Anthropologists have found traces of artifacts that indicate humans consumed meat starting around 2.6 million years ago. However, the implications in which the word vegan is used goes beyond the limitation of ingestion of animal meat- any products deriving from animals are considered a form of exploitation under this restrictive diet. Especially in the recent years, there was been an increasing in the popularity of this diet.
As stated by Vegan Action, a non-profit organization who actively works to eliminate cruelty against animals, reduce the negative impact on the planet, and improve human health overall, “Veganism, the natural extension of vegetarianism, is an integral component of a true cruelty-free lifestyle.” The specificity of this particular habitual consumption can be driven back to three common motives: health, morals and environmental concerns. In the following paragraphs we will dissect the history behind the term veganism and address its current relevance in order to fully grasp the concept of this lifestyle.
In a Time magazine article, the original introduction of the term vegan is explained, “…though the term was coined in 1944, the concept of flesh-avoidance can be traced back to ancient Indian and eastern Mediterranean societies. Vegetarianism is first mentioned by the Greek philosopher and mathematician Pythagoras of Samos around 500 BCE…Followers of Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism also advocated vegetarianism, believing that humans should not inflict pain on other animals.”
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The vegetarian diet was originally seen in the West in the early 1730s, but it was not until 1944 when Britisher Donald Watson created the term “vegan” for individuals that identified as vegetarians but omitted eggs and dairy products from their diet. Since then, the term and lifestyle has evolutionized and is now known world-wide. As people begin to discover its true meaning, it is crucial to investigate its purpose.
Before digging any deeper we must address a common misconception that results from ignorance: a vegan lifestyle is not synonymous to that of a vegetarian. The distinction between vegans and vegetarians begins with their specific diets. Vegetarians avoid the consumption of foods that include or have been produced with the help of animal body parts, whether dead or alive. And to further debunk the misunderstanding of those not aware of the full definition this includes shellfish, poultry, fish, insects and by-products of slaughter.
All the restrictions stated before fully apply to those who identify as vegans but there is a greater commitment that distinguishes the two diets. Veganism is moreso an objection to the use, abuse and exploitation of animals. That objection can be identified as a basic principle of equality between the human race and those who coexist on earth with us, animals. For that very reason, vegans do not only avoid the ingestion of animals, wearing animal products such as silk, leather and wool do not align with the moral beliefs of vegans.
In addition, the usage of any products that have been tested on animals, or contain animal byproducts is prohibited. A prime example of an animal byproduct is beeswax. Condoning any type of ‘entertainment’ that requires the use of animals such as rodeos, zoos, marine parks and hunting is not a part of the moral following vegan have. Their approach on animals captivity is similar to the conviction one would have if their loved one sat behind bars in a prison with no form of valid accusation. While there are multiple ways to distinguish the diets, the health benefits of vegetarian and vegan diets can also draw some similarities when it comes to the superficial aspects.
Both diets follow high intakes of fruit, vegetables, grains and soy. Going beyond the food, vegans and vegetarians are also at a lower risk of illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease and cancers that are directly linked to major body organs. Because the animal foods are not included in either diet, so is the blood pressure, which can be increased by consuming cholesterol. All in all, there is the debunked version of what veganism is and what it is not.
Livestock is a primary cause of the environmental issues such as global warming which humans are trying to resolve by switching to fuel efficient cars and therefore avoiding to generate more greenhouse gas emissions.The animal agriculture industry emits an estimated 18 percent of greenhouse gas emissions. Vegans are actively contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by rejecting the ingestion of livestock products. Cows produce around 150 billion gallons of methane every single day, which is significantly more destructive to the atmosphere than carbon dioxide because it can retain more radiation.
With ongoing conversations about environmental problems the world is facing, humans have grown closer to matter that may affect those issues. With that being said, there has been a greater increase in those identifying as vegan. A report coming from GlobalData, “There’s been a 600% increase in people identifying as vegans in the U.S in the last three years.” Although there is not an exact report on the distinct reason for which individuals are turning vegan, one can predict that as the list of issues impacting planet earth increase so do the worries that can lead one to change their lifestyle to one that is leaving a better mark.
The body mass index (BMI) is a proper measurement of an individual’s body fat. By dividing one’s weight in kilograms and by height in meters squared. An ‘healthy’ BMI is considered to be between 22.5 to 25.0. In most occasions, a BMI of 30.0 or more is classified as a sign of being overweight. Those who are becoming more closely aware of the health benefits of a more healthy approach to food can find some comfort in studies like the following, which may in turn solidify the idea that a vegan diet is far more beneficial in the long-run.
In 2009, an Adventist health study worked to compare the BMI’s of individuals with different diets, one of them begin vegan. Those who did not consume any sort of animal products had a BMI of 23.6. People who followed a lacto-ovo diet had a body mass index of 25.7, pescetarians had a 26.3, semi vegetarians followed up with a 27.3, and lastly, non vegetarians had a BMI of 28.8. Studies like the one briefly shared draw health junkies into the vegan world with hopes of obtaining the goals they have set for their wellbeing.
Many of us could agree that dispensable harm can not be justified in the eyes of a sane person but statistics show that the United States alone had a capita of 207.7 pounds of meat consumption per year. The majority of this country has grown to think of animals as an inferior species, ones they can take advantage of with no compassion. Unlike plants, animals have a nervous system, they are aware of the pain caused when humans exploit their bodies and destroy their lives.
The simple act of purchasing a pound of beef is a contribution to inhumane slaughter conducted by the livestock industry. Livestock and agriculture industries produce mass amounts of products for consumers to purchase, in order for them to maximize their production, they must gather many animals. Restricted in small and confined spaces, the .By adapting to a plant- based diet, we are respecting a living animal’s body and therefore paving a way for our own health.
In closing, a vegan diet can be distinguished between others due to its combination of restrictions that range from food to clothing and such. Although it can be easily compared to a vegetarian diet, there is a greater depth that distinguishes both when standing side by side. Throughout this piece of writing you are able to discover the main motives that are drawn out by those pursuing this lifestyle. This diet has expanded its horizon in the past century by becoming a focal point in the media realm. By creating a lifestyle that respects and does not consume animals, vegans believe that they will create a greater impact on the environment, promote ethical choices, and obtain health benefits.
