Quick Vegan Facts
Quick Vegan Facts
Quick Vegan Facts
BACKGROUND:
WHY GO VEGAN?
Health
There are also health problems associated with eating large amounts of
common animal products:v
• Eggs: Eggs are found to be very high in cholesterol, and some
nutritionists feel there are too many eggs in the average American
diet.
• Cow’s Dairy Milk: While you may get calcium from milk, and calcium
is important, the human body was not designed to digest cow’s milk.
In addition, many people suffer from undiagnosed dairy allergies. In
either case, your health may improve significantly if dairy is removed
from your diet.
• Animal Protein: Given the abundance of protein-rich weight-loss
diets (think Atkins) many people are surprised to find that the
average American eats twice as much protein as is necessary! Even
worse, much of this protein is derived from animal meat, which is high
in saturated fat and can raise cholesterol.
Health Warnings
Animal Rights
Perhaps the most common reason people choose to go vegan is the idea that
animals, like humans, have rights and should be afforded the same
consideration as the similar interests of human beings. viii Put more simply,
many people feel that animals deserve the right to a good life free from
suffering.
The suffering of animals who pass through our factory farming industry on
the way to our plates has been well documented. According to PETA, animals
are kept for their entire lives in stressful conditions, including:
World Hunger
Just as one can reduce the suffering of animals by going vegan, one can also
reduce the suffering of people around the world. Hunger afflicts more than a
billion people worldwide, and a major contributing factor to world hunger is
the inefficiency associated with raising animals for food.xi For every pound of
Created April 12, 2011 by E. Fisher
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grain an animal eats, only a fraction is returned in the form of edible meat.xii
Global malnutrition is largely a consequence of the inequitable distribution
(and waste) of food resources. Developed nations import grain from
underdeveloped nations where pervasive hunger is most prevalent. The
imported grain then goes to feed animals for human consumption. The huge
demand for grain created by the factory farming industry drives up grain
prices around the world, making it harder for the poor of every nation to
afford basic food staples. Livevegan.org notes, “Nearly half of the world's
grains and soybeans are fed to animals, resulting in a huge waste of food
calories. The extent of waste is such that even a 10% drop in US meat
consumption would make sufficient food available to feed the world's
starving millions.”xiii
Environmental
German scientists have found that plants produce the greenhouse gas,
methane.xviii They estimate plants could account for 10-30% of the world’s
methane emissions. This means plant-based industries, such as rice
cultivation, may not be as environmentally friendly as first thought.
While there are no right or wrong reasons for embarking on a diet plan or
lifestyle change such as veganism, it is important to be well-educated on all
sides of the debate so as to make the most informed decision possible.
FURTHER READING:
Endnotes:
i
Cross, Leslie. "Veganism Defined", The Vegetarian World Forum, volume 5, issue 1, pp. 6–7.
ii
Berry, Rynn. "Veganism," The Oxford Companion to American Food and Drink. Oxford University
Press, 2007, pp. 604–605.
iii
Bekoff, Marc. Encyclopedia of Animal Rights and Animal Welfare. Greenwood Publishing, 2010, volume
1, pp. 3–4.
iv
For an overview, see "Position of the American Dietetic Association and Dietitians of Canada: vegetarian
diets", Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research. Summer 2003, 64(2):62-81
v
"57 Health Benefits of Going Vegan | Nursing Schools : LPN RN BSN MSN : Online Nursing Degree."
Nursing Schools. Web. 12 Apr. 2011. <http://www.nursingdegree.net/blog/19/57-health-benefits-of-going-
vegan/>.
vi
http://www.vrg.org/nutrition/
vii
"Position of the American Dietetic Association and Dietitians of Canada: vegetarian diets", Canadian
Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research. Summer 2003, 64(2):62-81
viii
"animal rights." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Encyclopædia Britannica,
2011. Web. 12 Apr. 2011. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/25760/animal-rights>.
ix
"Factory Farming: Cruelty to Animals | PETA.org." People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA):
The Animal Rights Organization | PETA.org. Web. 12 Apr. 2011. <http://www.peta.org/issues/animals-
used-for-food/factory-farming.aspx>.
x
"animal rights." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Encyclopædia Britannica,
2011. Web. 12 Apr. 2011. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/25760/animal-rights>.
xi
"FARM Underground :: Why Vegan." FARM Underground. Web. 12 Apr. 2011.
<http://www.farmunderground.org/forworldhunger.html>.
xii
Ibid.
xiii
"Live Vegan - Land." Live Vegan. Web. 12 Apr. 2011.
<http://www.livevegan.org/whyvegan_hunger.html>.
xiv
"Environmental Destruction | Why Vegan? | Vegan Outreach." Vegan Outreach | Working to End
Cruelty to Animals. Web. 12 Apr. 2011. <http://www.veganoutreach.org/whyvegan/environment.html>.
xv
LIVESTOCK'S LONG SHADOW: Environmental Issues and Options. Rep. Rome: FOOD AND
AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS, 2006. Print.
xvi
Eshel, G., and P.A. Martin (2006). "Diet, Energy and Global Warming". Earth Interactions 10 (9): 1–17.
xvii
Purdey, Mark. “The (Vegan Ecological) Wasteland” 2000.
xviii
Hirsch, Tim. "BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Plants Revealed as Methane Source." BBC News - Home.
Web. 12 Apr. 2011. <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4604332.stm>.