What are some reasons for eating a vegan diet? going vegan is good for your body, animals, and the planet. I'm doing it mostly for the first reason, but the other two are big convincers, too.
Your Body
A vegan diet is associated with lower cholesterol, blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, chance of heart disease, and chance of developing cancer. Some even claim that a raw vegan diet has reversed their cancer!
Many people worry about not getting enough protein if they cut out all meat and dairy products. You are in luck! Many veggies and grains have protein. Also, not all proteins are created equal. The ones found in veggies and grains are digested with less damage to the body and leave behind less toxins.
Animals
Cows bred for milk are constantly kept pregnant so they are always lactating. Their calves are either killed or raised away from their mothers. They are fed corn. Cows are supposed to eat grass! This abnormal diet makes them sick. To counteract this, they are fed antibiotics that we ingest.
The corn grown to feed cows are often genetically modified. This means created by science and not nature. They are created to fatten up cows, not just to be corn.
Chickens bred for eating are fed hormones that make them grow so muscular so quickly that they cannot even stand. Their legs are too weak to support their body weight. And then we eat those hormones. Chickens that are bred for laying eggs are immediately killed if they are born male. The overcrowding in chicken coops leaves fecal waste and illness widespread.
Fishing is not much better. The overfishing we have done has declined the population of many large sea animals by 90% in the last 50-100 years. And it's just getting worse.
The Planet
The meat industry pollutes. In fact, it has a 40% larger carbon footprint (damage done to our planet) than transportation. 70% of the grain grown in the United States goes to feeding animals. Much of that grain is genetically modified.
Don't get me started on the politics of it all. How huge companies are allowed to take advantage of honest, independent farmers. Or how the people that "monitor" our food in Washington D.C. are the same people that are high up in these huge companies.
Now, I know there are farmers that raise their animals ethically. And if you're lucky enough to have one near you, you can reduce the carbon footprint by a lot. But those are not the main reasons why I am choosing to go vegan. If you chose not to do this, eating lean proteins such as turkey, chicken, and some fish and cutting down on (or out completely) red meat or fatty meat will also benefit your health greatly.
...just not as much. =)
Happy adventuring!
Sources
Why Ellen is Vegan
Food Inc. (Documentary)
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
Crazy Sexy Diet (Book)
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