What exactly is veganism?

The term "vegan" was invented in 1944 by Donald Watson who separated from the Leicester Vegetarian Society in England and established the Vegan Society. In 1951, the Vegan Society defined the word as “the doctrine that man should live without exploiting animals.”

They decided to abstain from the use of animal products, particularly in diet, and an associated philosophy that rejects the commodity status of animals.

The word "vegan" was created by using the first three and last two letters of the word "vegetarian" as it represented the “beginning and the end of vegetarian” as in the words of Mr. Watson.

What exactly drives folks to go vegan?

There are many motives driving people to veganism, but the common concerns are health, the environment and what almost all vegans believe – the unalienable rights of life and freedom of animals.

Ethics

Ethical vegans intensely disagree with terminating an aware living soul’s life only to use its flesh, consume its milk or wear it’s skin particularly since there are other many options readily available.

Additionally, they are opposed to the physiological and emotional pain that living creatures will experience as a consequence of modern-day farming methods.

For example, ethical vegans detest the compact pens and cages in which livestock live and frequently are not let out of from birth to slaughter.

Many vegans stand up against the farming industry's treatment of animals, including the grinding of male chicks while alive by the egg farmers and the force-feeding of ducks and geese to supply the foie gras marketplace. They typically show their disapproval by protesting, raising awareness, and selecting products that do not include the animal agriculture

Overall Health

Some folks choose veganism because of its promising health outcomes.

Several studies conducted in the US and UK as far back as 2001 have shown that plant-based diet plans may lower the chance of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, diabetes, cancer, obesity, and premature death.

Lowering your consumption of animal products and increasing the consumption of probiotic-rich whole foods may lower your chance of Alzheimer's disease and decrease symptoms of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Others choose veganism to prevent the negative effects linked to the antibiotics and hormones used in modern animal farming.

In the end, studies consistently relate vegan diets to a decrease body weight and body mass index (BMI). Based on this alone drive many to choose vegan diet plans to shed body weight.

Ecological Impact

Other folks choose veganism because of the effects of animal farming.

A 2010 United Nations (UN) report contended that the livestock production requires a lot more resources and produces increased greenhouse gas emissions compared to plant-based options.

As an example, animal agriculture contributes to 65% of global nitrous oxide emissions 40 percent of methane emissions, and 9% of carbon dioxide emissions.

These compounds are thought to be the three greenhouse gasses affecting climate change.

Furthermore, the demand for meat requires 550 - 5,200 gallons of water to produce 1 pound of beef.

That's around 43 times greater water than is necessary to create the same amount of cereal grains.

Livestock production may also result in deforestation when forested regions are burnt for cropland or pasture. This habitat destruction is thought to contribute for the extinction of various animal species.

Categories of Veganism

There are several types of vegans.  The sub-sets are focused on different concerns: 

• Nutritional vegans.  Often used interchangeably with "plant-based eaters," this term identifies people that stay away from animal products in their diet but use them in other products, such as for example apparel and cosmetics.
• Wholefood vegans.  They favor an eating plan full of whole foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds.
• Junk food vegans.  Some men and women rely greatly on processed vegan food, for example as vegan meats, chips, frozen dishes, and desserts, including Oreo snacks and non-dairy ice cream.
• Raw-food vegans.  This class eat only foods that are uncooked or cooked at temperatures under 118°F (4-8 °C).
• Low-fat, raw-food vegans.  Also called fruitarians, this sub-set limits high-fat foods, including nuts, avocados and coconuts, instead relying chiefly on fresh fruit. Different plants have been sporadically eaten in little amounts.

Foods vegans won't eat

Vegans avoid all foods sourced from of animals. These include:

• Meat
• chicken
• fish
• Shell-fish
• eggs
• dairy
• honey

Furthermore, vegans steer clear from any animal-derived components, including albumin, casein, carmine, gelatin, pepsin, shellac, isinglass, and whey.

Foods vegans will eat

Following a diet based only on plants may put some people at a higher risk of nutrient deficiencies.  This is especially true when vegan diets are not well planned.  Consuming a nutrient-rich diet with whole and fortified foods is important.

A few instances include nachos with salsa and guacamole, bean burritos, veggie burgers smoothies, hummus pasta dishes, sandwiches, and wraps.

Meat-based entrées are generally swapped for foods containing the subsequent:

• Beans
• lentils
• broccoli
• seitan
• tempeh
• nuts
• seeds

You can replace dairy products with plant milks, scrambled eggs using scrambled tofu, honey using sweeteners that are fermented such as molasses or maple syrup, also raw eggs using flax or chia seeds.

Additionally, vegans tend to eat quite a few whole grains, as well as a wide array of vegetables and fruits.

You can pick from an ever-growing variety of ready-made vegan products, including fortified plant milks vegan meats, vegan cheeses, and desserts.  However, watch for added oils, and even synthetic components.

The Point

Vegans are individuals who avoid animal products for health, environmental causes or personal ethics. Generally, their lifestyle revolves around wearing sustainable clothing also known as vegan apparel, using vegan skincare products, and all things that do not harm the earth and hence, it's animals and humans.

Instead, they eat lots of plant-based foods, like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds. Some vegans may find it difficult to east these foods in sufficient quantities and these cases, supplements are an option to consider.