More and more of us are going vegan. The environmental and ethical cause for a diet without all animal products, including meat, fish, dairy, and eggs, is convincing. The environmental, health and ethical benefits of veganism are beyond a shadow of a doubt. But for those on the other side of the spectrum- what is veganism?
Is it the only a greener choice in diet? What are the pros and cons of being Vegan? And how does it impact society and the environment as a whole? Is it just bland food, or is there more to it than meets the eye?
Quite a few big names have been vegan for as long as they can remember. Let’s take a more in-depth look and find the answers to whether veganism could be a pathway for a better lifestyle for you. Let us know if you know more about this, and be with us for more articles. Is vegan and veganism the same thing? Happy reading!
What is veganism- going green or just avoiding meat?
Ever since the turn of the millennia, there has been a major movement against the consumption of meat and for a diet entirely based on vegetables. But is veganism only about eating vegetables? Apparently not.
According to vegans, Veganism is the practice of curtailing hurt to all animals, which needs abstaining from animal goods such as meat, fish, dairy, eggs, honey, gelatine, lanolin, wool, fur, silk, suede, and leather. Some call veganism an ethical standard for animal rights activists. Unlike vegetarianism, veganism is not a diet.
Instead, it is a moral attitude which, when firmly followed, according to the Vegan Society, “is a way of living which pursues to reject, as far as is possible and practicable, all forms of abuse of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose.” Hence, a vegan will not only choose plant-based diets but will also sidestep the use of animal-derived foods (such as animal-tested makeups) and will choose not to visit or support places that use animals for entertainment or where animals are hurt or harmed.
The Ups and Downs of being Vegan
A vegan diet can reduce your risk for chronic disease and certain cancers
A vegetarian diet protects against lingering illness, and vegans appear to profit more than those who include eggs or dairy products in their nutrition. As far back as 2009, the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition stated that vegans have considerably lower BMI and cholesterol levels than omnivores.
They also tend to have lesser blood pressure — which lessens the peril of coronary heart disease. Vegans have rarer strokes, and they’re less probable to have type 2 diabetes, prostate cancer, or colorectal cancer. All things considered, being vegan looks to shield against a wide range of illnesses.
A vegan diet may benefit you to lose bulk
A vegan diet tends to reduce in both calories and fat than other intakes, and those embracing a vegan regime frequently find they not only drop weight but can keep their weight loss lasting.
Benefits to the Environment.
Animal husbandry has a significant negative impact on the environment, would be eradicated in a vegan world. Just a couple of examples include a radical reduction in greenhouse emission emissions, a significant reduction in biodiversity loss, and a severe decrease in pollution of waterways.
Socio-Economic Benefits.
Animal diets are expensive in terms of monetary cost and land use. For people in poorer areas of the planet, the value of animal-based products is overwhelmingly high relative to the value of plant-based foods that provide similar nutrition.
Benefits to Animals.
True vegans are motivated by the privileges of all animals, including insects. According to the Vegan Society, “many believe that sensitive beings have a right to life and freedom.” Vegans choose cruelty-free products and avoid any clothing, furniture, etc., that is made from animal material like leather; many also avoid wool, silk, and other materials made up of or by animals.
The bad
Excessive weight loss can become weight gain.
Because vegan diets are so restrictive, many newbies may find that they’re hungrier than average and can reach out for junk foods—highly processed carbs, sugary, fatty foods and even vegan-formulated snacks—to fill up
Vegan diets are lacking in some important nutrients.
Calcium, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin B-12, and folate—all of which are existing in animal products—as essential nutrients a vegan diet can lack. Over time, inadequate consumption of those may result during a host of problems, including loss of bone and muscle mass.
Depending on pulses for protein can be uncomfortable.
But getting the foremost out of legumes, pulses and other alternative sorts of protein requires paying constant attention to combining them with the proper grains to make sure adequate nutrition, something that many people still find difficult to do
If not Vegan, Why not Keto?
Ketogenic diets are therapeutically used for the treatment of epilepsy for nearly a century, and that they became popular for weight-loss during the 1960’s and 70’s. Newer research has shown therapeutic potential for several other pathological conditions like neurological diseases, diabetes, polycystic ovary syndrome, cancer, and a discount within the risk of cardiovascular and respiratory disorders.
Typically, the ketogenic diet focuses on a high intake of fat. Fats are generally 70% – 80% of the diet; proteins are 10% – 20% and only around 5% comes from carbohydrates. Studies show that eating a lower carbohydrate; higher fat diet is useful in preventing heart condition, achieving weight loss, and managing the danger of diabetes.
