Why Veganism is the Way to GoBy Leah Borelli According to the Vegan Society of the UK, veganism is “a way of living that seeks to exclude, as far as possible and practicable, all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing and any other purpose.” Approximately 94.5% of the US population relies on meat on a day to day basis for food, clothing and countless other purposes. In a country that depends so heavily on animal products, why would anyone think about completely omitting animal products from their life? The answer may be surprising, as veganism provides an astounding number of benefits for people, animals, and the environment. Going vegan may seem far-fetched, or even impossible. However, veganism has endless health benefits that might convince the skeptic to change his or her mind. Studies have shown that eating animal fats and proteins raises a person’s risk of hypertension, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. With a vegan diet, these risks are limited and provide benefits that an animal-based diet cannot provide. Not only does a vegan diet exclude animal products and the risks that come along with them, it also removes trans fats, vegetable oils, and refined grains and sugars. The diet has also been proven to supply numerous mental benefits. According to one study found in Nutrition Journal, people who were on vegan and vegetarian diets were less likely to report depression than the people who were on an animal-based diet. In a similar study, people who were former meat eaters and switched to a vegan diet, reported less stress and depression in under two weeks of being on the new diet. Vegan diets have, however, been questioned in the area of eating disorders in that they may trigger unhealthy habits; of course, that is not true for everyone and can be avoided by ensuring one’s body is receiving the necessary nutrients it needs to be sustained. This, of course, is In fact, many people who suffer from bulimia and anorexia find that switching to a plant based or vegan diet helps them move forward in their recovery in a a positive and healthy way. Animals, too, are provided with benefits by people who choose a vegan diet. Skeptics may argue that animals are not protected by plant-based diets; however, many studies and experts find that vegan diets protect the psychical and mental health of animals. Vegans argue that by avoiding meat-based diets, the lives of many animals can be saved, as we kill roughly 60 billion land animals and over a trillion marine animals for commodities a year. These killings are seen as needless as there are endless plant-based alternatives to sustain the entire population. The welfare of animals is certainly not protected under an animal-based diet. The Five Freedoms, which are used to measure welfare include the freedom from hunger, thirst and malnutrition, the freedom from pain, injury and disease, the freedom from discomfort, the freedom from pain and distress, and the freedom to express natural behavior. It is non-negotiable that animals are deprived of these five freedoms when discussing animal based-diets, which is why vegans feel so strongly about protecting animal rights. Maybe people may combat veganism by saying, “We’re made to eat meat,” or even, “Plants have feelings, too,” which, in fact, is extremely ironic given the fact that veganism works to save the environment, not harm it. Everyone is affected by the environment and how it is treated, which is why it is important to know how the environment can be protected. Since the 1960s, the world’s population has doubled, and the world’s meat population has quadrupled. Since 2013, the pig and chicken population has quadrupled and doubled, making it a 1180% increase. The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations predicts that by 2050, world meat production will have almost doubled. These numbers are still growing to and will continue to forever - that is, unless, a veganism diet is adopted. This eye-opening increase in statics also applies to threats in the environment such as deforestation, pollution, water scarcity, extinction, land degradation and global warming. With an increased amount of animals being produced for food, more crops are needed to feed them. The planet simply cannot feed both human and farmed animal populations, especially with the two-four billion and more mouths to feed by 2050. Whether it be for human, animal or environmental benefits, veganism proves to provide endless help. Though it may be hard to quit old habits, trying a new diet is beneficial and improves the overall health and wellbeing of everyone. For more information on veganism one can watch the documentary “Vegucated,” which can be found on Netflix.
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Elena Caputo
Hi! My name is Elena, and I'm a senior at Wilson and one of the Editors of the Editorial section. If you have any questions or ideas or if you want to write, email me at [email protected]! Olivia MonosHello! My name is Olivia and I'm a junior this year, and one of the editors of the Editorial section! I'm really excited to write for the Paw Print again this year!
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