Many people committed to ending animal cruelty opt out of using animal products such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy, honey, silk, leather, etc. They also avoid products like soap, cosmetics, and toothpaste containing animal-derived ingredients, choosing plant-based alternatives instead. These individuals are known as vegans.

According to a report by the World Animal Foundation (WAF), approximately 88 million people worldwide are vegan, constituting roughly 1.1% of the global population. 

Veganism is advocated as a beneficial approach for safeguarding human health, the environment, and animal welfare. This blog will explore various aspects of veganism, including what is vegan & veganism, what vegans eat, and its history.

What is a Vegan and What Do They Eat?

‘Veganism is a lifestyle and philosophy that focuses on avoiding the use or consumption of any products derived from animals. This means steering clear of not only meat and dairy but also products made from animal ingredients and saying no to practices like animal testing or the any form of exploitation and cruelty inflicted on animals. People who adopt this lifestyle are called Vegans.’

There are many reasons why people choose to live a vegan lifestyle, including compassion, caring for the environment, and improving their health.

What is the Concept of Veganism & History?

In 1944, Donald Watson coined the term “Vegan” by blending the first three and last two letters of “vegetarian.” His goal was to stop the exploitation of animals by humans for their consumption and convenience.

While the term “veganism” came about in the 20th century, its ideas have deep roots in religions like Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism, which traditionally forbid eating meat. Jainism takes it a step further by avoiding all animal products.

Why should we all think about going vegan? Firstly, it’s about recognizing animals’ right to live freely, just like we do. This viewpoint stresses the importance of not exploiting animals and shifting to a vegan lifestyle out of compassion.

Furthermore, adopting veganism today is crucial for tackling urgent issues like climate change. Plus, for those aiming to boost their health, cutting out animal products and adopting a vegan diet can be advantageous. We’ll explore these topics further.

Fact: Based on a report, it was found that 89% of individuals surveyed in the United Kingdom are Vegan because of animal welfare.

What is the Difference Between Vegan and Vegetarian?

Vegetarians and vegans have similarities, but they also have some important differences. Both groups avoid eating meat. However, vegans take it a step further by not consuming dairy products like milk, cheese, and yogurt.

Vegetarians: They may still include dairy in their diets and use clothing made from animal materials such as leather, wool, and silk. They might also engage in activities like riding animals or attending events with animal performances.

Vegans: On the flip side, vegans not only avoid meat and dairy but also steer clear of clothing (wool, silk, etc.) and activities (animal riding, zoo, etc.) that involve animals. Additionally, they avoid using animal-derived products in everyday items like shampoo, soap, and perfume. This clear distinction highlights how much importance each group places on animal welfare and ethical principles in their lifestyle choices. and uses vegan alternatives instead.

Why Do People Go Vegan?

Many individuals choose a vegan lifestyle for various reasons, including compassion, environmental concerns, and health advantages.

1) Compassion: Many choose veganism because they feel deeply for animals. Seeing them suffer often sparks a strong desire to ease their pain. Choosing a vegan lifestyle means making conscious decisions to avoid supporting animal exploitation. By embracing veganism out of compassion, individuals extend their empathy to all living creatures.

2) Environment: Concerns about the environment also drive many towards a vegan diet. The animal industry is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for about 14% of the total. These emissions worsen climate change, leading to floods, droughts, rising sea levels, and deforestation. By cutting back on or cutting out animal products, individuals can reduce their carbon footprint and help protect the environment.

3) Health: Additionally, numerous studies highlight the health perks of a vegan diet. Vegan foods tend to have lower levels of saturated fats and cholesterol, which are linked to heart disease. Moreover, the high fiber content in plant-based diets can lower the risk of diabetes and aid in weight loss.

To sum up, adopting a vegan lifestyle brings multiple advantages. It not only improves our health but also helps protect the environment. Perhaps most importantly, it puts an end to animal suffering.

What Vegans Avoid?

1) Foods: Vegans avoid consuming many products that come from animals. These include:

– Meat: Such as lamb, beef, veal, pork, horse, wild game, organ meats, etc.

– Dairy: Including milk, yogurt, cheese, ghee, butter, cream, etc.

– Poultry: Like chicken, turkey, goose, duck, quail, etc.

– Eggs: From chickens, quails, fish, ostriches, etc.

– Fish and Seafood: This encompasses all types of fish, shrimp, octopus, crab, lobster, squid, scallops, calamari, mussels, etc.

– Bee Products: Such as honey, royal jelly, bee pollen, etc.

Instead, vegans choose plant-based alternatives to animal products, which we’ll explore in more detail.

2) Clothing: Vegans avoid clothing made from animal products, including leather, suede, fur, wool, feathers, silk, and cashmere. Instead, they prefer items made from vegan-friendly, plant-based materials.

3) Accessories: Similarly, vegans refrain from using accessories such as belts, wallets, handbags, and shoes made from leather and other animal-derived materials.

4) Cosmetics: Many cosmetics contain animal-derived ingredients like lanolin, carmine, and beeswax, which vegans avoid using.

5) Entertainment: Vegans also avoid supporting animal entertainment, including circuses, zoos, and road shows.

It’s essential to understand that going vegan doesn’t mean giving up variety and enjoyment altogether. Let’s delve into the substitutes that vegans can incorporate into their daily routines.

What Vegans Use?

Vegans choose from a wide range of alternatives to animal products in different categories.

1) Food

Meat: Vegans have a range of options when it comes to meat alternatives. They can enjoy mock meat (made from soybeans or jackfruit), tempeh (fermented soybeans), seitan (wheat gluten), beans, mycoprotein (a protein derived from fungus), lentils, as well as various plant-based burgers and sausages.

