use of animal products, particularly in diet, as well as following an associated philosophy that rejects the commodity status of sentient animals.”
The definition can be simplified to abstaining from eating or using animal products, but the second half of the definition is what is so important about veganism. In our modern world, we exploit animals for food, clothing, and entertainment without a second thought. We do not see them as sentient beings. They are simply commodities for humanity to use at will.
When you think about it that way, it doesn’t seem quite fair, does it? As a society, we have been conditioned to ignore this reality, and disconnect what we eat, from the animals we’ve grown up loving. From an ethical standpoint, there really should be no debate on whether or not veganism is “correct.”
To keep up with our demand for animal products, the industry has forced more animals into smaller, less sanitary environments in the name of efficiency. These “factory farms” not only breed diseases, horrendous injuries, and even earlier deaths than they were doomed to, but the increase in livestock populations has caused the one of the greatest threats to our environment, through heavy greenhouse gas emissions. The population that the animal exploitation industry has bred is so far beyond what is natural, the earth cannot support it, and the food required to feed all of these living beings is one of the leading causes of deforestation of South American rainforests.
If these aren’t reason enough, there’s someone else you should think about. Have you taken into account the health benefits that veganism may provide to YOU? The leading cause of death in the United States is heart disease. What this means is that something in the Standard American Diet (SAD) is seriously messing up our bodies. Our meat centric mentality makes for a diet high in fat and cholesterol which is exactly what leads to heart disease.
So whatever your reasoning, transitioning to veganism is the right choice, and the only path to save the animals, our world, and ourselves.
Go vegan, stay vegan.
Need another little push in the right direction?
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