Veganism is both the practice of abstaining from the use of animal products (Dairy products, eggs and meat) particularly in diet, and a related philosophy that rejects the service status of animals. A follower of either the diet or the philosophy is known as a vegan.
Types of veganism:
Dietary vegan (Vegetarian) - Refrain from using any animal-derived substances.
Ethical vegan – Including the diet, apply the philosophy to the over parts of their lives, and oppose the use of animals for any purpose.
More and more people are turning to a vegan diet for the health benefits: increased energy and younger looking skin are just some of the claims from enthusiastic plant eaters. There are certainly many scientifically proven benefits to vegan living when compared to the average western diet. Well-planned plant-based diets are rich in protein, iron, calcium and other essential vitamins and minerals. The plant-based sources of these nutrients tend to be low in saturated fat, high in fibre and packed with antioxidants, helping mitigate some of the modern world's biggest health issues like obesity, heart disease, diabetes and cancer.
The manufacture of meat and other animal products places a heavy burden on the environment - from crops and water required to feed the animals, to the transportation and other processes involved from farm to fork. The vast amount of grain feed required for meat production is a significant supplier to deforestation, habitat loss and species extinction. In Brazil alone, the equivalent of 5.6 million acres of land is used to grow soya beans for animals in Europe. This land contributes to developing world malnutrition by driving disadvantaged populations to grow cash crops for animal feed, rather than food for themselves. On the other hand, considerably lower quantities of crops and water are required to sustain a vegan diet, making the switch to veganism one of the easiest, and most enjoyable and most effective ways to reduce our impact on the environment.
In conclusion going vegan is cheaper, is healthier for you and the planet and all those poor animals that are suffering from the way they are treated on the farms.
