There are several reasons why I am vegan so I will share those. To each their own, but here is what backs my decision.
1. Animal treatment and processing
Most people know that animals probably aren't treated to well. They hear some of the stories like how the animals and loaded into tiny spaces and cant run around or graze the fields. Thats a start but honestly nothing close to the full truth. Every country is different too so do your research under the regulations your country follows. unfortunately, in most places, those "regulations" look good to the public eye but when it comes down to specific details, they are very vague. We go for "free range" or "Grain fed" because we think that makes the whole problem solved. For canadians, you can read their section "Understanding your choices" for more definitions. As they state, there are no legal definitions for most of those terms and are therefore used mainly for marketing.
1. Animal treatment and processing
Most people know that animals probably aren't treated to well. They hear some of the stories like how the animals and loaded into tiny spaces and cant run around or graze the fields. Thats a start but honestly nothing close to the full truth. Every country is different too so do your research under the regulations your country follows. unfortunately, in most places, those "regulations" look good to the public eye but when it comes down to specific details, they are very vague. We go for "free range" or "Grain fed" because we think that makes the whole problem solved. For canadians, you can read their section "Understanding your choices" for more definitions. As they state, there are no legal definitions for most of those terms and are therefore used mainly for marketing.
Yes, tiny cages loaded with too many animals are a problem. So much that most loose function in their legs or they are so loaded with hormones to grow, their little chicken feet can't hold up their body. But they only really want female baby chicks because they are the ones who can make all of those eggs we eat. So the male chicks are usually thrown in a wood chipper or something [Chick culling] and sent to the rendering plant. If you haven't heard of a rendering plant, you can research it yourself. The by-product of what happens there ends up in your beauty products (If they aren't certified vegan), and fed back to the animals you are eating in their 88% "Grain" feed. What about the male calves? Well, they can't produce your milk so they have "no use" for living. There's where the veal industry comes in. The whole animal and animal by product industry is a vicious cycle of killing.
A good example of what has happened over the past 60 years. The demand of meat [visit stats canada here for examples] has risen because of the fast food boom. They need fast, thick meat in MASSES to serve enough burgers, chicken nuggets and bacon on EVERYTHING. Most people each meat at EVERY meal. 3 times a day, 7 days a week. Humans used to hunt meat for survival, not luxury. Because of this demand (Which you help to create EVERY time you eat/ buy meat), all animals are put into mass production. Cows are fed insane amounts of hormones to produce more milk {and more meat}, kept pregnant constantly for practically her whole life to be able to produce the milk and then extremely over worked. This causes the poor cow to get incredibly sick, infected and diseased. Therefore, antibiotics are used to keep the cow going so that you can have your milk. But her utters are infected with pus and disease, hormones and antibiotics, therefore so is your milk. YUM.
Did you know that humans are the ONLY species who drink another animals milk? Ya, we drink milk from our mothers when we're born, but once we are strong enough, we are weaned off of it. So are baby cows. Human milk is made to create a healthy human. Cows milk is made to create a healthy, 1400 pound cow. WHY WOULD WE NEED TO DRINK THAT??? Most people are lactose intolerant and don't even know it. But we are taught from a VERY young age with the flashy, funny and loving dairy commercials and ads that we need to drink milk. We think "If I don't drink milk, my bones will deteriorate and I will sink into a pile of mush." You remember that commercial?? The dairy industry in North America was worth about $63 billion in 2011. There are many studies showing people who eat dairy products are actually at higher risk for all sorts of disease [including osteoporosis]. Examples here.
The meat and poultry industries have become a money grab worth almost $640 billion (Projected for 2015). The problem is, these industries are doing a dandy job at helping us destroy our planet and our health, which are my next 2 reasons for choosing a vegan lifestyle.
2. Environment
I'm all about our amazing planet and conserving it as much as we can. Because of the huge demand in animal products, land, forest and plant farms are taken over and turned into space for livestock and slaughter process. We are raised to believe our meat comes from places that look like this:
Did you know that humans are the ONLY species who drink another animals milk? Ya, we drink milk from our mothers when we're born, but once we are strong enough, we are weaned off of it. So are baby cows. Human milk is made to create a healthy human. Cows milk is made to create a healthy, 1400 pound cow. WHY WOULD WE NEED TO DRINK THAT??? Most people are lactose intolerant and don't even know it. But we are taught from a VERY young age with the flashy, funny and loving dairy commercials and ads that we need to drink milk. We think "If I don't drink milk, my bones will deteriorate and I will sink into a pile of mush." You remember that commercial?? The dairy industry in North America was worth about $63 billion in 2011. There are many studies showing people who eat dairy products are actually at higher risk for all sorts of disease [including osteoporosis]. Examples here.
The meat and poultry industries have become a money grab worth almost $640 billion (Projected for 2015). The problem is, these industries are doing a dandy job at helping us destroy our planet and our health, which are my next 2 reasons for choosing a vegan lifestyle.
