What is Veganism?
Veganism is a way of living that seeks to eliminate, as much as is possible, the use and abuse of animals. Not only does this greatly reduce animal suffering, it is also the single most effective thing we can do as individuals to reduce environmental destruction and slow down climate change. Futhermore, research is continually being released that shows just how effective omitting animal products from our diets can be in contributing to a healthier body. By making more compassionate choices, we can benefit ourselves, animals and the planet as a whole.
The Vegan Diet
Vegans eat a plant-based diet, which means we avoid consuming products such as meat, fish, dairy, eggs and honey. That leaves us with a huge range of vegetables, fruits, grains, beans, nute and seeds to choose from. Did you know there are over 20,000 edible plants in the world? Not to mention all the different things that can be made from just one plant. Take oats, for example – they can be used as they are for breakfast, ground into flour for cakes and breads, made into a plant milk and even made into yoghurt, cream and ice cream! There is a wide variety of vegan “meats” made from various vegetable proteins processed to make things like facon (vegan bacon), sausages and even steaks! This market is widely growing, especially with investments from high profile vegans like Bill Gates. There are alternatives for many of the non-vegan items that people think they would miss by adopting a vegan diet. There are millions of recipes out there to suit your lifestyle – healthy recipes that focus on using whole foods and unhealthy foods that use more processed elements. In 2017 we believe that “anything you can make, we can make vegan!”
The Vegan Lifestyle
Vegans avoid the exploitation of animals in all areas of life – we don’t go to zoos and avoid circuses that include animals. We forgo clothing that once was (or derived from) an animal, and avoid cosmetics/toiletries that are tested on animals. All of these practices harm animals greatly and are generally avoidable if we consciously choose how to spend our money and live our lives. Every step we take to reduce the use of animals and to support alternatives helps to create a world where the use of animals becomes no longer necessary. While it takes some research at the beginning, after a little while, the vegan lifestyle can be incredibly easy to maintain.