Abundance Of Wellness

The 1st November is World Vegan Day.  It is a day aimed at increasing awareness and celebrating the benefits of living a vegan lifestyle. Although I am not 100% vegan, the more I learn about health and whole food nutrition, the more I lean towards eating an organic, raw vegan diet.  I can certainly see the benefits of why people choose to go vegan, not only from a health perspective, but also from an ethical and environmental one too.

What Is A Vegan?

A vegan is someone who does not eat any products that are derived from animals.  Vegans also choose not to wear clothing made from animals, or use cosmetics and other household products containing animal by-products, as well as anything that may have been tested on animals.

So, Why Do People Choose To Go Vegan?

There are so many reasons why people choose to go vegan.

• It’s a healthy choice.  Research suggest that eating a vegan diet can go a long way towards decreasing the risk of diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and even some types of cancer.  It also assists in lowering cholesterol levels. Although our bodies produce cholesterol, all dietary sources of cholesterol are only found in products derived from animals.  It can also assist in lowering blood pressure, and reducing the risk of having a stroke.  A vegan diet can also help to alleviate the pain caused by arthritis.

• It’s better for our environment.   A passion of mine is to steer my family and educate my children towards a path of sustainable living, and an understanding of how important it is for us to look after our environment.  Following a vegan diet means fewer greenhouse emissions.  Considerably less land and water is needed to grow plants than to raise livestock.  Animal farming does in fact have a bigger negative impact on climate change, than transportation (air, land and sea combined!).  The United Nations has acknowledged that a vegan diet can feed far more people in the world than a meat based one.

• Compassionate Living.  Many who go vegan feel a strong sense of compassion for the way that animals are treated.  Thankfully, there are some who aim to raise their livestock taking a humane approach, however the majority of livestock is still factory farmed.

• It can help you to save money.  Overall, meat protein is more expensive than plant based proteins.

• Vegan food taste great.  Yes, I know, this is just my personal opinion, but I think that so many of us that were raised on meat and veg, myself included, just need to step out and be open to learning a new approach.  You will find plenty of amazing vegan recipes online.  Alternatively, find yourself an easy to follow vegan cookbook that will inspire you to give it a go. One that I highly recommend is ‘The 30 Minute Vegan’.  I absolutely love this book, and mine certainly shows signs of being well loved .  It is packed full of great, quick and easy recipe ideas, with the flexibility to use alternative ingredients if you don’t have all of the ingredients on hand, that are listed in the recipe.

I do realize that not everyone would choose to go vegan.  However, what if you were to perhaps choose one day a week to just eat a vegan diet?  It is just about taking baby steps.  So go on, I challenge you to go vegan once a week – it really can make a difference!

Hilary

Abundance Of Wellness Advocate