2. Environment
I'm all about our amazing planet and conserving it as much as we can. Because of the huge demand in animal products, land, forest and plant farms are taken over and turned into space for livestock and slaughter process. We are raised to believe our meat comes from places that look like this:
The reality is that millions of animals around the globe are shoved in factory like, muddy, dirty, tiny stalls and stuck there until they are fat enough to be burned alive, skinned and hooked upside down to bleed.
   | It's not fair for animals. Bred, mistreated and slaughtered in ways you don't even want to hear about because you can't "stomach" it. Trust me, it will make you sick to see or hear about. Yet it is what you do literally put in your stomach? How much sense does that make? If you have ever interacted with different animals, you know they have feelings, they get excited, sad, scared. They even feel love, protection and trust. These animals live their entire lives in fear, torture, and misery because you want a chicken burger at lunch. I don't know about you, but that'e enough for me to do something about it. |
The United Nations recently put out a report concluding the livestock is the greatest threat to climate, forestry and wildlife. All of this is because of our demand to kill and eat animals. Read more here. Check out a video here. Water consumption is also a huge concern, and something that the production of animals is contributing to massively. It takes much less water to produce a plant product than it does an animal product!
As you can see, the environment is highly efected, not only by the amount of land needed, but also by the amount of electricity, pollution and methane gas coming out of these massive organizations. We are using resources we could use to help the planet to instead feed, and grow these animals and kill them. It honestly disgusts me at how wrong we are. It's all covered up with advertising when you see that burger. I highly recommend watching the documentary Cowspiracy. It takes you far into details of what is going on environmentally with the help of many environmentalist and researchers who are all coming to the same conclusion!
3. Health
Everyone knows that vegetables are healthy. There aren't many [or any] doctors who would tell you not to eat more vegetables. If everyone ate less meat {or no meat at all} the world would be a very different place. Beautiful organic farms could cover the planet and we could eat food that mother nature has created for us filled with nutrients, vitamins and minerals from the earth, sun and rain. Sounds so simple and peaceful. [Sorry to get all hippie on you but its true]
Health care is one of the hugest costs around the world. Imagine if we could avoid half of disease, sickness and hospitalization because of what we choose to eat. Choosing organic, local foods is a great step in the right direction! As I said earlier, the animals in factory farms are filled with disease and sickness and therefore loaded with antibiotics. When I said loaded here is what I mean: 70% of drug and antibiotic use in the US is for livestock. WHAT! Humans should not be ingesting antibiotics unless its necessary. If we are eating it everyday through our meat, we are overloading. I'd rather pay the local, organic farmer than pay the meat and drug industries.. or the hospital!
To learn more about the health benefits of a vegan, plant-based diet, check out the documentary on Netflix called Forks Over Knives. Dr. Colin Campbell has two great books I recommend you to read called "The China Study" and "Whole".
We can all make healthier decision every day. Every single person makes a difference. This post is for a bit of insight on why I have chosen to be vegan. Do your own research and find something that works for you. It takes time, changes and commitment but after a while it becomes a lifestyle. Your body is used to getting certain things through meat, dairy etc. Keep in mind, your body will detox first and will have to readjust. I recommend having a few days a week without any meat and cutting out dairy for a start if you don't want to go cold turkey. [no pun intended ;) ]
Some books I recommend reading for starters of more information are: Skinny Bitch, The Kind Diet, The Beauty Detox Solution. You can also get a guide from Peta.
Everyone knows that vegetables are healthy. There aren't many [or any] doctors who would tell you not to eat more vegetables. If everyone ate less meat {or no meat at all} the world would be a very different place. Beautiful organic farms could cover the planet and we could eat food that mother nature has created for us filled with nutrients, vitamins and minerals from the earth, sun and rain. Sounds so simple and peaceful. [Sorry to get all hippie on you but its true]
Health care is one of the hugest costs around the world. Imagine if we could avoid half of disease, sickness and hospitalization because of what we choose to eat. Choosing organic, local foods is a great step in the right direction! As I said earlier, the animals in factory farms are filled with disease and sickness and therefore loaded with antibiotics. When I said loaded here is what I mean: 70% of drug and antibiotic use in the US is for livestock. WHAT! Humans should not be ingesting antibiotics unless its necessary. If we are eating it everyday through our meat, we are overloading. I'd rather pay the local, organic farmer than pay the meat and drug industries.. or the hospital!
To learn more about the health benefits of a vegan, plant-based diet, check out the documentary on Netflix called Forks Over Knives. Dr. Colin Campbell has two great books I recommend you to read called "The China Study" and "Whole".
We can all make healthier decision every day. Every single person makes a difference. This post is for a bit of insight on why I have chosen to be vegan. Do your own research and find something that works for you. It takes time, changes and commitment but after a while it becomes a lifestyle. Your body is used to getting certain things through meat, dairy etc. Keep in mind, your body will detox first and will have to readjust. I recommend having a few days a week without any meat and cutting out dairy for a start if you don't want to go cold turkey. [no pun intended ;) ]
Some books I recommend reading for starters of more information are: Skinny Bitch, The Kind Diet, The Beauty Detox Solution. You can also get a guide from Peta.
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