The most advantage of a deficient carbohydrate diet is weight loss, but this might even be seen as an obstacle to those individuals not eager to reduce. Overall improved health, sporting performance, and endurance are other advantages reported from this eating.
However, vegans would argue against this halfhearted approach and ask you to commit the whole way. And they have logic.
Risks of a ketogenic diet include possible kidney damage thanks to a really high protein intake, however true ketogenic diets should only be relatively high in protein and better in fat. Another potential downside to the present diet may be a reduced intake of vegetables thanks to their carbohydrate content, which ends up during a low absorption of fiber and a few plant-based nutrients.
It’s documented that adequate dietary fiber is essential for keeping a healthy gut microbiome and reducing the danger of colorectal disease. This diet can also be challenging to stick to long-term because it could also be very socially challenging and isolating. While the ketogenic diet shows clinical promise for a variety of health conditions, further studies are needed to research the therapeutic effectiveness, long-term safety, and therefore the potential mechanisms of action.
Impacts of Veganism: Is vegan and veganism the same thing?
Positive environmental effects of veganism
Do vegans play a part in saving the animals and, in turn, the environment?
The high numbers of greenhouse emissions is enough to form an individual choke, literally. A meat-based diet causes seven times more greenhouse emission emissions than a vegan diet. It’s reported that 51 percent or more of worldwide greenhouse-gas emissions are caused by animal agriculture, consistent with a report published by the Worldwatch Institute.
Livestock is the most significant contributor to methane gas, which is the gas that contributes to the most heat being trapped in the earth’s atmosphere.
The Environmental Protection Agency reports that the digestive processes of animals used for food and the management of manure together account for more than a third of total methane emissions (specifically in the US).
The nitrous oxide from the meat, eggs, and dairy industry is also of an unbelievable level and accounts for 65% of worldwide nitrous oxide emissions. These three gases are responsible for global warming, which essentially means that a hamburger is doing more damage to the earth than a car.
And that’s just the effect on the earth’s atmosphere. Wasting water is always a big issue in any country.
But
There is no denying that the increase in veganism has seen us fill our shopping baskets with food from far and wide, causing a massive carbon footprint.
Popular foods like avocados, lentils, mangoes, quinoa, copra oil, nut milk, blueberries, goji berries, and chickpeas are all brought in from abroad. However, farmers have begun to grow some of these items, such as lentils, chickpeas, and sweet potatoes on home soil in recent years.
Not only do we need to consider the carbon footprint of long-distance vehicles, but the broader influence of the amplified trade of these foods. For example, at the beginning of 2019, Kenya banned exporting avocados because the country’s supply was at risk; equally, Mexico previously considered importing the fruit.
This is because despite being a world leader in supplying the fruit, they didn’t have enough for their consumption – harming citizens for whom avocado is a staple part of their diet. Yet another example of our increased consumption that impacts locals of the country of origin is quinoa and the people of the Andes. The grain had long been a vital part of the region’s diet, but in three years, the cost of quinoa has trebled, becoming too expensive for locals to buy, leading to a decrease in consumption in the area.
Vegan Recipes
The vegan diet is claimed to be amongst the most boring diets out there. But it’s not entirely true. They have their share of mouth-watering burgers and brownies. Here’s the manual for those delicious meals.
Falafel Burgers
Ingredients:
- 400g can chickpea, rinsed and drained
- 1 small red onion, roughly chopped
- 1 garlic clove, chopped
- a handful of flat-leaf parsley or curly parsley
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp ground coriander
- 1⁄2 tsp harissa paste or chilli powder
- 2 tbsp plain flour
- 2 tbsp sunflower oil
- toasted pitta bread, to serve
- 200g tub tomato salsa, to serve
- green salad, to serve
Method:
- Drain a 400g can chickpeas and pat dry with kitchen paper.
- Tip into a food processor along with 1 small roughly chopped red onion, 1 garlic clove, a handful of flat-leaf parsley, 1 tsp ground cumin, 1 tsp ground coriander, ½ tsp harissa paste or chillli powder, 2 tbsp plain flour and a little salt.
- Blend until relatively smooth, and then shape into four patties with your hands.
- Heat 2 tbsp sunflower oil in a non-stick frying pan, add the burgers, and then quickly fry for 3 mins on each side until lightly golden.
- Serve with toasted pitta bread, 200g tub tomato salsa, and a green salad.