Dairy: Vegans have plenty of options to swap out dairy in their diets. They can opt for plant-based milk like soy, almond, oat, or coconut milk. And when it comes to cheese, they have choices like vegan varieties made from nuts such as cashews or almonds, soy, or coconut. Yogurts are also available, made from soy, coconut, or almond milk.`

Eggs: You can replace eggs in recipes with alternatives like flaxseed or chia seed “eggs,” mashed bananas or applesauce, or ready-made egg substitutes.

Honey: When vegans seek alternatives to honey, they often turn to choices such as maple syrup, which comes from maple trees, or barley malt syrup.

2) Clothing

Leather: Vegans have a variety of alternatives to leather. They can opt for materials such as pineapple, mushroom, apple, or cork instead.

Wool: Cotton, hemp, Tencel, and linen are fantastic vegan alternatives to wool because they’re plant-based fabrics.

Fur: Faux fur (made from polyester, nylon, or acrylic)

Silk: Bamboo, banana fiber, and soy fabrics are great vegan alternatives to silk.

3) Accessories

Cork and canvas wallets and belts, along with canvas and synthetic fiber shoes, are fantastic choices for vegans.

4) Cosmetics

Vegans prefer cosmetics made with synthetic ingredients rather than those that come from animals. Luckily, there are plenty of vegan options available in stores too.

Vegan Sources of Nutrition

Many vegans worry about getting enough nutrients. But with a plant-based diet, you can meet most of your nutritional needs, except for vitamin B12, which you may need to supplement.

Protein

Protein is like the building blocks for our bodies, helping with fixing tissues. Legumes like lentils, beans, and chickpeas are great sources of plant-based protein.

Tofu, tempeh, and seitan, made from soybeans, are complete proteins with all nine essential amino acids. And don’t forget nuts and seeds, which also have plenty of protein.

Calcium

Getting enough calcium is essential for building strong bones and teeth. You can get calcium from a variety of plant-based sources.

Foods like broccoli, spinach, cabbage, and okra, as well as fortified drinks like soya and pea beverages, tofu, lentils, and dried fruits such as figs, raisins, and dried apricots, all provide calcium to help meet your body’s needs.

Vitamin D

Getting sunlight is a great way to get your daily dose of vitamin D, but be careful not to get sunburned. You can also get vitamin D from Vitamin-D fortified breakfast cereals, unsweetened soy drinks, and non-animal-based vitamin D supplements.

Iron

Iron, crucial for making red blood cells, can be found in vegan-friendly foods like wholemeal flour, fortified cereals, dried fruits such as figs and apricots, nuts, and dark green vegetables like broccoli and cabbage.

Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 is crucial for keeping your nervous system and blood healthy. Unlike many other vitamins, it’s not naturally found in plants. However, you can still get it from b12-fortified breakfast cereals, yeast extracts such as marmite, B12-fortified soy drinks, and B12 supplements that don’t contain animal ingredients.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

To keep your heart healthy, include omega-3 fatty acids in your diet. These are easy to find in vegan-friendly foods like flaxseed oil, rapeseed oil, walnuts, chia seeds, and shelled hemp seeds. Adding these to your meals can help you stay in top-notch shape.

Vegan Diet Risks

While a vegan diet can provide a wide array of nutrients, there are specific ones that warrant special consideration.

Vitamin B12: While non-vegans get their Vitamin B12 from animal products, plants don’t naturally provide this vitamin. So, vegans might need Vitamin-B12 fortified cereals, soy drinks, or B12 supplements to meet their needs. They can also take a Vitamin B12 supplement as an option.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Omega-3 fatty acids are crucial for heart health. Non-vegans mainly get them from animal products, especially fish. However, for vegans, fantastic plant-based options like flaxseeds and chia seeds are available.

Vitamin D: Although animal products are typically rich in Vitamin D, vegans might not get enough of this nutrient. Fortunately, mushrooms and exposure to sunlight offer vegan alternatives for boosting Vitamin D levels.

It’s important to include a range of vegan foods in your diet to make sure you’re getting all the nutrients you need.

How to Go Vegan?

Starting your journey towards veganism might feel tough at first, but having a clear and sincere reason will make things easier. It’s important to understand that being vegan is more than just what you eat.

It’s about living a compassionate life and working to stop animal exploitation in all areas, like animal rides, zoos, entertainment, and farming.

Take it slow: Instead of making a sudden change, consider gradually shifting towards a vegan lifestyle. This approach, encompassing changes in both diet and everyday habits, might be more sustainable for some people.

Keep an eye on nutrition: Being vegan doesn’t automatically mean you’re eating healthily. It’s crucial to make sure you’re getting a variety of nutrients and not overindulging in vegan junk food, which could affect your health.

Try new foods: Vegan cuisine goes far beyond a few basic dishes. Experiment with different recipes to discover exciting flavors and textures.

Stay informed and share your knowledge: Keeping up with the latest in veganism requires continuous learning and spreading information. Whether you’re motivated by compassion, health, or the environment, educating others about veganism empowers them to make informed decisions.

Make sure you’re getting essential nutrients like omega fatty acids, vitamin B12, and calcium.

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Conclusion

In today’s world, we’re up against major challenges such as climate change. The solution? It’s found in veganism, which springs from compassion and a deep understanding of our impact on the planet.

Veganism shines brightest when driven by understanding and compassion. Those who grasp what’s happening in the world and within themselves embrace veganism not just for personal gain, but for the planet’s greater good.

It’s up to us to go vegan and inspire others to do the same. More people going vegan means more animals saved, better health for everyone, and less harm to the environment.

If this blog has given you valuable insights into veganism, please share it with your friends and support them on their own vegan journey. Sharing is crucial in spreading awareness.

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