Veganism is a powerful, ethical lifestyle choice for a better world and health. People decide to embark on the journey of veganism with different priorities, preferences, and reasons. Whether for their own personal, ethical, or environmental motive, it is for the good of everyone.
As the buzz about the vegan diet continues to grow, are you planning to become vegan or just curious about the vegan lifestyle? Here are five powerful reasons to consider why should people become vegan in 2024. We will also list the benefits of choosing a plant-based vegan lifestyle. Now that we have grabbed your attention let us explore why you should become vegan.
Reasons Why People Should Become Vegan?
Animal Welfare and Ethical Concerns
Transitioning to a plant-based diet is the best way you can contribute towards stopping animal cruelty. The loveable animals endure unimaginable physical and psychological suffering to reach your plate. By refusing to pay for them, you reduce their demand and ensure that fewer animals are made to be tortured in factory farming.
Environmental Impact
Animal factory farming is an overlooked cause of climate change and pollution. Factory farms contribute significantly to air and water pollution, affecting community health and property values. It is also a major emitter of greenhouse gases, which are key drivers of global warming and climate change.
Health Benefits of a Vegan Diet
Choosing to consume a plant-based diet has not only environmental and cultural benefits but also significant health benefits. Plant-based meals have less cholesterol than non-vegan meals. They reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and other related conditions. They support skin health and regeneration and enhance mood and mental health.
Ethical Eating and Consumer Power
To stand against animal cruelty, people opt for plant-based diets and cage-free eggs. You can also influence industry standards and promote more compassionate treatment of animals by endorsing businesses and products that follow moral principles.
Personal Empowerment and Cultural Shift
With the evergrowing popularity of vegan-friendly dining options and plant-based alternatives, the options for vegans have become satisfying and enjoyable. It aligns with animal welfare principles by avoiding the exploitation of animals for food. Choosing a vegan lifestyle reflects a commitment to compassion and ethical treatment of animals.
Is It Worth It to Go Vegan?
According to research from the University of Oxford, going vegan is the single most significant way to reduce your impact on the planet. Changing to a vegan lifestyle can be worth it for health, environmental, and ethical reasons. Still, planning your diet carefully is essential to ensure you meet all your nutritional needs.
A plant-based diet could lead to nutrient deficiencies, especially if not well-balanced. You should consider nutrients like Vitamin B12, iron, calcium, and omega-3 fatty acids. So, it’s best to consult a licensed healthcare professional before transitioning to a diet entirely based on plants.
How Should People Become Vegan?
If you have decided to switch to a vegan lifestyle, you should first know your “why.” The critical point of success in your vegan journey is determining a healthy vegan meal plan so you don’t face a nutrient deficiency. You can get plenty of vitamins and minerals from dairy and meat products. But when you switch, you must find new ways to incorporate them into your diet. Sources of essential nutrients for a vegan are as follows:
- Protein- Soy products, seitan, chickpeas, nutritional yeast and lentils.
- Vitamin B12- Fortified cereals, fortified rice, and soy drinks or supplements.
- Vitamin D- Sunlight, fortified orange juice and soy
- Iron- Black-eyed peas, tofu and dried fruits
- Essential fatty acids- Whole grains, unsalted nuts, and leafy green vegetables
Pros and Cons of Veganism
The only con of transitioning to a vegan lifestyle is that it can take some time to adjust to a diet based entirely on plants, but there are only pros after that. They are suitable for our health, animals, and the environment. When we consume vegan meals, we save innocent animals from being slaughtered and tortured in animal factories.
It is estimated that going vegan saves one animal per day. Imagine how many animals are saved in a week, a month, a year, and over a lifetime. By our collective efforts, we can save millions of sentient beings from unimaginable torture. If you decide to make the transition, you should know why you are doing this. This helps you stay motivated and stick to your journey, especially when things get hard and old habits keep returning.
A Few Tips on Becoming Vegan
Are you ready to make the vegan lifestyle change? We offer expert tips on successfully transitioning and continuing your vegan journey.
- Talk to your partner first- Explain your “why” to your partner. Chances are your partner may also decide to switch with you, or you may have to do it alone. If you have to go on the vegan journey alone, discuss with them how this will work regarding meal preparation, shopping, and dining out.
- Take notes- Before making the switch, jot down how many vegan meals you have tried yet, which plant-based meals you have enjoyed the most, and where to get them. Keep this list handy in case of last-minute meal planning to help take out the stress of shopping and dining.
- Understand your expectations- Set goals and expectations for yourself and do what works best for you. Veganism does not necessarily mean all or nothing. You can try different approaches towards veganism.
- Remove obstacles- Are you unable to make vegan lifestyle change because of fewer resources? These days, you don’t need to go to a grocery store or gourmet to shop for vegan products. You can also get them from a farmer’s market. You can also include frozen fruits and veggies in your diet.
Conclusion
The food we eat significantly impacts the world around us- our health, animals, other people, forests, rivers, and oceans. Our food choices significantly impact the world around us—our health, wildlife, forests, farmed animals, rivers and oceans, and people worldwide. We can appreciate the significant impact of choosing plant-based diets when we acknowledge the interconnectedness of all living things and their role in each other’s fates and well-being.
This can be as easy as having a bean burger instead of a beef burger. That one choice ensures that no land was used, no forests were cut down, no animals were tortured, no rivers were contaminated, no oceans were deoxygenated, no superbugs resistant to antibiotics emerged, no one developed respiratory illnesses from air pollution, and your own heart will continue to function normally. We hope you finally found the answer to the question, “Why should people become vegan?”