Vegan brownies
Ingredients:
- 2 tbsp ground flaxseed
- 200g dark chocolate, roughly chopped
- ½ tsp coffee granules
- 80g vegan margarine, plus extra for greasing
- 125g self-raising flour
- 70g ground almonds
- 50g cocoa powder
- ¼ tsp baking powder
- 250g golden caster sugar
- 1½ tsp vanilla extract
Method:
- Heat oven to 170C/150C fan/gas 3½. Grease and line a 20cm square tin with baking parchment. Combine the flaxseed with 6 tbsp water and set aside for at least 5 mins.
- In a saucepan, melt 120g chocolate, the coffee, and margarine with 60ml water on low heat. Allow cooling slightly.
- Put the flour, almonds, cocoa, baking powder, and ¼ tsp salt in a bowl and stir to remove any lumps. Using a hand whisk, mix the sugar into the melted chocolate mixture, and beat well until smooth and glossy, ensuring all the sugar is well dissolved. Stir in the flaxseed mixture, vanilla extract, and remaining chocolate, then the flour mixture. Spoon into the prepared tin.
- Bake for 35-45 mins until a skewer inserted in the middle comes out clean with moist crumbs. Allow to cool in the tin completely, then cut into squares. Store in an airtight container and eat within three days.
Tips for going Vegan: Is vegan and veganism the same thing?
Convinced? Now let’s go over some tips to make the green transition.
- Go for it at your own pace. Start with the one thing you eat the most and substitute it with the vegan sort. Drastic changes could be challenging to sustain.
- Begin in silence. More comfortable to develop a vegan diet if you can evade questions or inquiries from others.
- Find a similar company. Once you begin your vegan diet, you’ll need someone to complain to about how many times every day you get questioned what food you get your protein from.
- Don’t worry about getting enough nutrition. Green food sources have just as much nutritional value as animal sources, if not more. Substitute them while adhering to the same number of meals a day, and you should be fine.
- You can still eat outside. Even fast-food spots are starting to offer vegan or fruity options on their menus.
- Try different and exotic recipes. Whether you’re eating out or cooking at home, experiment. Try daring recipes and exotic fruits and vegetables.
Celebs with Vegan lifestyles
Joaquin Phoenix
The Joker-film Oscar Winner Phoenix has been a vegetarian and then vegan nearly all his life, starting at age 3. He said he has a memory of being on a fishing trip with his family, and being shocked when they caught and killed the fish. When he asked, “Why didn’t you tell us that’s where meat came from?” And my mom didn’t know what to say. I feel like I have this memory of seeing her crying,”
Benedict Cumberbatch
While promoting his latest Avengers film, Benedict revealed that his vegan diet is what kept him in action movie-worthy figure. He was even nominated as PETA’s Most Beautiful Vegan in 2018.
Peter Dinklage
The Game of Thrones and Narnia star has been vegetarian for countless years, and recently made the shift to veganism, according to Veganuary. When he has to eat on-screen for a GoT scene, he reportedly switches any meat products for tofu, and it’s very difficult for viewers to notice the difference.
Conclusion
So, think about this the next time you meet a vegan, instead of cross-examining and judging them, approve of them for trying to make the world a greener and more pleasant place.
And contemplate too about the variations you can make in your lifespan to be greener. If you aren’t ready to go vegetarian or vegan, that’s okay, but promise to eat less meat and to pick free-range beef.
Choosing only to eat naturally grown meat is the right way of doing this, and yes, it can be slightly more costly but palates just so significantly better, and even that change will make a difference to the quality of life for animals.
Lastly, think of the makeups you use, would you like to know that the flawless color of red lipstick or even your toothpaste was tried on a beagle, or a monkey or any other animal? It’s straightforward to think of the being that has lost its life to give you that food, so gives it the respect it deserves.
References:
- https://crushmag-online.com/the-positive-effects-of-veganism-give-vegans-a-chance/
- https://www.thesterlingchoice.com/what-is-the-negative-impact-of-veganism/
- https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/g5186/vegan-celebrities/
- https://facethecurrent.com/vegan-vs-keto-pros-cons/
- https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/vegan-brownies
- https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/falafel-burgers-0
- https://www.thesterlingchoice.com/what-is-the-negative-impact-of-veganism/
- https://www.self.com/story/vegan-diet-pros-cons
- https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-veganism-127598
- https://www.purechange.co/blogs/health_wellness/pros-and-cons-of-being-vegan